Commercial real estate is more competitive than it’s ever been, especially if you’re operating in one of the major cities. Shifting expectations in the corporate world have made it even trickier in recent years.
But recent studies from Deloitte point to an upturn, “The commercial real estate property markets have seemingly turned a corner on recent performance downturns. Globally, investment volume declines reduced for six consecutive quarters, and in the first quarter of 2025, notched the first year-over-year increase since mid-2022.”
When it comes to getting companies to sign on the dotted line and lease space in your commercial building, it all comes down to amenities. What can you offer that the building two blocks away doesn’t offer?
So what do tenants actually want? The stakes are high and you need to impress so check out our list of the 10 most preferred commercial building amenities and how to make them work for your property.
Having great food options right in the building remains one of the best amenities for driving tenant satisfaction. When employees have to leave the building to get a meal, they waste half their lunch time to buy an over-priced option that doesn’t leave them feeling good when they get back to their desk.
Day after day, the process will wear on them and create resentment for the commute that puts them in that position. But even if you’re offering some form of dining on site, a traditional cafeteria or deli with the same menu every day isn’t enough anymore. Keeping them in the building for lunch now requires having options that provide multiple high-quality cuisines that keep them coming back.
This is where a solution like bringing in local restaurants in the form of rotating Popups shines brightest. Employees love getting to try new places in the community during their break and it's a great way to reduce the food service overhead required in your building, giving you a higher ROI. A win-win for every workplace using your space!
The world has been turning commonly used appliances into smart technologies whenever possible. We’ve got smart fridges, keys, furniture, the list goes on… and it’s probably not too far-fetched to say we’ll have AI robots running around for us soon.
Integrating the best new technology within your commercial properties gives tenants a chance to interact with it when they might not be able to otherwise. It’s a unique way to improve the daily experience of being in the office and can be pointed out as an amenity when giving tours.
But all of the smart technology is useless without the infrastructure to support it. High-speed, reliable internet is the foundation it’s built on. It’s also more important to recognize that businesses operate with hybrid approaches now and require no connectivity issues or dead zones. Without comprehensive Wi-Fi coverage, tenants will get frustrated and be quick to switch to an office that meets their needs.
If you have a pet, you know how stressful it can be to leave them alone for long periods of time. There are a lot of companies out there that support and encourage employees bringing their pets to work when it will make their lives easier. But most of the time it comes down to the building rules and regulations.
For example, a story from the Washington Post details that when the Humane Society was looking for an office, “About 20 landlords flat out said, 'no' to pets,” but the Humane Society eventually signed a 15-year lease for 23,000 square feet in the downtown area. That’s a huge, long-term contract that most building owners dream of getting!
Just by having pet-friendly amenities like waste stations, relief areas, or even daycare centers - you can open the door to so many potential new tenants based on this one policy alone.
Having one or two large conference rooms that everyone on a specific floor has to share is less than ideal, even more so if it’s a client facing business. People work in different ways; and having a small space for private calls or 1-on-1 meetings alongside conference rooms that are equipped for presentations or lunch and learn sessions is a great way to keep people happy about their space.
Having smart technology that tenants can easily access via their phones or devices to book meeting spaces will give them the ability to work comfortably and impress their clients when they come in.
People take their fitness routines very seriously and don’t like disrupting them throughout the week if their work schedule doesn’t line up. Providing one or two cardio machines and a set of free weights just doesn’t cut it anymore.
If you’re trying to keep tenants around and create additional revenue through gym memberships - you need to provide everything and more that a public gym can. Having top of the line equipment and different types of fitness classes on-site is a difference maker when it comes to securing a new contract.
Parking can be one of the biggest hassles when you’re operating in a major city or area with long, cold winters. It’s expensive and takes a lot of time to find a spot if there’s no dedicated parking lot or garage for your building.
If you can provide a low cost or free place to park that provides quick access to the building, you ease the commute for everyone of your tenants that drives into the workplace. On top of that, electrical vehicles are popular and you can look to add EV charging stations to accommodate all vehicles and appeal to a wider range of tenants.
Pro tip: Provide an area for bike parking, especially if you’re in a major city!
We can all think of a time when we just needed to step away from our desk for a moment and get a couple breaths of fresh air. Having access to an outdoor space to do so is important for anyone working in your building for their mental health and productivity.
If employees have a space where they can recharge and feel good in the building, they’ll be happier at work and want to stay longer (leading to a higher likelihood that they renew their contract). Rooftop lounges and patios also give companies in your building a great place to gather and celebrate occasions. If you want to go one step further, you can even utilize rooftop spaces for urban gardens and green roofs.
If your building doesn’t feel safe, people aren’t going to want to come in and won’t want to keep a long term contract in your space. For instance, the rate of car theft at commercial properties is climbing and if you aren’t protecting your tenants physical property, they’ll quickly stop utilizing your services.
Having security personnel on-site is common practice and the more safety measures you can implement the easier it will be to protect your building and clients. Having 24-hour security, CCTV systems, building access cards, visitor management programs, and backup generators will create a secure environment that tenants won’t have to think twice about.
We all know how much extra effort and energy it can take when you have to cram in an errand on your lunch break or at the end of a long work day. That’s why having on-site retail and services like banks, dry cleaners, pharmacies, or shipping centers is a strong way to entice companies to commit to a contract.
We all know the saying, “time is money,” and if you can help save your clients both by offering these types of services in your building, there’s a greater chance they’ll want to stick around. It may take a bit more management on your part to have them, but it will increase the overall value of the building to tenants and positively impact your ROI.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “Families spend between 8.9% and 16.0% of their median income on full-day care for just one child, with annual prices ranging from $6,552 to $15,600.” That’s a huge expense but it also creates a massive opportunity to get more tenants in your building.
If you can offer a free or heavily discounted childcare center on your commercial property, you’ll save parents that work in your building time, money, and stress. They’ll most likely never want to leave if that’s the case. You’ll have to hire a handful of people for this based on the number of people who’d want to utilize your space, but the positive impacts for your investments will be obvious.
You probably can’t add all 10 of these amenities overnight. But if you’re looking for the highest-impact starting point, upgrading your on-site food options is going to be your best bet.
Food is the amenity employees will engage with every single day. It’s the one that shapes their daily experiences most directly and can be improved without a massive capital investment. Fooda’s Popup restaurant and cafeteria replacement programs bring a new option that’s focused on providing high-quality local cuisines at affordable prices. Tenants get a food program they’ll look forward to using and you get a powerful differentiation in a competitive market!
Ready to transform your building's amenities and offerings? Learn how Fooda works or contact us today and see what’s possible for your commercial property.
Track these three key metrics: tenant retention rate (cost of vacancy vs. amenity investment), lease renewal premiums (can you charge higher rent?), and time-to-lease for vacant units. For food programs specifically, measure participation rates and tenant satisfaction scores.
Installing amenities without understanding your specific tenant base. A boutique fitness studio might thrill a building full of tech startups but fall flat with financial services firms who prefer traditional gyms. Before investing, survey your current tenants about their priorities and research what comparable buildings in your market are offering. The most expensive amenity isn't always the most effective.
Absolutely. For pet policies, review your insurance coverage for liability, establish clear breed and size restrictions (or lack thereof), and create written agreements about damage responsibility. For childcare, you'll need state licensing, liability insurance, background-checked staff, and compliance with local health and safety regulations.
