Our Comprehensive Guide to Return to the Office

When You’re Ready, We’re Ready.

A Letter from our Chairman & CEO

For more than six decades, Hines has demonstrated that what makes buildings successful is their ability to provide a healthy, productive environment in which businesses can achieve their goals.

Founded by Gerald D. Hines, a mechanical engineer, the firm was among the first to adopt its own stringent Indoor Air Quality programs and has consistently been at the forefront of superior operations, leading in most certification programs globally. Hines recently announced a partnership with Well Living Lab, Delos and the Mayo Clinic to research cutting-edge tactics to reduce viral spread in the built environment.

With activities across five continents, including Asia, Hines’ actions are informed by the progression of COVID-19 and its effects on property procedures. Through early activation of our Pandemic Preparedness Plan and global sharing of best practices, Hines leverages a robust, multifaceted playbook to operate each property based on its unique features and the needs of its tenants, but with overarching principles to promote the health and safety of tenants, workers and visitors including:

Enhanced sanitation protocols overall, with tactics for high-frequency touchpoints
Common area social distancing strategies supported by graphic reminders to follow protocols
New elevator procedures to manage ingress and egress and limit rider capacity
PPE for building employees including protective masks for anyone servicing a tenant space
Support of personal hygiene with readily available hand sanitizer
Enhanced building-wide communication with prompt case reporting to tenant contacts
Collaboration with tenants on lease space best practices and employee-specific strategies

As we embrace the new normal, the strength of our client relationships has never been more meaningful. We ask you to continue to bond in partnership with us, as we work together as a community to stop the spread of the virus: and germs in general. While this experience has been a wakeup call for society, we will emerge a safer world if we all work together on this journey.

Our teams around the world look forward to welcoming you back to the workplace.

A Clean and Conscious Journey

WHILE YOU WERE AWAY

Provided comprehensive cleaning and disinfection as needed to maintain building readiness
Monitored and maintained each property’s indoor air quality profile
Operated all plumbing fixtures to maintain water quality
Strategically installed hand sanitizer stations throughout the common areas
Installed signage that provides social distancing guidance and/or instructions
Continued to maintain Fire Life Safety procedures including planning for fire drills with social distancing measures in place

YOUR ARRIVAL

If arriving by public transit, remember to hand sanitize before you reach the building
Utilize contactless entry and proximity readers at garage entrances
If masks are mandated, please secure your mask before entering the building
In some cases, property management will conduct health and temperature screenings
Be mindful of social distancing guidelines in common areas, elevators, stairwells and pathways
Use hands as little as possible when opening doors
Security team members and building personnel will be wearing PPE for added protection
Lobby furniture may be removed or reconfigured to support social distancing and limit common area congregation. Some amenities may be temporarily closed or reconfigured.
Pay attention to signage for important reminders

TO YOUR FLOOR

Utilize hand sanitizer stations
Know that elevator call buttons will be sanitized on a frequent basis
Follow reduced queuing etiquette and elevator occupancy guidelines
Respect your building-specific protocol as noted on signage or directed by building staff
Be patient if you experience delays, but know you are supporting better health for all during this period
Once you arrive on your floor, use hands as little as possible when opening doors

IN YOUR OFFICE

Know that enhanced cleaning protocols have been activated on your floor, including restrooms
Continue to wear masks, if mandated
Respect social distancing guidelines while navigating your suite with co-workers
Utilize video conferencing to limit in-person meetings
Adhere to new conference room seating limits and disinfect table and equipment before and after every meeting
Respect your suite-specific protocols such as one-way traffic flows
Be mindful of congregating in common areas, kitchens and collaborative spaces
Limit visitors and guests, if possible
Clean your personal workspace with disinfecting wipes frequently

DOING OUR PART

Enhanced disinfection standards remain in place
Hand-sanitizer stations will be available at strategic touchpoints
We maintain stringent air quality standards including increasing fresh outside air and exhaust throughout the building, which improves ventilation
Signage and graphics are placed to assist in maintaining physical distance and pedestrian traffic direction
Property management will continue to follow established case reporting and communication protocols
When open, our conference centers, common areas, amenities and coworking space will operate at reduced capacities or with revised configurations to respect social distancing guidelines
As always, we will stay closely partnered with our tenants, guests and vendors