What are the trends in the transformation of the workspaces in the last year?

Today, a little over a year of living in the "new reality", I am sure that the home office cannot completely replace the office work. The feeling is completely different when you come to work in a space other than the home comfort, a space that inspires you and in which you communicate with like-minded people.

The corporate culture of most companies is very much attached to the brand association - company name and office location. Employees, partners, customers need to connect the company with a physical place. Fortunately, at SAC we do not have a tenant who vacated his office during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. The transformation in the office space has begun and the trend is to give air to the spaces. Until 2020, the standard was 10 sqm for one workspace, and today we are talking about 15 sqm and even more.

The standard workplace we have known for the last 30 years is changing. The trend is hot desking - employees have at their disposal any desk they choose, instead of having a fixed desk. My observations are that our tenants are thinking in the direction of how to provide more space to their employees. Give them the freedom to choose where they feel safe to work. Convenience is important, but the environment itself is important as well. To be in a safe environment, but not a sterile one.

Air, freedom and more space - this is my vision for the workspace in the office buildings. Sustainable models of energy-saving construction and innovative design concepts will be in increased demand. A combination of functionalities that make the best use of the common areas in order to reduce density, create flexible workstations and recreation areas will be preferred.

SAC has always been a pioneer in concepts aimed at flexible workspaces and enriching the overall environment. Our tenants know that the more comfortable the work environment and the lighter the workspace, the more creative their employees can be and the smoother the work process can run.

Tell us more about Sofia Airport Center - the current situation and the transformation of The Flex-R lounge? What are the plans for future development of the complex?

When the complex remained empty in March 2020, we decided to turn the crisis into an opportunity. We developed the idea of ​​enriching the outdoor area of the complex – open-air gym, sports playground - to turn them into places that give air and help people feel more secure in these uncertain times. We are working on this concept very actively and we hope to implement it in its full version by the end of the year.

The whole project is called Re: Share, and the Flex-R lounge will be a space for flexible work environment. We are working on its transformation and plan to present it to the entire SAC community over the summer - all tenants, partners and friends. At the heart of the project is the co-working idea, Flexible Work Stations. The space is unique in itself - a total area of ​​300 sqm and a height of 15.5 m. The first thing you feel is the feeling of space, freedom and closeness to nature. This is the former tropical Winter garden and we tried to keepas much of the landscaping as possible. Our tenants will be able to take advantage of all the benefits of the space, inside there will be many amenities, not only comfortable places to sit and work. The whole distribution of jobs is in line with the new post covid trends - social distance, disinfection, maintenance.

SAC, as part of Revetas' portfolio, has always been a pioneer in implementing concepts that enrich the common areas and the overall environment in which employees live and work. That is why our plans are to develop the potential of the whole complex. We continue to work on the design of a new logistics building, as well as the finalization of the A3 building project.

How has facility management models evolved in the context of the increased need for hygiene, safety and flexibility?

At the beginning of the pandemic we took all the necessary measures - disinfectants in the common areas, intensive cleaning of surfaces and floors, monitoring of registered cases of employees in the buildings. The staff that maintains the common areas is equipped with everything necessary so that all policies for prevention and maintenance of buildings can be followed.

In the context of such situations and pandemics, the connection and communication with the subcontractors who maintain the various systems in the buildings is very important. We actively communicate with the tenants so that we can monitor the situation and take the necessary measures if necessary.

We have activated all communication channels - social networks, mailing. We tried to show the tenants all the opportunities they have as part of our community and be proud of them. Our main task is for them to know  that while they are taking care of their business, we are taking care of their surrounding environment.

Health & Wellness requirements as a driver of change: what are the main aspects of a healthy and safe office environment?

A healthy and safe environment has always been important, but today it is more important than ever. Today we are no longer talking only about physical safety, but also about mental safety. Employees need a healthy environment to be creative. The proximity to nature, open spaces, the opportunity for sport activities, tranquility and a positive atmosphere is of high importance. These are the details that are beyond architecture and design, but are extremely important for a balanced lifestyle. I am happy that SAC is unique with its environment.

Over the years, my colleagues and I have managed to create a completely different environment from other business centers in Sofia. We turned the space into a community. In a place where you can spend not only your working day, but also your free time. You can feed the fish in the lake during your lunch break, you can drink coffee in the park, sit on a bench and just enjoy the tranquility, you can come on the weekend with your family and enjoy this whole environment again. A golden environment that brings a sense of freedom to the employees who work in it.