Your day at the office could soon feel like a day at the spa … or rec center.
In a bid to attract top employers, who in turn hope to attract top employees, office buildings are being outfitted with bells and whistles like billiard rooms, racing simulators and speakeasies — anything to make you feel you’re not tethered to your desk.
“First impressions matter,” said Bruce Mosler of Cushman & Wakefield. “From the moment you walk in the door, people start to evaluate the building for their workforce, because the toughest thing is to recruit and retain talent.”
Taking a cue from hospitality, subtle signature scents and soundscapes have become a common way for offices to stand out and say “hello.”
“When you walk into a lobby and you don’t smell anything but there’s a scent there, it’s perfect,” said David Falk of Newmark.
Marx Realty began using its signature scent at 10 Grand Central in 2017. It combines wood, leather and jasmine, and is sometimes used for holiday gift candles. “We make it very subtle — like a kiss,” said Craig Deitelzweig of Marx. “Scents impact memories in a strong way and we want it to be tied to the building.”
That’s why they use one of Baccarat’s fragrances at 545 Madison Ave., where the crystal company is a tenant.
Working with the scent consultants at Aroma360, GFP Real Estate chose “Summer Breeze” for their portfolio’s signature aroma — it now wafts through eight lobbies.
Tishman Speyer, which operates Rockefeller Center, partnered with Air Essentials in 2021 to develop a signature fragrance, dubbed “White Tea & Thyme,” to create an atmosphere that feels both peaceful and invigorating.
While the scent remain the same, music across Tishman Speyer’s portfolio varies by building, tenant composition and the time of day.
At the Marx portfolio, “All of the buildings have music that changes with the seasons and between day and evening,” said Deitelzweig. It is also different in the amenity spaces and the lobby where it is more upbeat.
“With all the chaos in the streets of New York, you can come into a peaceful place with the music playing,” he said.
But at GFP’s 594 Broadway in Soho, things are more “downtown.” Longtime doorman Jonathan Glass moonlights as an artist, and has become the company’s resident jazz DJ, curating music in the lobby.
At the new Level Ten amenity floor at the Starrett-Lehigh building in Chelsea, RXR chose “Storm” by Baltic Club for its fragrance while the sounds come from lo-fi beats. The Yacht Club restaurant on that floor is also open to the public and includes a roof deck and cabanas overlooking the Hudson River, which tenants can book for meetings.
“Adding luxury touches like a signature scent and curated music is intentional and directly tied to Level Ten’s goal of standing apart as a premium, hospitality-driven event space,” said Bill Elder of RXR. “They set a tone of calm, sophistication and exclusivity the moment guests arrive.”
Level Ten also has the amenity du jour — six podcasting rooms where both tenants and locals can mix and broadcast their own thoughts and music.
“Lots of people do podcasts and may not want to have it in their office,” Elder said. “We have the full set up with the equipment and room.”
Kaufman’s new 875 Sixth Ave. in Nomad has a screening room that can double for a podcast studio. Marx also has a movie screening area and separate podcasting room on an amenity floor at 10 Grand Central that comes with earphones and microphones while its new speakeasy will be mysteriously accessed from its loading docks.
At Global Holdings’ 410 Park Ave., “old-school” video games include Ms. Pac-Man. “Those get used a lot,” said Craig Panzirer of Global Holdings. “Everybody is doing amenities and now the new thing is to find something new.”
Therefore, Global’s other offices at 99 Park and Nomad Tower at 1250 Broadway each sport amusements like Duckpin bowling, a speakeasy and a barber station; as well as ping-pong, a pool table, arcade games, a gym and a roof terrace, respectively.
SL Green’s buildings host a variety of golf and wellness amenities.
A “spa quality” wellness center with massage therapy and training rooms at 450 Park Ave. get lots of use, according to SL Greens’ Steve Durels. “The locker rooms feel like a country club,” he said. Its three simulators — one for golf, the other two for F1 racing — are also in demand.
The company’s recently reinvented 245 Park has a 4,000-square-foot golf lounge to accompany four golf simulators and two racing car simulators.
Its new Club 245 has 17,000 square feet of amenity space with high-end finishes, treatment rooms and upscale locker rooms plus food by Daniel Boulud. The top of that building also has a landscaped rooftop park with food and beverages.
But Durels says nothing compares to the gigantic roof deck at One Madison, which he describes as “like a Four Seasons hotel” with indoor space that supports events for up to 200 people.
SL Green and Vornado also just completed amenities on the second floor of 280 Park that include a full café, boardroom and lounge with outdoor space that has pergolas and seating with food from the Nobu restaurant which is expanding there.
Boston Properties has completed $150 million in renovations, adding conferencing amenities below grade and a lounge — with a signature scent — at 360 Park Ave. South.
The Empire State Building doesn’t have a special scent, but it has 65,000 built-out square feet of amenities, including an event space for 400 people, pickleball, a golf simulator and fitness center.
“What resonates with tenants are communal areas with flexible furniture that allow you to have events,” said Ryan Kass of the Empire State Realty Trust ownership. Its basketball court, for instance, can double as a lecture and meeting hall.
A new rooftop terrace will finally open at ESRT’s 1333 Broadway in nearby Herald Square and can be used by tenants in any of its buildings.
“People like amenities but the ones the tenants want are functional,” said Jeff Buslik of Adams & Co. whose properties at 110 W. 40th St. and at 42 W. 39th St. have conference facilities with offerings like yoga classes and wellness events.
“We spent a lot of time and energy and money building a community,” added Buslik.
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