Savills is a UK-based firm that offers global services and consulting in the real estate sector. Every two years, the Savills Tech Cities Index ranks the 30 best cities for the tech industry, and New York City has been ranked first in the 2019 edition. In the previous two rankings published in 2015 and 2017, the first and second places were occupied by Austin and San Francisco, respectively. They are still among the top 10 in the 2019 ranking, but NYC has taken the lead.

The Savills Tech Cities Index considers a total of 100 metrics, divided among the six categories listed below:

• Business environment
• Tech environment
• City buzz & wellness
• Talent pool
• Real estate costs
• Mobility

Compared with other developed cities, the 30 tech cities in the ranking can expect much higher economic growth during the next decade. While the estimated GDP growth for developed cities is 19% on average, the cities featured in the Savills ranking are expected to grow by 36%.

How Did NYC Reach the Top of the Savills Tech Cities Index?

According to Bloomberg, three main factors have helped NYC reach the top of the Savills ranking:

• A large talent pool for the technology sector, and the capacity to source talent from anywhere around the world.
• An abundance of venture capital for startups and business expansion
• Large-scale transportation infrastructure that provides many options for citizens.

Real estate costs are the weak spot of NYC in the Savills ranking, but the benefits described above outweigh this factor. This also means that developers targeting the tech sector can become more competitive if they optimize construction costs and reduce rental rates.

Optimize development costs with professional engineering services.

New York City’s ranking at the top of the Savills index is reflected by the expansion of tech giants into the city. Amazon has announced an office hub with 25,000 employees in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens. Both Google and Apple are following suit, with the announcement of major operations in NYC.

Making Commercial Spaces More Attractive for the Tech Sector

The rise of NYC as a business hub for the tech sector will create increased demand for office spaces, but developers must also consider that the market is highly competitive. As stated in the Savills ranking, real estate costs are the weak spot of the city, but this also represents an opportunity for developers who can offer added value.

It is important to note that building costs do not end with construction, since there are also operation and maintenance expenses throughout the service life of the property. With design services from a qualified engineering firm, developers can minimize all ownership costs of the property. At the same time, best practices in project management can cut costs while shortening the construction time.

Real estate developers can also stand out by getting a high energy grade under Local Law 33. Starting from 2020, properties with at least 25,000 sq.ft. will be required to publish the following information in a location that is clearly visible for their tenants and visitors:

• The ENERGY STAR score, which uses a scale from 1 to 100.
• The energy grade according to LL33, which uses a scale from A to F.

Buildings with a score of at least 75 can become ENERGY STAR Certified, and those with a score of at least 90 get a grade of A. The tech sector uses plenty of space for offices and data center infrastructure, which leads to high energy consumption. Considering the high cost of electricity in NYC, a high demand for A-grade buildings can be expected.

At the same time, disregarding energy efficiency can put developers at a disadvantage. Potential tenants may be skeptical about renting spaces in buildings since they will pay higher energy bills than tenants in inefficient buildings. The best starting point to improve building efficiency is an energy audit since it reveals the energy efficiency measures with the highest return on investment and shortest payback period.

Have a look at some of the best rankings (Based on Department of Buildings Filing) in 2019:

• Best 50 Contractors in New York
• Best 50 Architects in New York
• Best 50 Building Owners in New York
• Best 20 Contractors in Chicago
• Top 20 Architecture Firms in Chicago