by Shane Henson — July 1, 2013—Professional services and investment management firm Jones Lang LaSalle recently announced that it has been awarded a contract with the state of Tennessee to help it achieve even greater efficiencies throughout its 10.5-million-square-foot real estate portfolio.
Jones Lang LaSalle will provide comprehensive facilities management services for Tennessee’s state-owned and leased office facilities. This facilities management partnership is expected to save the state an estimated $50 million over the next five years, the company says.
The state’s objectives in outsourcing facilities management services are to:
- Reduce operating costs
- Improve the quality and timeliness of services
- Implement “best in class” real estate practices
- Provide continuous innovation and leadership
- Provide scalable and flexible energy and sustainability solutions for state buildings
This contract award builds on the company’s strong relationship with the state. Jones Lang LaSalle was hired in 2012 to assist reducing the state’s real estate portfolio by more than one million square feet. Jones Lang LaSalle completed an in-depth facilities assessment of 33 state buildings, covering 4.6 million square feet. A master occupancy plan also was completed, which contained recommendations for more efficient use and operation of state real estate. The plan identified under and over-utilized properties and included recommendations to optimize the short and long-term capital asset program, the firm says.
The state then launched Transforming Tennessee for Tomorrow (Project T3) to move approximately 14,000 employees from expensive or outdated office space into more efficient and improved buildings. This program has resulted in updated office space, increasing employee productivity by significantly improving the work environment, says Jones Lang LaSalle.
“The State of Tennessee is truly innovative in its approach to managing real estate,” said Herman Bulls, chair of public institutions, Jones Lang LaSalle. “It is setting the bar for all state governments looking for opportunities to improve employee work environments while displaying fiscal responsibility toward the state’s owned and leased real estate assets.”
