Studies show that messy desks across the United States, combined with the time spent looking for misplaced items, costs corporate America $177 billion annually. However, sometimes an organization’s productivity problems aren’t due to office organization, but to the office itself. For this reason, Bergmann Associates recently announced that it is planning to move its Rochester headquarters from its current location at First Federal Plaza to Tower280, formerly known as Midtown Tower, in 2016.

On Tuesday, May 12, Bergmann Associates attended “Downtown Rising,” Rochester Downtown Development Corp.’s Economic Growth Series. There, the Rochester engineering consulting firm announced that it would be moving from its current location on East Main Street after an 18-month search for alternative spaces. Over the course of this search, Chief Operating Officer Peter Giovenco reportedly asked an internal committee of 25 employees to review and analyze a number of qualities for potential sites. Their responses narrowed the selection down to Tower280. Owned by local companies Buckingham Properties LLc and Morgan Management LLC, the 17-floor property is currently undergoing a $59 million renovation project. As a result, the company is slated to move into a 55,000-square foot space on the second floor next fall.

All of the companies involved seem optimistic about the move and its greater implications for the city of Rochester as a whole.

“Bergmann Associates relocating to Tower280 sends a genuine message to our community that Rochester has indeed turned a corner and downtown is quickly becoming an attractive option for all types of businesses,” Ken Glazer, managing partner of Buckingham Properties, told the Rochester Business Journal.

Bergmann Associates is a progressive engineering company with 13 corporate offices in the U.S., which employ 380 professional and technical staff members. Of this number, 190 work at the firm’s Rochester headquarters. In 2015, the Rochester Business Journal named Bergmann Associates No. 1 on its list of local engineering companies.

However, Bergmann isn’t the only business that will be changing the face of Rochester: Andrew Gallina, president of Gallina Development Corp., also unveiled new plans for the city at the “Downtown Rising” event. The company is reportedly working with Hanlon Architects to redevelop Chase Tower. Their plans include mixed-use space throughout the 26-story structure, including offices and 130 to 150 residential units, a revitalized green space at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Main Street, and a new main entrance to the building on Clinton Avenue.

“The city is changing quickly,” Gallina said, noting that the city’s downtown area could look very different in a few years’ time.

Likewise, Thomas Masaschi, co-founder and managing partner of DHD Ventures LLC, announced that his firm has collaborated with Morgan Management to purchase the Alliance Building downtown. Located near the Hilton Garden Inn, which DHD also developed, the 15-story, 167,000-square-foot building is currently 2% occupied. This property will be added to the company’s current projects at 88 Elm Street, the Hiram Sibley building and 50 Chestnut Street, which will be turned into luxury and market rate apartments.