Challenge

Under the direction of Gov. Jay Inslee, the Office of Financial Management (OFM) is working with state agencies and DES to identify expiring leases and opportunities to eliminate unused square footage. The effort saves tax dollars and allows agencies to work smarter in a changing professional environment.

Solution

The Governor directs OFM Facilities Oversight and DES Real Estate Services (RES) to work with state agencies to determine space needs based on actual in-office use. Once agency space needs are identified, DES works with agencies as requested to reduce square footage by downsizing and relocating from leased space to state-owned facilities when possible.

As the central service agency for state government, DES also provides services to design and renovate space to meet business needs, install electric vehicle charging infrastructure and more.

Outcome

As some leases in Thurston County expire, OFM has directed agencies to move into state-owned facilities to meet the reduction goals. RES is working on behalf of several state agencies to manage the relocation process into state-owned facilities on the east and west campuses.

As part of the downsizing and relocation effort, DES Surplus Operations assists agencies by repurposing office supplies and furniture they no longer need. In 2024, Surplus transferred more than 2,000 items between agencies for little to no cost, saving over $440,000 for the state had they purchased new.

In cases when Surplus can't meet an agency's office needs, that agency can access the Correctional Industries (CI) statewide contract managed by DES Contracts & Procurement to purchase furniture, safety products, apparel, janitorial supplies and more. CI offers training programs for incarcerated individuals to gain work experience by producing high-quality, competitively priced products.

Meanwhile, Facility Professional Services works with architects and contractors to design and build out office space and other improvements to meet the needs of our new tenants. Many times, the most cost- and time-effective method to execute these improvements is through the trades staff at Buildings & Grounds. In leased facilities RES coordinates vendors to complete the work.

"As an agency, DES does the behind-the-scenes work to consolidate and reduce unused office space in the state," said RES Assistant Director Rick Bushnell. "Our mission is to strengthen the business of government. We provide efficient and seamless services to agencies so they can focus on their core missions."