EQ Office hosts YouthBuild Boston students and staff for a building tour and Q&A session!

The mission of EQ Office is to help companies attract, retain, and inspire talent by creating effective workplaces. EQ Office partners with business leaders to design human-centered workplaces that deepen collaboration, strengthen a shared sense of belonging, and cultivate quiet moments that give way to meaningful work. While other real estate owners talk about square footage and floor plans, EQ Office focuses on the experience - how the space feels, activates, and performs. They builds economic health by regenerating urban spaces, preserving local culture, and driving humanity into the workplace. Learn more about this amazing company by visiting their website!

Given their incredibly meaningful mission, we at YouthBuild Boston were very interested in the technical aspects of how EQ Office is able to accomplish all of their goals, and we were not disappointed! Our tour began at an EQ Office-owned building on Lincoln Street in Downtown Boston, where the Property Manager and Building Engineer gave an in-depth 'back-of-house' tour focused on air ventilation systems. We were able to see the mechanical systems on the roof, as well as the different mechanical rooms and office spaces throughout the building. It was so beneficial to see the systems our students learn about during our training!

During our snack break, we had the opportunity to meet Fred Cook, the Director of Construction Management, for EQ Office. After Mr. Cook showed us some finishes he's working on for a building in Tennessee, the students were filled with questions. Because travel is restricted due to the pandemic, the students were curious to know how the EQ Office team was has able to keep track of the construction progress from afar. Fred discussed his use of OpenSpace for construction progress tracking, and even provided us with a link where we are able to see the progress of the project for ourselves!

The tour ended at 399 Boylston Street after an overview of the building and all of the functions that make it run. It was amazing to learn more about what the team at EQ Office does, and the various job opportunities that might be available to our students after they graduate from YouthBuild Boston. Our relationships with industry partners like EQ Office provide not only support for our programs and operations, but also job and internship placement opportunities and increased student engagement. EQ Office is a great example of the various ways that we work with our partners - in addition to this building tour, EQ Office hosts monthly workshops, mentoring sessions, and mock interviews for our students as part of our lifeskills curriculum.

Thank you, EQ Office! We look forward to our continued partnership for years to come.