Abstracts of major presentations of the International Development Research Council (IDRC), the world’s preeminent corporate real estate association.
“Global Corporate Real Estate Practices,” IDRC New York World Congress Workshop, May 1, 2000: This session reviewed the Annual Survey of Corporate Real Estate Practices, conducted each year by Johnson Controls in conjunction with IDRC. Among most real estate units, the new survey found, supporting business objectives was the prime objective, not providing cost-effective facilities, which was the No. 1-rated objective in previous surveys. The new survey also revealed a significant difference in the approach of corporate real estate operatives vs. service providers. “Corporates were primarily focusing on meeting business unit needs and meeting workplace growth, and then they got into costs. The service providers were focusing almost exclusively on costs as the primary issue — nearly all of them,” explained Barry Varcoe, Johnson Controls director of strategic development.
“Real Estate Decisions @ the Speed of Business,” IDRC New York World Congress Workshop, May 2, 2000: This session focused on the strategy behind the creation of Medtronic’s new corporate campus in the Minneapolis metro. “This is a perfect example of an alliance between a corporation and their service providers to really identify the project, create a process and ultimately deliver a place,” said moderator Michael O’Malley, executive director of corporate services with USAA Realty. Said Donn Hagmann, Medtronic director of real estate and facilities planning, “Our first step was to link our business strategy to the real estate strategy. In doing that, we translated the strategic plan into action.”
“Koch on Everything,” IDRC New York World Congress Luncheon Address by Former New York Mayor Edward Koch, May 2, 2000: Energetic ex-mayor Koch is not a shy man. He had more opinions flying that kites on a blustery spring day. “Forget about hanging on to the end if I say something you don’t like,” Koch said in opening. “Accept that you are wrong and move on.” A few sample musings:
On Bill Clinton: “In his public life, he has been incredible, but in his personal life, he’s a scoundrel. He can’t control it; it’s called hormones.”
On Elian Gonzalez: “You have to realize that the child belongs to his father, and the fact that his father happens to be a communist . . . well, that’s too bad.”
On current Mayor Rudolph Giuliani: “Now he’s a good mayor, but he’s still not a nice guy.”
* denotes summary presentation available on Web
