McKinstry Innovation Center

McKinstry is a full-service design, build, operate, and maintain (DBOM) firm that advocates sustainable solutions for its clients to ultimately optimize client profitability for the life of their buildings. At their core, they are committed to innovation and forming relationships, and that commitment led them to develop the McKinstry Innovation Center.

McKinstry Innovation Center supports innovative entrepreneurs/start-ups by providing space conducive to idea creation and enrichment and resources to see ideas through to fruition. By housing the entrepreneurs, McKinstry is not necessarily investing directly in the start-ups, but are essentially giving them a vote of confidence, though investment opportunities sometimes result from the relationships built during the short-term lease periods. The vetting process is thorough; they don't lease space to just anyone. McKinstry wants to be sure potential tenants are working toward their goals and have sufficient funding to support development of their product as well as make rent each month. They also want to be sure tenants have a comprehensive business plan and an plan to exit the center within a reasonable period of time. Tenants include a mix of cleantech, high-tech, life sciences, and educational companies. Tenants can lease space as small as 100 sf or lease expandable suites to grow as their ideas begin to take shape, but every tenant has full access to all of the amenities offered, including conference rooms, mail room, on-site personal trainer, fitness center with basketball court, campus deli, even a small driving range.

Inside the Innovation Center

The spaces are clean, simple, modern and offer basic comforts, but everything a company needs to get going, even customized computers if needed. Customization of the spaces though, according to Tony Stewart, is saved for when the companies move away and have their own space. A tenant isn't going to get a red wall just because he wants one. This space is for thinking and getting off the ground, not living; though Tony repeatedly referred to the spaces as "home" and the tenants as "family". Indeed, the spaces encourage interaction between tenants, but McKinstry does not waste time with people who just want another place to hang out besides their garage or basement.

Tony stressed that McKinstry didn't do this as a real estate play. They do it because it needs to be done; though he readily admits it's "about the money". While McKinstry may not make a lot of money off of leases, the relationships they build and investments they occasionally make and referrals they receive down the road are the pay-off.

It is refreshing to see a company with the presence and influence that McKinstry has focus beyond its own success and put its effort into encouraging and making others successful. Their core business obviously serves the environmental and economic aspects of sustainability through development of efficient buildings, but through the Innovation Center, they link the social aspect as well.