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This sound like an opportunity to optimize the business costs. Assuming they can get out of their lease or other contracts, cut the loss and write-off any earl

This sound like an opportunity to optimize the business costs. Assuming they can get out of their lease or other contracts, cut the loss and write-off any early cancellation contract penalties if possible in their state. Their finance department and tax consultants should be able to help with this. Let a philanthropist or co-founder lease the old/big building in a separate LLC and turn it into something cool if there is a desire to do so, keeping that burn rate out of the public numbers. Lease a much smaller building with some good parking and put in "hotel space" desks, wifi, healthy snacks. Keep it as lean as possible and keep the contracts to 1 or 2 years. This gives people a chance to mentor in person and for people that need socialization to do so. The smaller building should have some meeting and training rooms and also some private/quiet rooms so people can focus. There should be a few sound-proof booths for phone calls to keep distractions to a minimum. Ensure that all levels of management have bi-annual training to make the best of remote-work and to ensure their employees are productive, healthy and happy.

gooob 4y ago
well, yeah, that might be the default business choice. but it still leaves the question: what to do with the office space? what is the philanthropist going to do? should we completely renovate the building? demolish and rebuild? or is there an actual good use case for an old office building?
- LinuxBender 4y ago
  That's harder to answer. The building's zone may have existing restrictions that limit what may be done. For example, a common idea is to provide housing but that may not be an option depending on city ordinance and zoning regulations which means that philanthropist may first need to lobby the city to provide exemptions. If they donate or invest heavily in the city then they may get unfettered options or at least more options. Whether your company owns or leases the building is also a major limiting factor. - One example would be to make the first floor a branch office for the local police department. - If there is garage space then perhaps part of it could be sub-divided out to the fire department. Investing in the city buys a lot of power and exemptions from rules. - One floor could be turned into a public library that provides internet access, selling coffee and snacks. Accept donations of old PC's to be iPXE booted into windows or linux, users-choice, nfs/cifs diskless. - If the building is big enough, perhaps part of the first floor could be turned into a city civic center that people can rent out for events. - If the building already has a decent security system then perhaps one floor could be converted into a museum for the city. Local historians should enjoy this. - If there is a big parking garage it could sub-divided and become low-cost or free public parking, assuming the insurance company is down with this idea. Zoning regulations aside, all of these things have tax and insurance implications.

gooob 4y ago

well, yeah, that might be the default business choice. but it still leaves the question: what to do with the office space? what is the philanthropist going to do? should we completely renovate the building? demolish and rebuild? or is there an actual good use case for an old office building?

LinuxBender 4y ago
That's harder to answer. The building's zone may have existing restrictions that limit what may be done. For example, a common idea is to provide housing but that may not be an option depending on city ordinance and zoning regulations which means that philanthropist may first need to lobby the city to provide exemptions. If they donate or invest heavily in the city then they may get unfettered options or at least more options. Whether your company owns or leases the building is also a major limiting factor. - One example would be to make the first floor a branch office for the local police department. - If there is garage space then perhaps part of it could be sub-divided out to the fire department. Investing in the city buys a lot of power and exemptions from rules. - One floor could be turned into a public library that provides internet access, selling coffee and snacks. Accept donations of old PC's to be iPXE booted into windows or linux, users-choice, nfs/cifs diskless. - If the building is big enough, perhaps part of the first floor could be turned into a city civic center that people can rent out for events. - If the building already has a decent security system then perhaps one floor could be converted into a museum for the city. Local historians should enjoy this. - If there is a big parking garage it could sub-divided and become low-cost or free public parking, assuming the insurance company is down with this idea. Zoning regulations aside, all of these things have tax and insurance implications.