Interview with : Alexis Motte, CEO of Mobilitis, a property strategy and consultancy firm

Why opt for an office in a business centre rather than in a traditional building?

Alexis Motte: In traditional premises, the company has a rent, charges, an installation cost equivalent to an annual rent, and a cost of living. To this you have to add a two- or three-month rent guarantee and a nine-month deposit. In a business centre, she can simply arrive and plug in her computer. On the other hand, she saves on the cost of living thanks to shared services.

Is there a limit to the business centre solution?

A. M. : Over time, renting an office in a business centre is 20 % higher than renting a lease... The longer you rent, the less profitable this solution becomes. It is also difficult for a company to personalise its offices and have its own organisation. Because of the economic crisis, rental values have fallen from 20 % to 40 % over the past year, and lessors are prepared to negotiate.

What are the trends in office design?

A. M. : The trend is towards a collaborative working environment. The generation arriving on the market is looking for fun and an atmosphere rather than a salary. As a result, in order to attract and retain this young talent, we need to fit out our premises with new technologies and provide living spaces where they can relax and concentrate... In addition, given that only 50 or even 30 % workstations are occupied, we need to give some real thought to the concept of shared offices.