Designing Physical Space for IT
Novak adds, “I think this is probably a good foreshadowing of what the future will be like in tech lease negotiations.”
The lease is infinitely detailed. Among the clauses is one that requires Hines to insulate Kirkland’s systems from electromagnetic flux interference—that is, interference from other electronic systems in a certain area of the base building.
“If any of their riser rooms are adjacent to elevator control rooms,” says Bowman, “we’re required to steel-plate the wall that separates them.”
The financial pluses of this approach should be obvious. Whatever becomes part of the base building is the developer’s responsibility. “Whatever is in the lease is our responsibility, so 90 percent of the buildout is on our nickel,” says Bowman.
Ultimately, Novak believes Hines acquiesced because even the most elaborate tech program doesn’t involve much additional cost—especially when it’s addressed in the early design stages. “It’s almost like working with a clean slate,” he says. “It’s very easy to make changes on paper. I really believe that half the battle is knowing what you want and asking for it.”
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