 Then go we're back three o'clock Rock with Clarissa Marquardt on bikes at Pacific Guardians She is with Pacific Guardian the two towers there one of my favorite buildings in downtown Welcome to the show Clarissa. Thank you. Great to have you here. Yeah You know, I just want to just want to say that I care about bikes a lot And this is about downtown's unique bike repair station at Pacific Guardian I think that public spaces are very important and I personally was sensitized to that issue when I was watching I guess it was educational television and I saw a talk by a guy named Michael Kimmelman Who is the New York Times? Architectural reporter and he was giving a talk at Yale And he was talking about public spaces and I realized from that talk that Honolulu, you know, although it has many redeeming features It's it has not done a very good job at public spaces a public space is a space That's comfortable and warm that that draws you in sort of like you see in Europe all the time And a public space is a place where you you know, you feel at home that makes you want to be where you are Usually involves food And so forth and you guys a Pacific Guardian you're thinking those thoughts you're thinking that's important What what is your thinking? Well, I think generally speaking we take responsibility We want to engage our environment and that includes the public spaces that you're talking about whether it's on the street side the curbs We've even there's a strip of median strip on Nimitz Highway that we've taken I want to take control of but we take in Ownership of and we it doesn't belong to us. It's a city and county We actually took out all the weeds put a new grass and we water it and use it that sort So it's it's really about just engaging and being a part of what we have what we're blessed with The courtyard is also another place to your big building. It's a big building You're building involves hundreds of millions of dollars of capital investment. Yes Why do you do such things? Does it does it return a profit for you to do that? I wouldn't say it returns a profit, but there is intrinsic value, right? People are happier when they see greener spaces people are happier when they see a tropical atmosphere in our courtyard It keeps our tenants happy. It keeps our passerby's happy. It's a give back I guess that's kind of how we see it our ownership is very very serious about being able to give back I love that we all love that fortunate good citizenship is what it is. We want everybody to think that way So we focus today on bikes Why bikes and why did you do this special bike bike station in front of Grover? Excuse me? That's how I remember it to and But I think it's the brainchild of our asset manager Brian Brian more and he was traveling And he's a shout-out to Brian Brian. Hi. Hey, Brian. This is great Yes, and so he was traveling and he came across the station of this sort and he thought that would be a wonderful add to what we wanted to accomplish we have bike racks I guess you know for the public but more importantly we knew that We're gonna have the city is very serious about adding back bike lanes in our neighborhood And so we know downtown for instance. We knew a lot of our tenants were into Conservation energy conservation sustainability and they wanted alternative Transportation modes and so a lot of them were asking about what about bike lockers? What about bike facilities things of that sort? So we haven't turned it up here I guess and so as Brian saw this he's like how about let's put a space a station because if we have more bikers They'll need a place to work and let's create something. That's artistic and still you know functional So that's what this bike repair station is. Yeah, it's a great. It's a station and it what it says is that we care about the city We care about transportation in the city. We care about our tenants, which is a great statement to tenants It's a as you said one of our most important statements Yeah, and and and we are part of a larger system of things that encourage people to ride bikes Yes, you know Hawaii could reel and Honolulu could realize its destiny if it could turn into a bike city Right, there's the bike share program. We've we've actually hosted some of their Activities over the years, you know those who are have bike share like ideas We know we embrace it In many ways, we're supportive. We want to understand how it's going to impact us and how we can help So let's talk about what it is. We have a slide show. Can we do a slide show with you? Sir, all right Clarissa Markwart a slide show the meeting place go for it So this is what we talked a little bit about the green space and how do we? Engage our tenants and have a place for them to just really commune. That's what PGC does We have eateries we have a cafe Honolulu cafe and what we want to do is Provide a place where teams are tenants can actually come down and meet, you know instead of being upstairs They have beautiful views, but yet they want to be in the greenery So that's one of the reasons why we say that PGC is part of this meeting place arena. Yeah, I Think that's important to doing business actually It's key. We have Wi-Fi there, you know in the courtyard in the courtyard And so you're absolutely right you'll have a lot of Independent freelancers come through and they'll be in our courtyard and they'll they're waiting for their next appointment with our tenants Yeah, and they're engaging in business. They're being continuous, you know in there I think you know if you if you meet in an office if you have a meeting that is an important meeting You know a substantive meeting in the office It blurs into all the other meetings in the office, and you you know in your recollection of it You just see a lot of office walls, but if you meet out outside That that tapestry at Tableau is different than any other meeting because now you're remembering the greenery You remember the table you sat at the aroma and aroma There's a lot of food. Yes, so true and there's brainstorming brainstorming definitely happens more Actively I think in that environment. You know we also have I you know the one encourages, but we do have pubs too So that also you know encourages creativity and relaxation in their thought process. So We we love that we actually have on Fridays We have music so people can come down and they go there maybe some video of the music, you know Yes, lunchtime. We have music every Fridays. We have popcorn. We have a lot of different things that Encourage people to come down. You know it reminds me of of a city in France And well most cities in France you have a central square which you have yes And you have restaurants around the side. Maybe ice cream Oh, maybe the sandwich whatever and you can come and enjoy and there's always music, you know And this is a European concept, yeah, right? so the question though is and we had a show about this one time is Could we have a glass of wine there? We have events we have a lot of tenants that actually throw functions. Oh, yeah, okay, so I Guess I must say that if they were to do so they would have to have a license. Yeah, that's the problem But we do have like I said, we have Ferguson's right there. Yeah, you can definitely have Glass of wine there and they have a little courtyard on the outside too that you can enjoy that. Yeah, so I Would love to say yes come because I love wine, you know, but um No, there's there's there's other who knows what will happen exactly. There's things you could do You can ask him we can see you see you're starting to get the picture. You're starting to get a picture about Pacific Guardian It's it's a it's a brand. It's a franchise It's a special persona in the downtown community in the business world And of course at the end of the day, they like to fill up the building with tenants But in the process, you know, they're creating a persona. That's really very appealing We'll take a short break. We'll come back and we'll talk about how that fits in the development of our city Hi, I'm Cheryl cruiser Garcia. I'm the host of working together on think tech Hawaii It's a program where we discuss the impact of change on workers employers and the economy So join us every other tuesday from floracock to 430. We're live in the studio on working together In think tech Hawaii. Take care. See you soon. Bye I'm standing as a man and I want you to be here every friday noon think tech Hawaii calm. What's the show be there? I pity the fool wait My name is Seymour Kazimerski. I have a show called Seymours world on think tech Hawaii Our show is about opening minds and facilitating conversations To tell you the truth. I have no idea what we're going to be talking about I have no idea who our guests are going to be but I guarantee you we're going to have lots and lots of fun Aloha from Seymours world It's a bike a great bike. That's a nice bike. Yes So we have some more photos. Let's finish those and you can you know help us with the slideshow What's what's going on here? So this is actually what it is just chatting to you about in the break We know that our landscape or our um Make our tenant makeup is changing with the times. We have a new generation You know that that's because our makeup of the city is changing. Yeah, so true. So true. So we need to be proactive. We need to Basically engage not only to have a meeting place, but how do the millennials for instance? How do they want to interface with each other in their work environment? So we were thinking of let's have fun. Let's start adding different things We have a ping-pong table right now, you know, that's so there's another slide that actually shows that So you'll actually see people having meetings and then right behind them people are playing You know because I think millennials they work hard But they also like to play they like to relax and we want it to be able to you know service that need and so Yeah, there's just a lot of things we have a lot of this slide talks about all the tenant events that we have We have oh my gosh, that's a on the bottom. There's our tenants. Those are tenants dressed up as pac-man and The different get-ups. It's just a fun place. You have to come that only during lunchtime. Okay, you come during the holidays Interesting kind of tenants. You have it Exactly, especially the one the lion Well, it strikes me that you know, as I said the city is changing The demographic of the city is changing it better it needs to We we can't have the glass ceiling anymore. We've got to allow for opportunity for younger people Let the millennials come in do business Be your tenants be successful be successful. Yes make money make make new economy for us They are the driving lest we forget. It's not state government. That is the driving force It's it's the people who are in business who you know earn money pay salaries all that stuff Absolutely. So, you know, I really commend you and brian on the notion that you're part of the changing landscape in Honolulu we want to be yeah I don't think a lot of buildings Head of the head of the pack. I can't speak for the other buildings But I know we've been talking about it for a while. It's just about just trying to fund the projects that we think will probably Make the most impact. Yeah, you know And some of them are just fun, you know, we love that a lot of the people who work for Pacific Garden Center. They just enjoy, you know, having a good time too. Yeah, I mean, I can I can see for example You know, usually business office building landlord wants to see nationals wants to see successful businesses in there We have a lot of them. I'm sure you do. Yes enormous amount of square footage of great spaces and all But you know that coming soon you're going to have to rent To younger people who are going into business and that's just it's a risk there And that's another point of commendation, you know, that you're willing to take that risk the co-working spaces for instance Let's talk about that. Yes We've we've seen them around and we know the concept We've entertained the thought maybe they should be considered a block You know or a block tenant or maybe a tenant within our space And if that's the case, you know, we have to look at things differently, right? We talked a little bit about revenue streams and and some of the risks But yet at the same time we're going to be able to see them incubate and grow and hopefully become a permanent tenant so there's that That little transitional piece that we we understand happens with the new Up-and-coming, you know entrepreneurs So we were thinking that what we can do is they love technology Right, they love like I said, they work hard. We we'd love to engage more technology around the building Our elevators are newly modernized. We have the state-of-the-art system They're fun too. I mean I use the word fun forgive me, but because the younger generation, they're so used to using touch pads It's so intuitive for them, you know so we have a sophisticated, you know dispatching system with our elevators and The older generation has to think about it, but the someone a millennial just it's instinctual for them, right? And they find that, you know, just it just peaks Peaks there the creativity. So we want to continue to do that What I get out of this is that the city is in transition Even Neil Abercrombie talked about that when kakaako was first getting planned And then we have to take care of our young people to hold them here You have to make make it attractive enough that they should stay And we have to, you know, provide industry and business for them in places where they can do their creativity And co-working was only the beginning, but I really like the notion of taking co-working to a commercial level Having a space that's a co-working space in a downtown office building is a real turn on for not only for me But for all of those millennials, they knew this they would be, you know, coming knocking at your door just to be involved I think because of networking capability right there They we have the best legal minds in our building. We have architects engineers. I mean, we have scientists. We have security tech companies They're right there for them too. So you're right resources exactly so they're exposed. They don't have to leave I mean, I kid about this we even have a dentist, but it's true You know, you can eat Live and play in our in our facility and the millennials. I think that they will find that very attractive Like you said and a resource definitely a resource. I can see it now You know, they become familiar with another tenant. Maybe a tenant they can offer them some advice or counsel Come on down, you know to the courtyard. Let's have a let's have lunch Happens all the time Let's let's cross the generations, you know, right and they become clients of Another tenant or vice versa symbiotic for sure. Yes So, you know, I mean, this is really remarkable in the sense that we have needed this for a while in my opinion We have needed to recognize that generation. We have needed to recognize the transformation that we must have And biking is part of that And so, you know, the problem is if you give if you give me one building like this, okay And one bike stand like that It's a beginning it's a statement But you need them all over town So you you guys are the first and that's to your credit But what what needs to happen Clarissa to make this all knit together With our community, you mean our downtown community I think they do have to embrace it as much as we do. I think they they can't ignore it any longer that There's a need for people to Look at alternatives alternative transportation right now is what you're talking about. There's the rail. I know It's so controversial and I don't want to speak too heavily on that But it's coming, you know, and so how do we prepare? How do we engage? the thousands millions of people that'll come right up our corridor Whether it's parklets that, you know, we have architects away. For instance, they they've put out some parklets every once in a while On our curbside wonderful Places of engagement right on the street. That's if we've got more of that more of a pedestrian feel Get people of the cars It might be a way that we might have to embrace hard to say, you know, but definitely it's about Creating some space though some space for all of these people to go and all these people to create and keep our young people Yeah, yeah, you know, it just it just gave me an idea You know, right? We we send people out with think tech with a with a mobile camera. We do live You know and we walk around downtown and we interview people on the street It's really an interesting experience and what we have found is that most of people we meet on the street down here Live a short a short distance from downtown. They're in the central business in the core And they're not from you know far away and one of the reasons they're not from far away is because it's too hard to drive I mean, I like that that's bars. It's a gate and it keeps people out because it's such a burden To come downtown sitting traffic for four hours a day But I'm I'm being optimistic about this But the rail could change that The rail could have people come without that barrier come from far away to downtown For jobs for businesses for doing business, you know in downtown Honolulu and it's going to stop on bishop street there Bishop and Nimitz I think now right near your building and that is probably for downtown Revitalization of sorts. Don't you think? Yes, definitely. Um, we're excited But we're also watching because we're not certain, right? There's a lot of uncertainty Of how it's going to transfer and there's you know, there's the aloha tower That's kitty car kitty corner to us And so there with hpu and things that them it's going to be a wonderful experience for them probably right? Yeah So you we want to encourage and be happy for the neighbors because you're right the more people that are exposed to our property In many ways the better because we can bring in more people that want to you know do business in our property But um, it's I have a prediction for you Clarissa My prediction is that other buildings who knows maybe because of your appearance on the show Okay, Clarissa Marquardt specific guardian Because of your appearance on the show they're going to get the idea and other buildings and there are what you know At least half a dozen other major office buildings In that area They're going to get the idea and downtown could change With this change in culture that you're creating and that could attract a lot of people new businesses new new retail new new New activities in the downtown. I like your prediction. I think it's it's it's I think it's going to happen And it's different from kaka akawa. There's a master plan With downtown it's ourselves It's the building owners themselves seeing the need and the desire to change It's organic right and part of that has to be hpu because we see them here on fort street They walk up and down those kids, you know from the top to the bottom and they they they fill the street They feel different vibe every day and there's so much fun. We go and interview them too. Yeah But you know, they they lend a new a new tone to the downtown area downtown is in transformation It is we're trying to be more safe for them. Yes, you know, um, we're trying to be more Visual more lit more. Yeah, you know, and you're right. I'm glad that they're there They bring a different they've you know, I think what they're doing also is they're expanding all the way around too So you it wouldn't be surprising that you'll see them kind of go into Our side our buildings too, you know, some of your businesses will attract them, right? You know, they can go and eat in the courtyard too and all that So I think it and it's only a block away from, you know, we're right across the street. Yeah And then of course there's chinatown, which uh, you know, the thing go wet. What was it wild and wet? On the wild side this past weekend. Look at all the restaurants there now. Yeah, exactly There's a kind of revitalization in chinatown And this has an effect on downtown. Yes the arts the arts are coming. We have pop-up galleries um, we really um every time we have An opportunity we all invite artists to come we've actually just recently probably Maybe a couple of weeks ago. We had some UH artists in the courtyard. Yes Actually in one of our suites. Ah, so it was a true gallery. Yeah, you know, so that tenants and patrons could See their work and they can be exposed. That's really what we're about Brian, you know, everyone at PGC. They're definitely into just Commissioning new art on site. We have John Koga who put I don't know if you saw that I think in one of the slide show pictures There's a poi pounder and taro a bronze poi pounder and taro that John Koga commissioned, you know, several years ago so So if I if I want to find out about events that you're doing in Pacific Guardia, is there a first I can look We It's only for the tenants. It's definitely tenant events, but come and ask us. Yeah. Okay. All right Because I think a lot of people would be interested in knowing you know I like to see a downtime where people walk around at lunch and actually take a walk and see, you know Sites and sounds and events. Maybe a couple of blocks away I think there was a time that happened. This could happen again. Yeah, well, we have a st. Patrick Day like From Murphy's I'm not certain who knows but right now we're a little bit more low-key than a block party of that sort Okay, well, you're not low-key today actually Clarissa But let me add you know one other thing it seems to me that, you know, there's there's all good prospect here and you're revealing it and The one thing that I think will, you know Make the deal really work Is a city where people can walk and bike And so, you know, my own feeling is that king street bikeway not enough We have that biking everywhere And I wonder how you see the future Because you're involved. You're leading the future. You're you're creating iconic, you know Equipment so to speak and situations is the bike station And I wonder how you see it evolving On a transportation basis Well, you I think we touched upon this or you might have not had another session But yes the the city definitely wants to be in downtown So our quarter our bishop street is earmarked to have a bike lane It's probably going to be on our side And we we see that like I said we've hosted some bike I guess bike share like Gosh, I can't forgive me a location Yeah, those people that want to see and take surveys and things of that sort I'm going to see that all over. That's what I'm saying. You know, we have to see that So will we have Bikes somewhere Everywhere, I think it's just a matter of time for us. We're going to have to probably Engage and along the rest of the city. We're going to have to put more bike Stations probably like ours, you know to embrace them. Yeah Well, I think we could invite people down to take a look at the one there. It's there now. Yeah, it's there now It's been there for about a month or two of it. It's it's painted. There it is And um, you can actually repair it your own self. Yes, there's tools there Um, there's a tool kit in the in the in the big stand there Right. So what people do is they take off their tires to repair them and there's a pump to provide air For their tires and so it's just so one stop stop for people Well, it's a statement of humanity and humanness I think and god wouldn't it wouldn't it be wonderful if how city could all follow your lead on this And I can't take credit, but pgc's lead. Yes And um, yeah, and just do it everywhere all up and down the street I think it would attract not only people but business And we would all of a sudden have a different image downtown a different, you know persona of the city Yes, we welcome we welcome people to come to pgc and see what we have and You know, um, we welcome tenants to continue to provide feedback because they have the pulse to you know, so I agree. Well, thank you for being responsive To you know, the new changes in our city and being part of them of course. That's great Thank you so much for coming on our show. Oh, I'm glad like I said, I'm glad to be here. Thank you for having me Okay