London’s Global Office Economy

Rob Harris is a consultant and analyst in the commercial real estate sector, where he has spent over three decades advising developers, investors, occupiers and public sector bodies. His interests and experience range from advising occupiers on their use of space to the urban policies that help shape future cities: from the 'workstation to the city region'. Rob started work at design practice DEGW in the early 1980s, where he contributed to innovative work on new developments including Broadgate in the City of London and Stockley Park, Heathrow. He worked at surveyors DTZ and Gerald Eve in a research capacity, and he was director of research at Stanhope Properties plc in the 1990s. He established Ramidus Consulting Limited in 2003 as a specialist, independent built environment research and advisory business. Rob has a wealth of research experience that has involved projects throughout the property process, including design, development, management, investment and occupation. He has been involved in establishing and running a number of industry groups, including CoreNet UK, Federation of Corporate Real Estate, Society of Property Researchers and Workplace Consulting Organisation. Rob presents widely on a range of property market issues, and he has published industry reports recently for the British Council for Offices, Corporation of London, Greater London Authority, Investment Property Forum and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

1. Introduction 2. Recording: emerging white collar factories 3. Explaining: a facet of the city 4. Planning: a tale of indifference and ineptitude 5. Building: a triumph of hope over experience 6. Building: re-shaping a global city 7. Mediating: from advice to service 8. Working: from corporatism to individualism 9. Managing: from liability to corporate resource 10. Divining: from castles to condominiums