As an office park design firm, HH Designers helps developers and property owners breathe new life into these campuses by transforming outdated business parks into modern, connected, and experience-driven work environments.

The following guide outlines how to assess, reimagine, and execute a holistic transformation that aligns with today’s workplace expectations and tomorrow’s tenant demands.

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The Legacy Business Park Challenge

Legacy business parks typically feature single-use zoning, stand-alone buildings, oversized parking fields, and minimal connection between indoor and outdoor environments. While functional in their era, these layouts no longer meet the expectations of a workforce that prioritizes flexibility, wellbeing, community, and meaningful workplace experiences.

According to a 2024 CBRE Office Trends Report, vacancy rates in traditional suburban office parks are significantly higher than those of mixed-use or amenity-rich work campuses. Tenants today seek environments that feel inspiring, flexible, and people-centered.

A redesign is not simply a visual refresh. It is a strategic reinvestment in the future of the asset.

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Step 1: Conduct a Full Campus Audit

Transformation begins with understanding what currently exists. HH Designers starts every project with a comprehensive site and building analysis that helps determine what should be preserved, removed, or reimagined.

Site Analysis

• Circulation patterns: Are pedestrian and vehicular flows intuitive, or are they confusing and unsafe?
  
  
• Parking efficiency: Are there oversized parking lots that could be partially reclaimed for landscaping or amenities?
  
  
• Arrival experience: Does the campus make a strong and inviting first impression?
  
  
• Landscape quality: Are green spaces functional or merely decorative? Do they contribute to shade, comfort, and wellbeing?
  
  

Building Analysis

• Façades: Do exterior materials feel outdated or unwelcoming?
  
  
• Entrance design: Are building entries clear, accessible, and inviting?
  
  
• Interior flow: Do lobbies and common areas feel connected, comfortable, and modern?
  
  
• Mechanical and lighting systems: Are HVAC and lighting systems energy efficient and aligned with sustainability goals?
  
  

A thorough audit ensures that each design decision is targeted, effective, and aligned with long-term goals.

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Step 2: Develop a Vision for a Modern Campus

The most successful revitalization projects begin with a strong design vision that outlines what the campus should feel like. At HH Designers, this process is called experience mapping. It focuses not just on what people will do on-site but how the campus should support their daily routines and emotional wellbeing.

Common Vision Themes for Legacy Business Park Redesigns

• Community over isolation: Shift from siloed buildings to interconnected experiences.
  
  
• Light and visibility: Replace outdated façades with glazing that increases natural light.
  
  
• Human scale: Introduce walkable environments that create warmth and connection.
  
  
• Integration of nature: Make outdoor areas usable for work, leisure, and wellness.
  
  

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) reports that work campuses designed around social interaction and multi-use programming consistently outperform traditional models in leasing and tenant satisfaction.

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Step 3: Masterplan the Campus for Connectivity

Reimagining a legacy business park requires more than renovating individual buildings. It involves rewriting the campus as a cohesive ecosystem.

Reclaim Underutilized Outdoor Areas

Large parking lots and leftover setbacks can be repurposed into:

• Landscaped courtyards
  
  
• Outdoor work terraces
  
  
• Fitness loops or walking paths
  
  
• Dining patios
  
  
• Event lawns
  
  

These environments support daily movement, encourage social interaction, and promote wellbeing.

Create Clear Pedestrian Networks

Walking routes should be comfortable, shaded, and clearly connected to all buildings and amenities. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), walkable connectivity is one of the strongest predictors of campus usability and tenant satisfaction.

Position Social Anchors Strategically

Cafés, lounges, and fitness centers should be placed in high-traffic or central areas to encourage natural foot traffic and create a sense of community.

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Step 4: Modernize Building Exteriors

Revitalizing façades is one of the most visible ways to signal transformation.

Exterior Design Strategies

• Replace outdated cladding with modern materials such as metal panels, fiber cement, or wood-look systems.
  
  
• Introduce expansive glazing to bring daylight into workspaces.
  
  
• Add architectural shading devices to help with solar performance and visual interest.
  
  
• Refresh building entries with warm materials, signage, and exterior lighting.
  
  

A coordinated identity across multiple buildings enhances the perception of a unified campus experience.

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Step 5: Reinvent Entry and Lobby Experiences

Legacy lobbies were typically transitional spaces. In modern campuses, they function as hubs for interaction and hospitality.

Design Priorities for Modern Lobbies

• Increase natural daylight and open sightlines.
  
  
• Incorporate comfortable seating arrangements for waiting, working, or socializing.
  
  
• Add biophilic elements such as plants, natural materials, and textured finishes.
  
  
• Integrate brand storytelling through artwork, signage, or digital displays.
  
  

The International WELL Building Institute emphasizes that environments rich in natural materials and daylight directly improve cognitive performance and occupant wellbeing.

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Step 6: Activate Shared Amenities

Amenities play a powerful role in the competitiveness of a modern office campus. They convert underused areas into active community spaces that support tenant engagement.

Café and Food Amenities

Replace small break rooms or vending areas with expanded cafés or food halls. Outdoor seating, shaded terraces, and soft landscaping extend the dining experience beyond interior walls.

Fitness and Wellness Amenities

According to the JLL Future of Work Survey, 70 percent of employees prefer workplaces with on-site fitness or wellness features.

Redesigned business parks often include:

• Fitness centers
  
  
• Yoga and meditation rooms
  
  
• Showers and locker rooms
  
  
• Walking or running trails
  
  

Collaboration and Community Lounges

Lobbies and corridors can be repurposed into lounges for:

• Informal meetings
  
  
• Hybrid work
  
  
• Social gatherings
  
  
• Tenant community events
  
  

Event and Training Spaces

Shared training centers or multipurpose rooms increase flexibility and foster cross-company collaboration.

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Step 7: Improve Circulation and Wayfinding

Legacy parks commonly suffer from confusing routes and inconsistent signage. Wayfinding upgrades enhance clarity and reduce frustration.

Effective Wayfinding Tactics

• Establish a hierarchy of signage for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.
  
  
• Introduce color-coded zones and intuitive numbering systems.
  
  
• Use consistent fonts, colors, and materials for a unified visual identity.
  
  

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) highlights effective wayfinding as critical for accessibility, comfort, and overall user experience.

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Step 8: Integrate Sustainability and Future Proofing

Sustainability is no longer optional. It is a core expectation among tenants and investors.

Sustainability Strategies for Legacy Campuses

• Replace old lighting systems with high-efficiency LED fixtures.
  
  
• Implement energy management systems to optimize HVAC performance.
  
  
• Use native landscaping to reduce irrigation.
  
  
• Explore solar or geothermal solutions for long-term energy savings.
  
  
• Add permeable paving to manage stormwater runoff.
  
  

Research from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) shows that sustainable retrofits can reduce operational expenses by up to 25 percent, making campuses more competitive.

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Step 9: Reimagine Interiors for Flexibility and Comfort

Interior design must evolve in tandem with exterior upgrades.

Core Interior Strategies

• Create open-plan layouts balanced with private focus rooms.
  
  
• Introduce soft furnishings and hospitality-inspired materials.
  
  
• Improve air quality through filtration, ventilation, and biophilic elements.
  
  
• Add hybrid meeting rooms with digital collaboration capabilities.
  
  

Tenants increasingly expect environments that blend professionalism with comfort, flexibility, and wellness.

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Step 10: Introduce Tenant Engagement Programming

Programming ensures that physical design improvements translate into long-term tenant satisfaction.

Programming Ideas for Revitalized Campuses

• Outdoor fitness classes and wellness workshops
  
  
• Seasonal festivals or food truck days
  
  
• Art exhibits or rotating installations
  
  
• Networking mixers for cross-tenant connection
  
  
• Educational seminars or leadership workshops
  
  

The Urban Land Institute emphasizes that ongoing programming is one of the strongest predictors of tenant engagement in work campuses.

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The HH Designers Approach to Legacy Park Revitalization

HH Designers follows a proven, collaborative approach to ensure that redesigns are both visionary and practical.

Our Process

1. Discovery Workshops: Identify tenant expectations and ownership goals.
   
   
2. Campus Analysis: Evaluate infrastructure, site planning, and building conditions.
   
   
3. Concept Design: Create masterplans, material palettes, and 3D visualizations.
   
   
4. Phased Execution: Ensure construction aligns with leasing cycles and tenant needs.
   
   
5. Post-Occupancy Guidance: Measure success based on usage, experience, and ROI.
   
   

This framework ensures transformation is not only beautiful but also strategic and durable.

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Looking Ahead: The Future of Work Campus Design

As work becomes more decentralized, the office park must deliver value that remote work cannot. Experience, convenience, community, and wellness now define the competitive edge.

A 2023 study by the Harvard Business Review notes that companies investing in employee experience outperform competitors significantly in productivity, innovation, and talent retention. For property owners, that translates into higher occupancy and asset longevity.

Far from obsolete, suburban business parks represent a massive opportunity for adaptive reuse and future-focused innovation.

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Our final thoughts

Legacy business parks can become vibrant, future-ready campuses through strategic, people-centered design. By prioritizing light, connectivity, amenities, and sustainability, HH Designers helps property owners transform outdated assets into thriving destinations that support both work and community.

Partnering with an office park design firm ensures every phase, from assessment to activation, reflects modern workplace needs and the evolving lifestyles of employees.

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