Attended Lobby
An attend lobby is the service of a lobby attendant or concierge in which the attendant welcomes and check-ins guests, maintain security, and receive any delivery services.
Situated at the entrance in the lobby, lobby attendants/concierge are typically seated behind a desk. Several building types offer lobby attendant/concierge at various price points. A full-service building usually has both a lobby attendant and a doorman which are generally pricier.
Then there are some building with no doorman or lobby attendant.
A lobby attendant, as stated in the title, are found in the lobby of the building. A lobby is a room in the building that is the entrance hall to the building. Office buildings, hotels, and skyscrapers want to foster the right impression or image by placing beautiful décor and finishes also called “power lobby”
Doorman vs Attended Lobby
These terms are often assumed to be synonyms of each other. Albeit, both are present in the lobby, they service the building differently. A doorman is a uniformed individual who helps staff, clients, and visitors through the door and into the building. An attended lobby, on the other hand, has an attendant/concierge behind a desk in the lobby who can welcome and manage visitors and guests.
There are four types of services to assist the Lobby:
- Doorman
- Attended Lobby (or “concierge”)
- Full Service
- No Doorman
Common Services
- Business Hours / Off Hours Entree
- Visitor Management
- Security Staff
- Information Desk
- Postal / Shipping Services
Nomenclature Specifics
The differences between an Attended Lobby and a Full Service Lobby are assembled into four grouping. The groupings are defined as follows:
1) A full service lobby typically assigns more than one employee to service the lobby. A doorman and concierge desk are available in the lobby.
2) A virtual doorman is in the lobby and uses cameras with an internet connection to transmit images to the monitoring center. A virtual doorman allows tenants to see and talk to anyone at the door with only the doorman being heard.
3) The unattended lobby does not assign any persons/employees to be present in the lobby. Instead, a voice or video intercom system is installed in the lobby.
Attended Lobby Benefits
Safety or Nosy?
A perceived level of safety is a fruitless argument because it is something you either ‘feel’ or don’t. An attending lobby is a great amenity that can make a difference in safety for a business. Attended lobby can offer security to tenants with the presence of a person at the door. The notion of security can be a vague value. If your concerns lie with whether the attendant can see the sidewalk, whether the block active or not, and even the activity in the neighboring buildings, then the security offered by a lobby attendant may seem more uncertain.
On the other hand, the value privacy may contribute to the security offered by a lobby attendant. If a privacy is important, then having a person at the door monitoring the coming and goings of yourself and staff, may pose more of a concern. The people who may feel this way most likely view an attended lobby as a con despite the price. These people tend to prefer the downtown location rather than Midtown.
Commercial Real Estate Standards
Class A Buildings
Commercial Class A Buildings are considered to be the best quality standard properties offered in the Manhattan real estate market. Class A buildings consist of mainly prestigious buildings with above-standard finishes, state-of-the-art technology systems, prime neighborhood locations, and renowned architecture. Class A buildings attract above average rent due to the exceptional amenities and location. High-tech security, modern elevator, high-end HVAC, and technological availability are stunning features placed throughout the building. In-building services may also include cafes, restaurants, retail, gyms, roof terraces, balconies, and bike storage. The buildings employ concierge/lobby attendants to service the stunning lobby. Class A office space is perfect for an image conscious client or business looking to impress.
Some notable features of Class A buildings are:
- Full Service Building
- Newly Built or Renovated
- Large Lobby
- Cafeteria/Restaurants/Food Court
- Central Location/Central Business District
- Superior Infrastructure
- State-of-the-Art Technology
- Outstanding Security Standards
- Possible Indoor Atrium/Water Feature/Greenery
- High-End Finishes/Marble/Glass/Imported Tile
Class B Buildings
Commercial Class B Buildings tend to be older and outdated in comparison to Class A buildings. The buildings tend to offer run-of-the-mill office space. The technological capacity is usually good but rarely great. Offering average range for rents in the comparable market, they are typically nice and functional, but not nearly as impressive. Even with the seemingly commonplace description, Class B buildings boast modernization and improvements to offer the tenants. The maintenance, elevator systems, and HVAC are all practical and a great bang for your buck. Class B buildings tend to have attractive lobbies with lovely finishes, but not as high-end as the Class A buildings. Several of the Class B buildings may even have an attended lobby, security staff, or management present, possibly during or after business hours.
Notable features available in Class B buildings:
- Fully Functional
- Adequate Technology
- Nice Finishes
- Good Location
- Maintenance and Upkeep
- Wide Range of Tenants
- Solid Management
- Lobby Attendant/Security Staff
Class C Buildings
Commercial Class C Buildings attract tenants looking for office space with below average rent in a good location. The below market rent is not without its compromise; the buildings may have subpar maintenance and out-of-date finishes. Older buildings in need of modernization and renovations frequently fall into this classification. The technological capacity usually is outdated and feeble. The elevator system most likely original or non-existent. Generally functional and serviceable, the services are typically outdated in comparison to the Class A or B building services. The buildings pass on the “power lobby” and opt for an entrance with an intercom instead. Without the large lobby, a lobby attendant/concierge is rarely employed in Class C buildings. Class C buildings are a great economical choice for a no-frills tenants.
Some features of Class C Properties:
- Practical Basic Commercial Building properties with all the essential elements for businesses and entrepreneurs
- Below Average Rent; generally these properties stand on side streets in Manhattan – as such with ‘location’ the lease rates are reflected
- Older Buildings; many properties in this range features a historic *provenance if not an outright city Landmark.
- Average Services; office cleaning, trash, and other variables may or may not be offered in these properties – it depends on the individual property management / landlord itself.
- Technology Offered; Building access is commonly gained via tenant/staff key and or key-fob via the Lobby front entrance
- Older Elevator Systems; passenger elevators might be limited to a single car and or additionally maybe slow
- Rarely have Lobby Attendants/Concierge; on average these properties do not feature door man, and might not feature recent renovations or building improvements
*Provenance is the chronology of the ownership, custody or location of a historical object. The term was originally mostly used in relation to works of art but is now … (en.wikipedia.org)
Summary
An attended lobby differs in service and prestige offered to each tenant or business. Understandably the A, B, C classification for the buildings remind us high school assignments, but unlike high school you do not have to stress about attaining the “A” office space. Bear in mind, the classifications of buildings compete for different kinds of tenants and are mostly subjective.
More Info
If your interested in a building property that features an Attended Lobby, just give us a call or contact is online – we can delivery to you a Free Listings Survey detailing only those buildings that match your budget, location, staff needs, image, and overall comfort.
