Location, location, location
when relocating to a new building with your company
I think this is the phrase I heard most during architecture.:
Location, location, location. That’s the most important thing about your project. - said by any architect
The choice of location is crucial for a workplace to be effective. Throughout history, humans have recognized this importance, as evidenced by their settlement choices. Humans have always chosen to settle near water sources for their survival. Water is used for virtually everything. Specifically, when you examine cities built next to meandering rivers, you will notice that the oldest ones are located on the outside of the river bend. This is because this side of the river experiences more erosion, making it an excellent location for docking ships, which is the core of trade.
Really, choosing the right location for your company isn’t anything less than critical for its success. The location of a company can impact its accessibility, visibility, and ability to attract and retain talent. Therefore, it is essential to carefully consider and select a location that aligns with the company's goals, values, and needs to ensure its long-term success.
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for the ideal location. I highly recommend mapping everything out and visualizing in different layers. Each plan is a different layer of research. In the end you can lay these layers on top of each other to find the ideal location.
Zoning: Check the zoning regulations in the area you're considering. The zoning laws dictate the types of businesses that are allowed in a particular location.
Transportation: Look at the transportation options that are available in the area. Consider the proximity to highways, airports, public transportation, and bike lanes. A good transportation system is essential for attracting and retaining employees.
Access to Labor: Consider the availability of a skilled workforce in the area. Look at the population demographics, including age, education levels, and employment history.
Infrastructure: Consider the quality of the infrastructure in the area, such as the availability of electricity, water, and internet services. A good infrastructure can reduce operating costs and increase efficiency.
Land Use: Look at the surrounding land use, including nearby residential and commercial properties. Consider how the surrounding land use may impact your business operations.
Community: Look at the community's culture, vibe, and potential for business growth. You may want to consider a location where the community is supportive of businesses and has a history of economic growth.
Regulations: Be aware of the regulations and taxes for the location you are considering. Some states or cities may have more lenient regulations or lower taxes than others.
Depending on your company you might have to adjust the list I wrote above. For a school for example you might have to check for social safety neighborhoods, traffic safety neighborhoods, healthy environment,..
For smaller retail businesses, it is important to investigate where most people are walking, which direction they are coming from, and how they will reach your store. It would not be ideal to be located in the middle of the city center without access to customer parking while selling large products.
Similarly, if you sell small products that people aren't necessarily looking for, you may not want to have your business located at a roundabout where people don't tend to window shop. These are the types of products that customers tend to purchase when casually strolling through a shopping street.
I have seen a company grow from a small city center shop to a larger store outside the city center, only to ultimately go bankrupt. While the new supermarket was beautiful, the power of the company lay in the original little shop located in the middle of the shopping street, selling products to improve our carbon footprint. By moving out of the city center, the company forced customers to use their cars to reach the store, which was inconvenient and required planning on the part of the customer.
Therefore, it's crucial to think about your company, your target customers, how they currently reach you, why it's important to reach you this way, what positive aspects your current location offers, and what aspects could be improved. Map everything out, make it visual, and discuss your plans with your team.
Thanks for reading!