As we continue to battle our way through the current COVID-19 healthcare crisis, many of us are wondering what life will be like when we can leave our homes, go to the office, and congregate with friends and business associates.

There’s no question that life will be different. We’ve been hearing from contractors, property managers, building owners, architects and interior designers that the building, real estate sales and leasing sectors will become much more competitive for a variety of reasons.

Tenants may find that they require less space and actually like the efficiencies of having a remote work force. After all, a business’s largest expense, second to payroll, is rent.  Many companies might find that they like decreasing that expense while not compromising work flow and quality.

They will also pay more attention to issues that weren’t that important during a booming economy, such as electrical bills. And, with large inventories of space – both residential and commercial – tenants will have the upper hand while looking for ways to save money and for the extras that provide more comfortable work and living benefits. Likewise, landlords, property managers, and owners will strive to bring more value to the tenant experience.

Recently, we’ve seen a significant increase in the installation of exterior louvers that can provide functional and design benefits which can give buildings a competitive edge in the marketplace. The need for these systems has increased over the years since more buildings use larger expanses of glass, resulting in more consideration of efficient sun control. Louvers accomplish this while adding unique architectural features. Installed on the exterior walls of buildings, louvers provide design and functional benefits, including:

• Reduction of building heat gain and cooling requirements
• Improvement of natural lighting quality
• Reduction of energy consumption
• Protect occupant health, improve employee production
• Reduction of glare and peak electricity gain

Keep in mind that there are other strategies such as the application of various tints and interior curtains and shades that block heat. However, the most effective effort involves controlling the sunlight before it enters the building by actually shading the exterior glazing.

These louvers can be installed on existing buildings and those in the planning stages. They meet all LEED standards, and most important they do not block views and allow tenants to enjoy natural lighting.

In addition, they add to the visual impact of the building through the use of fixed, adjustable or retractable blades. While some of these louvers are fixed others can be customized with light-sensing and timing controls. There are also options for push-button hand-held remotes that can be operated much like a television remote control or from a cell phone App.

These louvers also add distinctive architectural design elements with a wide range of options, such as:

• Wood finishes
• Aluminum  and glass blades
• Air foil blades
• Exterior Venetian blinds
• Colors

Louvers are a dynamic building product that offer energy savings, design impact, lighting control, and a new and appealing architectural element. These are among the many amenities and features that tenants will seek in what will clearly be a “buyers” market when it comes to leasing offices and apartments and buying condominiums.

There will be changes once this crisis passes and those in the leasing and sales sectors will have to adapt or lose out in what will certainly be a competitive market. The successful professionals realize the importance of attracting new tenants and keeping older ones with design and environmental features that enhance the work environment. It starts with the exterior walls.