With high-tech companies requiring more and more from their office spaces, KBS is emerging as a leader in providing the cutting-edge Internet infrastructure that tenants need. Nineteen KBS buildings have achieved Wired Certification, the new international standard for top-notch connectivity in office buildings — thereby setting a high precedent for office space providers to strive for. Though these spaces range in size, location and occupants, they are all among the best Internet-connected buildings in the country.
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Earning achievements like Wired Certification sends a signal to prospective tenants that our buildings are places where they can do their best work.”
“Implementing innovation in our buildings is crucial to our leadership in the commercial real estate sector,” said Shannon Hill, senior vice president with KBS. “Creating cutting-edge workspaces and earning achievements like Wired Certification sends a signal to prospective tenants that our buildings are places where they can do their best work.”
WiredScore certifies office buildings at four different levels — Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified — based on building connectivity, infrastructure and readiness. KBS properties have earned a number of these designations — making them some of the most elite and innovative buildings internationally.
First launched in partnership with Mayor Bloomberg and the city of New York in 2013, WiredScore has since grown both nationally and internationally to certify over 650 office buildings across more than 50 cities. Some of the most iconic include the Empire State Building in New York City, the Willis Tower in Chicago and The Shard building in London.
“With the digitization and mobile optimization of work across sectors, the demand for fast and reliable Internet in office buildings is stronger than ever,” said Arie Barendrecht, CEO and co-founder of WiredScore. “The leading companies across all sectors put technology at or near the top of their lists of criteria when choosing office space, and so firms like KBS that prioritize cutting-edge infrastructure will continue to lead the sector for years to come.”
Arie Barendrecht, CEO of WiredScore in a server room. Older buildings often attract tech and advertising companies with big IT needs. Making sure these buildings are capable of meeting those needs is a big focus of the WiredScore program.
WiredScore evaluates buildings based on a wide array of rigorous IT standards and qualifications. The number of ISPs, the capacity and location of telecom equipment and the building infrastructure are among the many factors that go into determining certification. A building’s ability to handle any possible Internet outages due to weather, fire or construction also plays an important role in its evaluation. Wired Certified buildings will have multiple points of entry for Internet connections in order to guarantee connectivity for tenants at all times and in all circumstances.
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Office building infrastructure needs to be designed to evolve with companies as technology advances.
One often overlooked area in which KBS has excelled is in ensuring that office spaces can grow with the businesses they house. “Office building infrastructure needs to be designed to evolve with companies as technology advances and their Internet needs change,” said Hill. “Having multiple ISPs and allowing tenants to choose which is best for them help guarantee this, as different providers have different tech capabilities.” For brokers, the ability to provide current and prospective tenants with the most tech-forward spaces is crucial to matching companies with spaces that will meet their long-term needs.
“We’re seeing a technological arms race in commercial real estate right now in which buildings are constantly one-upping each other with the latest technology and amenities in order to get an edge on the competition,” Barendrecht said. “This is a virtuous cycle for the tenant, but at the same time it creates a lot of noise and makes it hard for brokers to convey the advantages of a building to prospective tenants. The goal of WiredScore is to present objective ratings that make this easy so the best-in-class technology in KBS buildings can be easily recognized.”
“While we are proud of our achievements in commercial real estate technology, we’re equally determined to stay ahead of the curve,” said KBS Eastern Regional President Marc DeLuca. “Our 19 Wired Certifications are just the beginning, and we hope to continue this streak of successes in future properties.”
