The Spotlight Episode 11: Connecting Beyond Walls: Garland Fuller on Third Spaces and Community

Connecting Beyond Walls: Garland Fuller on Third Spaces and Community

In this episode of The Spotlight - A Women Speak CRE podcast, host Allison Weiss interviews Garland Fuller, an award-winning third space culture and belonging consultant. With over 15 years of experience, Garland specializes in creating environments that foster community and connection.

During the conversation, Garland discusses her journey into commercial real estate, her role in transforming AAREP LA, and her current work focused on reimagining community spaces. The discussion covers the necessity of nuanced approaches to office space utilization, the importance of integrating human-centric design, and innovative ways to activate underused spaces.

Highlights include Garland Fuller's “People, Place, Program” framework, the concept of third spaces, and the impact of evolving work environments on community building.

This episode underscores the importance of adapting to new cultural and technological shifts to create meaningful, engaging workspaces.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

02:09 Garland Fuller's Background and Career Journey

06:49 Diversity and Inclusion in Commercial Real Estate

10:06 Transforming AAREP LA

17:02 Reimagining Work and Space

25:36 Resetting Expectations in the Workplace

27:12 Challenges of Returning to the Office

28:23 Innovative Uses of Space

30:42 Revitalizing Community Gatherings

32:14 The Role of Virtual Reality in Real Estate

33:41 Event Trends Making an Impact