Mayerson Family Investing Millions to upgrade Scripps Center

EXCLUSIVE: Mayerson family investing millions to upgrade Scripps Center: PHOTOS bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/05/19/exclusive-mayerson-family-investing-millions-to.html

By Tom Demeropolis – Senior Staff Reporter, Cincinnati Business Courier May 19, 2020, 12:02pm EDT Updated May 19, 2020, 12:15pm EDT The Mayerson family, owners of the Scripps Center in downtown Cincinnati, are investing millions of dollars upgrading one of the city’s largest class A office towers.

The upgrades will include a new elevator system, security system upgrades, lobby renovations and new and upgraded amenity spaces and fitness center. The total investment is expected to be between $4 million and $5 million.

Neal Mayerson, president of the Mayerson Co., said with other office owners investing in their buildings and plans for new office buildings in the works downtown, as well as changes to the way people work, it was the right time to make improvements.

Neal Mayerson“Our challenge is to stay the premier, class A office building in the Central Business District,” said.

Adam Mayerson, vice president of Mayerson Co., said they performed extensive research and information gathering to determine what upgrades to make in Scripps Center, located at 312 Walnut St. Adam Mayerson“We figured out we need to take care of our tenants,” told me. “This is their home away from home.”

One of the most extensive pieces of the building upgrade will be a new elevator system. The Mayersons are working with ThyssenKrupp Elevator on the project.

Adam MayersonThe elevators in Scripps Center will be destination dispatch style elevators. said this is a highly efficient system and it provides a lot of security controls to tenants.

If a tenant leases an entire floor, they will be able to decide if their floor is open to the public or not, a setting that building management can change when needed.

Another feature that will be desirable post-Covid-19 is that the elevators can be touchless.

The system has Bluetooth capability that will allow tenants to call for an elevator without pressing a button. Plus, guests will receive badges that are scanned and bring an elevator cab that will take them to the floor they are visiting.

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Neal MayersonCincinnati Children’s Hospital has a similar elevator system on its campus and asked how it has worked. He said their response was “people get to meetings on time now.”

One of the other areas that will see the most attention during the upgrade is security.

Scripps Center has already installed a system that recognizes license plates, with every plate having its photo taken. They’ve also installed high-speed roll gates, which help keep the garage more secure.

Adam Mayerson“We’re being proactive, showing tenants we care about how you want to live in this building,” said.

The lobby also will be renovated with enhanced lighting, painting, new furniture, and a repositioning of the security desk. Ever since the shooting at Fifth Third Center, the Mayersons have been evaluating and rethinking safety measures and security in the building.

The relocated security desk will give enhanced line of sight for all building entrances. The old building directory that was next to the security desk will be replaced with artwork from the Mayerson family collection.

Some of the enhanced LED lighting will have color changing abilities, so the lobby can be lit up in orange for Bengals games or red for Opening Day. On the southern end of the lobby, the Mayersons are bringing in Urbana Café as a new tenant. They will have renovated an existing kiosk for Urbana Café.

Adam Mayerson“The new furniture we will be putting in is feeding off of that design and look of clean, crisp and natural wood,” said. “The furniture on the cafe side is going in that direction, with bistro, restaurant-style seating and a communal table.”

Adam MayersonIn watching how tenants use the building, said they found workers who have open offices would use this space if they needed to get away for a bit but still want get some work done.

The Mayersons also are building out an office suite for the building’s concierge service, Best Upon Request.

Adam MayersonOne fun and useful addition to the amenity offerings at Scripps Center is a golf simulator on the 10th floor. said this is something buildings are offering in larger markets. The simulator will a small table so tenants can have meetings in that space as well.

Instead of a typical meeting or presentation, tenants will be able to go over a pitch while playing Pebble Beach.

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Adam Mayerson“This is a unique thing as we continue to separate ourselves from other buildings in the downtown area,” said.

The improvements also will include an enhanced and upgraded fitness center, with modernized locker rooms, updated equipment, towel service and plans to offer a group fitness room.

Scripps Center, which opened in 1990, was developed by Manuel Mayerson and Duke Real Estate.

The building is currently about 92% occupied, but the Mayersons want to make sure the building remains attractive to potential tenants and provides what its existing tenants need.

Tenants include E.W. Scripps Co., Graydon and JLL. The building enhancements started at the beginning of April. The elevator upgrade will be a two-year project and it also will include all new elevator cabs. The lobby renovations are expected to be complete by mid-July.

Elevar Design Group and Bambeck & Vest Associates Inc. are working on the renovations and upgrades at Scripps Center. FabACab will be working on the interior finishes of the elevator cabs.

Neal MayersonWith all of these renovations, said it all goes back to a conversation he had with his dad when he was a teenager. Manuel Mayerson told Neal to figure out how you are able to add value to other people’s lives and they will pay you for it.

Neal Mayerson“With everything we decide, are we going to do that and spend money on that, are we adding value to our tenants’ lives,” said. “If we’re not adding value, then why are we doing it?”

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