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Blog type: Optima Culture

Autumn in Chicago

Posted on by Hunter

Autumn brings brisk weather, parks filled with vibrantly colored leaves, and an endless array of pop-ups, markets and festive events. The residents of Optima Signature have easy access to all of the city’s most bewitching autumn pastimes. Here are a few of the many activities to do this autumn in Chicago. 

Chicago Classics

Chicago is home to many autumn events that are entirely unique to the city. Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up is one of them. The one-of-a-kind outdoor experience is home to an axe-throwing range, classic carnival games, a dense pumpkin patch and Chicago’s largest corn maze. Food trucks serving fall cuisine and bars serving seasonal cocktails can be found across the two-acre experience. General admission for Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up is $25 and it is open every day through October 31. You can find more information and get tickets here.

Just a few miles East of Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, Navy Pier’s Pumpkin Lights transform the beloved spot into a must-do fall outing. Throughout the month, guests will find Pier-wide deals, festive activities and more than 1,000 decorated pumpkins. 

After finding carving inspiration at Navy Pier, an architectural boat or walking tour featuring Optima Signature is the perfect way to end a fall day. The crisp, breezy fall weather is perfect for a guided tour on foot through the heart of the city or down the Chicago River in one of its famous river cruises. The educational trips cover more than 50 of Chicago’s iconic buildings and are appreciated by tourists and city natives alike. You can learn more about Chicago’s renowned architecture tours here.  

Fall Day Trip

Just outside the city, you can find a handful of farms home to more traditional autumn favorites. Odyssey Fun Farm, located 40 minutes outside of the city in Tinley Park, is one of the many locations perfect for a fall day trip. The prized destination has zip lines, hayrides, a Pac-Man-themed corn maze and a full pumpkin patch. You can visit the farm every Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m through Halloween.  

Apple picking makes for another fun fall activity. Located just outside of Libertyville, Heinz Orchard is Chicago’s closest. The small family-run orchard offers apple picking over other seasonal endeavors. Red and Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Empire and Jonathan apple trees all fill the spirited environment.  In addition to Heinz Orchard, you can find more apple orchards for the perfect day trip around Chicagoland here. 

Chicago’s autumn months don’t last long. So before time runs out, take advantage of the unique events located in the heart of Chicago, or plan a day trip to one of the many wonderful locations full of seasonal fun outside of the city.

Exploring Optima Communities: Camelback Mountain

Posted on by Nancy

One of the reasons we were inspired to move to Arizona was our love for the surrounding desert landscape, and that same passion still resonates across our Arizona communities. An iconic landmark in the greater Phoenix area, Camelback Mountain is a prime example of the way nature informs our own designs through its neighboring Optima communities, Optima Sonoran Village and Optima Camelview Village. But Camelback Mountain has its own distinct allure, fostering a wide-reaching and beloved sense of community for many in the area.

Camelback is located in the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area between the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix and the town of Paradise Valley, and is named after its distinct shape, which resembles the hump and head of a kneeling camel. The site has long held significance to Native tribes and settlers in the area, and by the early 1900s, there were strong efforts to keep the mountain protected and preserved. The surrounding area saw major development, but in 1965, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater helped secure the higher elevations against development. The area became a Phoenix city park in 1968.

View of Camelback Mountain from Optima Camelview Village
View of Camelback Mountain from Optima Camelview Village

Phoenix offers seven breathtaking mountain summits to climb, and Camelback Mountain has the highest, reaching 2,704 feet to provide the best views in the area. Climbing to the summit is considered a right of passage for many.  Hikers can choose from two trails to reach the summit: Echo Canyon and Cholla. Both trails are difficult, with Echo Canyon being the steeper of the two and Cholla being the longer option. Luckily, there are a few less strenuous trail hikes as back-up options, as well. Camelback is the perfect place to experience the vast diversity of desert beauty; from colorful granite, to blooming wildflowers, to local wildlife. And since the trailhead is only 20 minutes away from downtown, there are plenty of places to recharge after a long hike.  

There’s a reason why Camelback Mountain is considered one of Phoenix’s Points of Pride; the beauty both on — and off — the mountain top are truly spectacular. 

Team Member Spotlight: Barbie Clemons

Posted on by Nancy

Our team is the heart and soul of Optima; the living embodiment of our values in action. We recently sat down (virtually, of course) with Barbie Clemons, Leasing Manager at Optima Sonoran Village, to talk about her journey working with Optima and what she loves most about being part of our team.

Tell us a bit about your background and the role you play at Optima.

I started out in sales and customer service before working at Optima. My experience ranged from working at a clothing company to managing bars and restaurants. I loved being in a fast-paced environment but wanted something new and got my real estate license.

An Optima recruiter brought me on board as a Leasing Agent at Optima Kierland. At Kierland, we leased up so quickly. The pace and the environment fed my soul. So after a year of different positions at Optima Kierland, I moved to Optima Sonoran Village and headed lease-up on the new tower. I was excited for the challenge: we were already 100% leased at Kierland and I couldn’t wait to work on the 800 units here. Within a year, I was promoted to the Community Manager/Leasing Manager role. It’s been amazing. I love this company and I love what I do.

What drew you to Optima initially, and what’s kept you working there all these years?

I was drawn in by the opportunity to use my skill set in a new environment. I’d done retail and hospitality and wanted something that would mix the two of them together — because in hospitality, I missed the sales portion, and vice versa. At Optima, I get to do both, all the while building long lasting relationships with residents and finding them homes they’ll stay in for a long time. 

I’m constantly challenged here: can we hit this number, can we get to the next level? It’s very progressive and that’s my favorite part about working here. This is a company looking to change and move and evolve, instead of doing what everyone else does.

How do you view collaboration and mentorship within Optima?

What I love about Optima is that it’s a collaborative team and environment. My voice is always heard. No matter what level I was at in the company, I could approach someone and say, “I have an idea, can we try this?” Even on the building side — we’re under this umbrella where we can touch everything. For example: when Optima Kierland was under construction, they asked us for feedback we’ve received and we told them residents want more closet space. The construction team pivoted and included that in the next tower.

Optima has a distinct set of values that really differentiates it from other companies. Which values really speak to the work you’ve done at Optima and your methodologies?

There’s a solution for every problem: that value resonates with me. I’ve worked every position that Optima has on the property management level — I’ve done leasing, leasing manager, and even right now, I’m filling in for a business manager position we have open. So I’ve gotten to be versatile and learn every aspect of the company in order to help out. To live and breathe and be part of a progressive company, you have to be that way. I love, love, love that it’s one of our core values. We can figure it out. Optima is always open to ideas that are outside the box.

What are some things you’ve learned during your time at Optima?

Teamwork makes the dream work. It takes every single person on your team to make properties run and to make us successful — whether that’s construction or our executive team. They really meld the mind; we talk at every level and we get to bring ideas to the table. That’s something I’ve learned and love about this company, and something that I was missing from other companies I’ve worked for. You don’t feel like a number here, you feel like your name and your voice matters. 

2020: A Year in Review

Posted on by Nancy

As 2020 comes to a close, we’re taking this moment to reflect and look back on all that’s happened through this unexpected, unprecedented year. From our team, to our projects to Optima as a whole, we’ve learned, grown and thrived. Here are just a few of the highlights:

7180 Optima Kierland, winner of the Outstanding Property Award London for Winner in Architectural Design, surpassed its 85% sold milestone.
7180 Optima Kierland, winner of the Outstanding Property Award London for Winner in Architectural Design, surpassed its 85% sold milestone.

Projects and Properties

This was a big year of growth for us with many exciting projects. In Arizona, we launched the lease-up of the new 7140 tower at Optima Kierland Apartments, the second apartment tower within the Optima Kierland development. Also within Optima Kierland, 7180 Optima Kierland surpassed its 85% sold milestone.

And in Chicago, our portfolio expanded with the groundbreaking of Optima Lakeview and the approval of Optima Wilmette, two projects we look forward to making future strides with in the coming year. 

Awards

We were honored to win thirteen awards this year. Our architecture and design were acknowledged with the AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards for Distinguished Building (Whale Bay House) and the Outstanding Property Award London for Winner in Architectural Design four times over (Whale Bay House, Arizona Courtyard House, 7180 Optima Kierland and Optima Sonoran Village).

Our property management team was recognized with the Best Community & Management Team Tribute Award by the Arizona Multihousing Association.

Meanwhile, our corporate culture was acknowledged with the award for Crain’s Chicago Business Best Places to Work 2020, and AZCentral Top Companies 2020.

To see the full 2020 lineup, visit our awards page.  

Culture

Throughout the year, we rallied to keep our culture thriving and to ensure our team stayed more connected than ever. We launched our Be Well | Work Well initiative, made up of the Be Well | Work Well Newsletter and new Wellness page within our company intranet , focused on keeping our team well: mentally, emotionally, socially and physically.

Two kids pose with their jack-o-lanterns

We created a new normal and found ways to have fun together, even while apart, through virtual trivia, virtual happy hours supplying cocktail kits and our dueling pianos virtual holiday party. We brought families into the fun, too, with our innovative “Optima Community Garden,” sending seed packages for team members to plant in their home gardens, and with our pumpkin carving contests, sending supplies and holding voting to determine a winner. 

We can’t thank our leadership, team members and communities enough for rising to the occasion and making this year special. Going into 2021, we’re excited to continue innovating, growing and achieving together.

The Health Benefits of Natural Light

Posted on by Nancy

Architecturally speaking, Modernist design is often defined by expansive windows and plenty of natural light, something we’ve incorporated across our properties for decades. There’s certainly an aesthetic benefit to large windows and entryways; they invite the outdoors inside, giving residents a full view of the surrounding environment. And as we’ve seen from this year, there’s certainly a wellness aspect to the design feature as well. So what exactly are the full health benefits of natural light?

Physical Benefits

When exposed to sunlight, our skin absorbs vitamin D, which helps prevent bone loss and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain and various cancers. You don’t have to sit by the pool in order to get plenty of vitamin D; soaking in some sun while you work from your at-home office or sipping coffee by your window in the morning works just fine. Natural light exposure also helps improve productivity, immune system strength, mood and sleep. Especially during winter months, it’s important to get your daily dose of natural light. 

Mental Benefits

And speaking of winter months, with the days getting shorter and darker, many suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder. During that time of year, natural light is even more impactful on our mental health. Sunlight actually helps produce serotonin and endorphins, hormones that can significantly improve our moods. If you’re looking for a natural way to beat the winter blues, natural light is a great method to do so.

If you want to maximize natural lighting in your own home, there are a few ways to do so without any major renovations. Arrange mirrors to reflect light, move furniture as to not block windows, avoid heavy or dark drapes and keep your windows clean. You can even try light therapy or synthetic light lamps for an extra boost. No matter your method, natural light is a great way to stay happy and healthy this winter. 

Giving Back: Lakeview Pantry

Posted on by Nancy

This holiday season, Optima is giving back to our community through a food drive for Lakeview Pantry. We’re excited to engage with a neighborhood institution near and dear to the Lakeview community and to play our role in their mission to end hunger in Chicago.

Lakeview Pantry celebrated their 50th anniversary this year, having been in operation since 1970. A small and dedicated group of neighbors began the initiative as The People’s Pantry of Lakeview, serving nearly 100 people in their first year. Since then, the pantry has grown to a team of 30 staff and 5,000 volunteers, providing nearly 4 million meals to 100,000 individuals in 2020. Lakeview Pantry has also adapted their services to meet the needs of the community, incorporating Online Market orders and community pop-ups alongside critical social services such as mental health counseling, job search support and crisis intervention.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas, our office is doing its part to collect food donations in-office which will be dropped off at the pantry. It’s important to us to contribute to local causes, especially around the holiday season, when everybody deserves a full belly and a full heart. Last year, we collected food for Deerfield Pantry alongside pet food for Meals on Wheels in Northeastern Illinois. 

As we continue progress on Optima Lakeview, we look forward to discovering more ways to give back to our new community in the future. 

Team Member Spotlight: Hunter Gross

Posted on by Nancy

Our buildings and communities wouldn’t thrive without our incredibly talented team members, especially in a year where maintaining clean and safe spaces feels more important than ever. We recently sat down (virtually) with Hunter Gross, the Maintenance Supervisor at Optima Sonoran Village, to talk about how his work makes a difference in our Arizona community. 

Tell us a bit about your background and the role you play at Optima.

Out of high school, I went into the construction field and from there I went into a maintenance and cleaning supervisor role in Phoenix. After that, I ended up at Optima. I’ve been here for a year and three months; for a year as a technician, then promoted to supervisor for our Sonoran Village property. In my role as supervisor I am responsible for hiring, training, and guiding our service technicians; we can see 30-40 new service tickets daily and we have a 24-hour completion goal. I am responsible for ensuring service is completed to the Optima standard which often includes following up on many different work orders to see that the residents were satisfied. 

What drew you to Optima initially, and what’s kept you working there?

I tend to get bored with day-to-day tasks, but working at Optima gives me different challenges that set a nice change of pace, which keeps me engaged. I also have a team that helps me problem solve, oftentimes working with other Optima teams to find better solutions. Especially this year with the pandemic, everyone was ready and willing to work together. 

How does maintaining the buildings at Optima differ from other properties/buildings?

Optima’s design and materials sets them apart and makes them unique; concrete and exposed steel beams often present challenges when making additions or repairs. Thankfully, Optima is structured so we can communicate with the architecture and design team to help determine the best solutions. 

Optima’s properties are also very large-scale. Even regular, preventative maintenance takes a longer time since they’re so spread out and populated. We have five different buildings just across Sonoran Village, and just transporting tools from one to the other is a process. 

Optima has a distinct set of values that really differentiates it from other companies. Which values really speak to the work you’ve done at Optima?

Definitely our “there’s a solution to every problem” value.  Especially in our line of work, we’re always trying our best to find solutions to even minor issues. And whether it’s the architecture, construction or design teams, we have a ton of resources at Optima that allow us to problem solve. This year in particular, that seems more important than ever. 

Celebrating World Architecture Day

Posted on by Nancy

Since 1996, the first Monday of October has been reserved for celebrating the practice and artistry of architecture. First established at the International Union of Architects Congress held in Barcelona, Spain, World Architecture Day marks a time to reflect on the potential of architecture; how it affects people, cities and societies. 

As part of our commitment to lasting impact, we don’t take this responsibility lightly. We truly believe architecture has the potential to change lives and we’re constantly inspired by the past, present and future of the industry. This year, the International Union of Architects (UIA) — representing the world’s 3.2 million architects — dubbed the theme of World Architecture Day 2020 as “Toward a better urban future.” Panelists on a global webinar will discuss challenges facing today’s cities such as housing, air quality and public spaces. Through coming together to solve these problems, we can enhance the human experience across the world. 

Optima team participating in the marshmallow challenge
World Architecture Day 2019 at the Glencoe Office

Although we take this day for reflection and contribution to the architecture world, we also love getting our team involved in celebrating. Last year, some of our Chicago office competed in the marshmallow challenge to put their architecture skills to the ultimate test. From architects to accountants to property managers, our staff raced to see who could build the tallest tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows. Luckily, the architects proved their expertise, coming in at first place — but accountants followed closely in second place! This year, we’ll be celebrating individually while working from home. 

From all of us to our fellow architects, Happy World Architecture Day! 

Pickleball 101

Posted on by Nancy

With lifestyle integral to condominium and apartment living, at Optima we love to amp up our amenities to the next level. We’re always on the lookout for cutting edge trends and amenities that will cater to our residents’ lifestyles and interests. So when we noticed the increasing popularity of pickleball in the southwest, we happily adapted to incorporate an indoor pickleball court at our latest project, 7180 Optima Kierland. For those that aren’t familiar with the sport, here’s a little pickleball 101:

Pickleball 101

Visually, pickleball appears quite similar to tennis. Played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net, the sport is a combination of many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Players use a paddle and a plastic ball with holes, and can choose to play as singles or doubles. Originally, pickleball paddles were made with wood, but have evolved as the sport has gained popularity to be made primarily of lightweight composite materials such as aluminum and graphite. As for the holey ball, holes number 26-40 and the ball can come in a variety of colors but must be solid to meet official international specifications.

Playing Pickleball

In gameplay, the ball is served with an underarm stroke below waist level in an upward arc aimed diagonally. Initially, only the serving side may score a point. A point is earned when one side commits an infringement of the rules, or a fault. Faults include not hitting in the opponent’s diagonal court, not hitting beyond the net, not hitting the ball before the second bounce, hitting the ball out of bounds, among others. Serving alternates players, and points can be scored equally throughout the remainder of gameplay. Watch a full video tutorial on playing pickleball here.

A Brief History of Pickleball

Why call it pickleball? It goes without saying that no pickles are actually involved in the sport. Originating in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, pickleball was the DIY invention of three dads attempting to reinvigorate summertime activities but lacking in proper supplies. The three dads, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum, claim two separate origin stories for the sport’s name. According to Pritchard’s wife, it was named after pickleboats. According to McCallum, the Pirchards had a dog named Pickles, who would chase after the ball, and served as inspiration for the new game’s name. 

Pickleball is truly a sport for everyone, and we hope to cultivate new pickleball fanatics in our communities with the unique amenity.

Team Member Spotlight: Heather Williams

Posted on by Nancy

The first time Heather Williams saw an Optima building, she was awestruck. A lifelong Arizona resident, Heather was fascinated by the hanging plants and Modernist architecture that was so different from anything else in the desert and was immediately intrigued. After doing some research, she found that the promises and values at Optima were something she wanted to be a part of. Heather joined our team in 2017 with the opening of the first tower at Optima Kierland Center. Fast-forward to 2020, Heather is now the General Manager at Optima Kierland Apartments and runs the entire property, orchestrating details both large and small (including providing a five-star resident experience and hosting some spectacular Super Bowl parties). We sat down with Heather to talk about her journey and how her experience at Optima has evolved since she first saw our buildings. 

Tell us a bit about your background and the role you play at Optima.

I’ve had a really varied background ranging from marketing to insurance to credit card processing, but they all encompassed high levels of customer service and creating a positive experience for the client. In my role as General Manager, I’ve had to become fluent in all parts of our business operations, so it’s been beneficial to pull from my experience in different industries. The role I’m in now at Optima gives me the opportunity to collaborate with different departments within our organization, so I’m constantly able to learn from some of the brightest minds and best problem solvers I’ve ever encountered. 

What drew you to Optima initially, and what’s kept you working there?

Everything about Optima speaks “exceptional”. I strive to give my best in everything I do and I’m so fulfilled at Optima because I know that all of my colleagues also give their best. When you get the opportunity to work with people who are solution-oriented, genuine and collaborative, a lot of barriers start to come down and you can achieve some pretty incredible things. We have a wealth of resources and communications tools at Optima, so it’s always easy to know what the company’s goals are and what we are trying to accomplish and it’s really inspiring to know you are a part of something bigger than yourself. 

How do you view the concept of community at Optima? How might it differ from other properties/buildings?

The attention to detail in Optima buildings is unparalleled. Everything about the way they are designed lends to creating an experience of living well and that has a huge impact on the way people interact with one another. When people choose Optima, they are choosing a lifestyle and we see a lot of connections with people formed as a result. The wealth of amenities in Optima communities inspire our residents to get out and use these spaces as an extension of their homes and they really get to know their neighbors as a result. We’ve seen so many friendships formed and even a wedding from the relationships people are able to make with one another here! 

Optima Kierland Apartments where Heather Williams is General Manager
Optima Kierland Apartments where Heather Williams is General Manager

Optima has a distinct set of values that really differentiates it from other companies. Which values really speak to the work you’ve done at Optima?

When making decisions, I always have one particular core value in mind – do the right thing even when it’s hard. In our industry, a lot of decisions are bottom-lined and based on budgets. We’re owner managed, so our decisions are not always financially-driven. Everyone at Optima just wants to do right by people. I know without a doubt that our goal on our Property Management team is to create the best possible experience for those who visit and live in our communities, so I try to always view the perspective of the person I’m working with and make the decision to do the right thing, even if that means it creates more work or is more challenging. 

I’m also really inspired by the concept that “we all create” and I feel that every day. I’ve seen ideas at Optima come from all corners and be implemented in record time. It’s a really empowering feeling to know I don’t just work for a company, I’m an active part of it and I can impact how we grow and move forward. 

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