Greene means go for Cushman & Wakefield office broker

Andrew Greene, a senior associate at Cushman & Wakefield, has worked over 12 years in the commercial real estate space, with experience in sales and leasing, property management and lease portfolio management.

As part of the office services team, Andrew represents landlords, tenants and corporate clients with a strategic focus on establishing and achieving client goals and objectives while managing client relationships.

“I started my career in brokerage and then shifted to the property management side of the business for a few years, gaining valuable insight into the operation and management of retail, office and industrial assets in the Kansas City area.  In 2012, I moved to Dallas and served as a director of real estate for a national company that provided business services to orthodontists and pediatric dentists,” Greene said.

“In the spring of 2019, my family and I moved back to Kansas City and I joined Cushman & Wakefield as a broker.  I teamed up with Suzanne Dimmel and Leonard Popplewell, where we function as a three-person team. I was drawn to Cushman & Wakefield given its global platform, resources and focus on quality and delivery.”

MWM: What is your bread and butter today at Cushman & Wakefield?

Office leasing and sales throughout Kansas City and its submarkets.  Given my background, I also have a concentration on medical/healthcare real estate.  I really enjoy learning about businesses and their operations while assisting clients in establishing their real estate goals and providing a strategic plan on how to get there using my knowledge of the market.  

MWM: What market trends are you seeing with your clients?

We are seeing companies return to the office coming out of the pandemic, and expect this trend to continue as the year goes on. I think next comes a cycle of planning to determine where companies go from here. Our team is actively involved in conversations related to strategic workplace solutions and how that pertains to clients’ short- and long-term visions.

MWM: What do you see the local and national CRE rebound including?

Flexibility.  I think we all have heard and continue to hear flexibility. The return to the office seems to carry a focus on flexibility and hybrid models as employers look to bring employees back to the office.  

Additionally, we are seeing a draw to amenity-rich, Class A space. Companies are looking to take less space but upgrade quality and build an inviting workplace for employees to return to.   

Lastly, we have seen local businesses purchasing small office buildings in an effort to control their real estate and take advantage of low interest rates. 

MWM: What have you done to adapt to the changes in CRE?

I think the pandemic has brought a new layer of customer service and level of detail to the everchanging market.  It seemed like new reports, articles and news stories were coming out with information almost daily.  I felt very fortunate to have a variety of resources available to me through Cushman & Wakefield, especially with our global presence.  We were able to keep our clients up to date with information and industry trends.

MWM: What challenges and opportunities are your main asset classes facing now?

I’d say for challenges: Work-from-home business models, the sublease market and construction costs.  

As for opportunities, we are beginning to see more tours in the market and companies identifying their needs. People have started to identify what they want their office to be in the future, and now we are helping them realize that vision.  

MWM: What’s your viewpoint on the current state of the market in Kansas City?

I am optimistic about Kansas City for a variety of reasons.  Kansas City has a strong labor market, which is diversified by a variety of industries.  The diverse employment base has allowed the market to weather economic challenges and expand regardless of individual sectors or trends. The city has historically been a logistics hub, while more recent developments have seen the city become a center for technological and medical innovation as well. I am looking forward for good things to come. 

MWM: Any other insight you’d like to share with us?

We are currently working on a number of strategic consulting projects with clients and are looking forward to new agency leasing listings and tenant rep opportunities. Our team is excited to further assist current clients and prospects with their real estate needs as they return to the office. 

MWM:  How can prospects contact you for more information? 

I can be reached by phone at 816-216-5654 or by email at andrew.greene@cushwake.com. 

If you, or someone you know, would like to be considered for MWM’s Broker Spotlight, please email lisa@metrowriemedia.com.

Cloverleaf Office Park upgrades as employees return to offices

In Northeast Johnson County, owners of the 50-acre Cloverleaf Office Park have completed a number of timely upgrades to ease apprehension as employees return to company offices.

Cloverleaf’s renovations include virus-killing HVAC technology, enhanced outdoor work and event space, solar-panel powered amenities and elevated security. The office park, which spans ten buildings and 400,000 SF, is located at the southeast corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Metcalf.

“We have created a desirable, convenient and healthy work environment where office users will feel comfortable coming to work every day, and our tenants couldn’t be more excited,” said Ned O’Connor, founder of Waterford Property Company and leasing agent and asset manager of Cloverleaf. “In addition to improving air quality within the buildings, we’ve created a unique outdoor setting by leveraging our position as one of the few large office parks in Johnson County with significant greenspace.”

After planting 235 new trees, 2,250 plants and shrubs, and 3,000 tulips, the office park has nearly finished restoring the greenspace to its original appearance 19 years ago.

For many workers, rising vaccination rates and falling mask mandates have encouraged a slow return to office space, but safety concerns remain as the pandemic continues. Cloverleaf has addressed these viable concerns about health and safety by providing flexible workspace and amenities.

For companies seeking short-term collaboration or specific project work, flexible meeting spaces for non-tenants is also available to the community by reservation.

Tenants returning to work or moving into Cloverleaf will enjoy the following enhancements:

• HVAC ultraviolet lighting – Hospitals, data centers and other critical infrastructure have used UV light at air intakes for years to kill the viruses, bacteria and molds that commonly accumulate in HVAC equipment. UVC, the UV light spectrum Cloverleaf uses, provides the maximum germicidal effect across all buildings.

• Solar panel tables – Solar canopies convert sunlight to power and store it in benches at five outdoor workspaces, which are accessible to all tenants. Free wi-fi is available throughout Cloverleaf.

• Founder’s Park – Founder’s Park is a central plaza perfect for events and team building. It is outfitted with two gas grills, café-style tables and chairs, table tennis, a bag-toss game area, and a fire pit surrounded by Adirondack chairs and an Ipe wood bench.

• Security – Cloverleaf has installed 24-hour, motion-activated, surveillance security cameras across the park and has upgraded building access systems.

• Socially distanced meeting space – The park now has two conference rooms available to all tenants at no cost. One has the capacity for 30 people, the other for 50.

O’Connor also noted that providing a clean, secure and amenity-rich work environment had become a critical differentiator in the office market as companies reassess or reorganize their space needs.

“The demands of the modern workforce are changing constantly,” he said, “and Cloverleaf will always be committed to staying ahead of those demands.”

Matt Condon, the founder and CEO of Bardavon Health Innovations and a Cloverleaf tenant for 15 years, says that the value of officing with Cloverleaf extends far beyond amenities.

“Cloverleaf has been a true partner to us as we’ve grown through the years and required more or different space; it hasn’t been your typical landlord-tenant negotiation,” Condon said. “It’s been ideal to not only have great space with a lot of amenities, but also a landlord that will partner with you to prioritize flexibility and optionality.

“Coming out of COVID, Cloverleaf has also been very forward-thinking about health and safety accommodations as we gear up to return to the office,” Condon added. “It’s very important to me as a CEO that I can communicate that with my team so they know their landlord is looking out for their health.”

To learn more Cloverleaf and its upgrades, to reserve a collaborative meeting space or to schedule a tour, you may call Ned O’Connor at (913)-789-9000 or visit cloverleafofficepark.com.