An Interview with Henry Chamberlain, President and COO of BOMA

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The Building Owners and Managers Association, or BOMA, has been the leading trade association for commercial real estate professionals for more than 100 years. BOMA was founded in 1907 to be a federation of U.S. local associations and global affiliates. With a mission to advance a vibrant commercial real estate industry through advocacy, influence and knowledge – BOMA successfully represents owners, managers, service providers and all property professionals for any type of commercial building. One of the key leaders of this renowned association is Henry H. Chamberlain.

As president and chief operating officer, Henry Chamberlain manages the large staff of the Building Owners and Managers Association. Henry is also a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, American Society of Association Executives and the National Capital Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. His work throughout the 36 years in which he has held his title at BOMA has made him an invaluable source for information.

The President and COO of BOMA, Henry H. Chamberlain on the TKE Index Report

This year, we are releasing our 2021 TK Elevator Index Report which will revolutionize the way buildings are managed. By collecting data from over 86,000 elevators in the U.S. and Canada, we are able to see patterns of where people work and if they are returning to their buildings. This transparent source of information can be put to great use as we discover solutions that will allow for workers to feel comfortable coming into the office.

We had the privilege to chat with Henry Chamberlain of BOMA about the trends we saw with the TK Elevator Index Report, starting with methods to utilize our data for building optimization. Henry spoke on telework and how this routine of work will remain common over 50% of the time moving forward. He then touched on the importance of analytics being translated into action as tenants want to create better flexibility and workflow through technology.

When conveying how technology could help us to get through this pandemic, Henry emphasized the importance of mobile apps that allow tenants to access buildings and elevators without needing to press a button. He believes that people are already looking for buildings that possess this technology since they know it is safer. Touchless technology being implemented into elevators will assure tenants and workers that they are being cared for.

While telework is becoming increasingly popular, Henry confirmed the eagerness for workers to return to the office. This is information that we see a pattern of in our data from the TK Elevator Index report. He emphasized that people like to see each other and get energy from one another when being collaborative with informal meetings. As much as workers want to return to the office, Henry recognizes that they also want to remain healthy. So, what is the solution to this complication?

“Access to the latest and greatest with office and state-of-the-art tools. That’s the magic middle that creates a synergy going forward. Creating platforms where creativity can happen and reinforce relationships. Different balance going forward – accentuates the ability to be productive.”

- Henry H. Chamberlain

That magic middle which will create a synergy going forward seems closer than ever with 5G, AI, analytics, and technology through touchless solutions. Building management is changing and we know that elevator innovation needs to stay at the forefront of this shift. Henry stated, “Elevators are the backbone of the building”, and TKE is committed to being a strong backbone. Through learning from the data in the TK Elevator Index Report, we will leverage new technology to keep building managers happy and tenants safe.