426 :: Steven Paynter of Gensler: Converting Offices to Residential at Scale with Speed

In this conversation, Steven Paynter from Gensler discusses the innovation that landed Gensler on Fast Company’s list of most innovative companies in 2024. The innovation was an algorithm that assess the viability of converting office spaces into residential units, particularly in light of the pandemic and the growing affordability crisis. Fast Company wrote: “Gensler’s algorithm evaluates roughly 150 aspects of a building’s layout and design, such as core-to-window depth and the number of elevators and parking spots, from public data, broker websites, and subscription services. The tool can determine a conversion viability score in hours.” Paynter shares insights on the challenges and successes of office building conversions, the importance of understanding the history of buildings, and the role of city incentives in facilitating adaptive reuse. The discussion also touches on the findings from Gensler's workplace survey, emphasizing the need for flexible and desirable office spaces that foster collaboration and productivity. Paynter concludes with reflections on cultural differences in leadership and construction practices between the UK and North America.    This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days. *** If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together. If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.