by SCOTT SPECTOR, The New York Observer, February 10, 2014

Over the last few weeks, I’ve shared different “Tales from the Field,” each of which included a lesson I’ve learned while on the job. This week, in the fourth installment of this five-part series, I’m going to use an increasingly popular trend to illustrate a very valuable point: if you’re going to do something, do it right.

Lately more and more companies – from boutique firms to multinational corporations – are embracing rooftop terraces. However, utilizing your roof space is hardly a new trend. In fact, roof terraces began coming into favor four to five years ago, starting mainly with major, iconic buildings such as the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center. Fast forward to 2014 and things have changed. Roof terraces are now being frequently incorporated as a design “must” by tenants of all sizes, as well as landlords who are using them as a feature to attract tenants.

Their popularity is undeniable; I am asked about roof terraces on a nearly daily basis. A couple of weeks ago, I had a walk-through with a landlord client in Long Island City and we discussed taking advantage of his building’s 360-degree views of Manhattan and Long Island by creating an enormous rooftop terrace. I also recently worked with an established hedge fund client who enthusiastically collaborated with us to create a green lounge to enhance the work environment and build some stress relief in for his employees.

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