Ottawa Storage Space for Office Downsizing & Relocation
With the COVID-19 global pandemic, the concept of office space is undergoing radical change.
Companies and organizations are adjusting their paradigm of what the workplace looks like, and they are adapting to market conditions and a dynamic, fast-changing economy.
Many companies are downsizing their offices, while others are relocating.
If you find yourself in the midst of an office shuffle, be it office downsizing, office relocation or a paradigm shift to working from home, you may be wondering how to facilitate the daunting logistics. Perhaps you are looking at Ottawa storage space to accommodate your office downsizing, relocation or suspension.
In this article we’ll talk about the growing need for companies and organizations to change their outlook on office space, as well as how best to tackle the logistical process of office downsizing, relocation or shuttering.
The Post-COVID Challenges and Realities of Office Space in Ottawa
Ottawa’s commercial real estate market had enjoyed steady growth over the years, fuelled both by the Government of Canada’s massive presence in Ottawa as well as prosperity among companies such as those in Ottawa’s tech sector.
The concept of workplaces and office space prior to March 2020 was still one that followed a more traditional model. Yes, the idea of “working from home” or “remote work” had been gaining traction over the years, but that was a slow process, one that seemed to take two steps forward and one step back.
With the sudden onset of the coronavirus pandemic, however, working from home became a necessity very quickly for most companies and organizations – basically any that were not an essential service.
The effect this has had on office space in Ottawa, across Canada and around the world has been monumental.
Companies have found themselves paying rent on office space that they don’t need.
For some workplaces, a downsizing of existing office space is in order.
Other companies find themselves moving into smaller offices.
Some simply have walked away from their commercial leases, unable to pay and essentially suspending or shutting down their operations.
Nowhere better is that seen than in Ottawa’s tech success story: Shopify.
As the COVID-19 pandemic went on for weeks and months, it became apparent to many companies – like Ottawa’s Shopify – that a “permanent remote work model” or “primarily digital workplace” was the “new normal” (are you tired of hearing that phrase yet? We are!) alternative to the traditional office space model.
Where does that leave landlords?
And where does that leave companies looking to jettison some or all of their existing office space?
Strategies for Dealing with Ottawa Office Space You May No Longer Need
If you are located in Ottawa and are wondering what to do about your existing office space, you have several options.
Start by Renegotiating Your Ottawa Office Lease
Many companies have renegotiated their commercial leases, finding that landlords were starting to reluctantly accept this ‘new normal’ knowing that it was going to be a lot harder to fill that office space with new tenants in this economy and in this new paradigm.
You might be able to continue using your existing space at a lower price, giving you flexibility for other options.
There also may be government subsidies or loans available; check with the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario websites to find out more.
Sublet Some or All of Your Office Space in Ottawa
So long as you have a commercial lease that does not explicitly forbid subleasing your space to another tenant, this step is worth looking into.
Other Ottawa companies may be looking to downsize, so you could very well find a tenant (or two or three) to split that office space.
If you are abandoning the office space completely, sublets are a good way to preserve some of your assets during a shift to a 100% work-from-home situation – or in a restructuring or shuttering scenario.
Downsizing Your Office Space: Logistics & a Need for Ottawa Storage Space
Whether you are moving offices, downsizing your existing office space, restructuring or shifting to a completely remote work environment, one of the top concerns you’ll have is logistics.
One of the bigger logistical concerns with office downsizing is what to do with the physical assets your company or organization now possesses.
You’ve built office space to accommodate a number of employees, and now that number is shrinking – either more working from home or, sadly, some no longer working.
That means that the footprint of your office may be shrinking as well.
But will this be a permanent thing? Who knows?!
What about all the office furniture, equipment, supplies and files currently in your Ottawa office?
Does downsizing or relocating mean that you have to abandon or sell off your assets.
Rather than making that determination right away, a great solution for this dilemma is to rent storage space in Ottawa.
Ottawa storage space is an ideal solution for the short-term or mid-range storing of your office furniture and equipment. Items that can be place into Ottawa storage facilities include:
- Desks
- Office chairs
- Cubicle walls
- Appliances
- Tables
- Paper & other office supplies
- Phones, computers & other tech equipment
- Filing cabinets & file boxes
Whether you need to put your office items into Ottawa storage facilities for a month, six months or more, you’ve got great options while undergoing your organization’s workplace transformation.
Acceptable Storage in Ottawa: Your Storage Solution for Office Transformation
Downsizing your office?
Shifting to a more remote work environment?
Restructuring or shuttering your office?
Whatever your needs may be for Ottawa storage space, we’re here to help.
Acceptable Storage in Ottawa is located just minutes from Downtown Ottawa and within easy reach of virtually any office in Ottawa.
Our Ottawa storage facilities are secure and come with a variety of options for size, shape and cost.
Contact us today to find out more about Ottawa storage for offices and companies.