The Fastest Way Property Managers Can Modernize a Building Without Cap-Ex: Transform the Walls
Market Pressure & PM Reality
Property managers are being asked to improve tenant experience, support leasing, enhance building perception, and manage rising costs. Inflation has increased prices for paint, wallpaper, millwork, freight, labor, and even basic corridor refreshes.
According to The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 14, 2025), the NYC office market is splitting into two groups—newer design-forward buildings winning and older buildings falling behind.
Source: https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/nyc-office-real-estate-market-039c4796
PMs need a fast, low-cost, zero-disruption way to improve aesthetics without waiting for ownership to approve a capital project. Next-generation environmental graphics solve this problem instantly.
Why This Matters: The Experience Gap
Tenants returning to the office care about how a building feels. Gensler research confirms that workplace design impacts performance and connection:
"Space no longer just supports work; it must inspire and connect."
Source: https://www.gensler.com/research-insight/experience-index/
HGA Architecture found environmental graphics help employees reconnect with the workplace:
"Environmental graphics that reference nature and culture encourage employees to reconnect with the workplace and with one another."
Source: https://hga.com/welcome-again-environmental-graphics-and-the-back-to-the-office-transition/
Frontiers in Psychology reinforced the emotional impact:
"Aesthetically pleasing workplaces can have a restorative effect on employee exhaustion."
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9654670/
Why Walls Are the Highest-Value Area PMs Can Improve
Wall conditions define 80% of what tenants see—elevator lobbies, multi-tenant corridors, amenity connectors, lounges, wellness areas, and even service corridors.
Environmental graphics:
• modernize outdated areas
• brighten dark corridors
• unify the look of the building
• improve first impressions on tours
• add color, identity, and energy
And unlike wallpaper or vinyl, the graphics are printed directly onto the wall—no seams, no adhesives, no waste.
The PM Advantage: No Shutdown, No Night Work, No Mess
Traditional refreshes require painters, demo crews, drywall repair, skim coating, night shifts, tenant complaints, elevator scheduling, dust, odor, and long timelines.
NextGen wall printing requires:
• 2–3 hours per wall
• no odor
• no VOCs post-cure
• zero adhesives
• no drywall damage
• zero tenant downtime
• no permitting
• zero construction waste
This is one of the lowest-friction upgrades a PM can deploy.
Immediate Benefits for PMs
1. Stronger Tour Appeal — Leasing teams report floors look newer, brighter, and more competitive.
2. Tenant Satisfaction — Tenants notice and appreciate visible building investment.
3. ESG Wins — Zero waste, low-VOC inks, no demolition, and removable-by-paint solutions support sustainability.
4. No Operational Headaches — No dust, noise, closed corridors, or service elevator conflicts.
Priority Areas for PM Deployment
1. Elevator Landings — highest-impact and most visible.
2. Multi-Tenant Corridors — where dated design is most obvious.
3. Amenity Floors — murals make common areas feel premium.
4. Vacant Space Pre-Leasing — creates excitement and premium photography.
5. Spec Suites — adds lifestyle and branding moments without construction.
Conclusion: The Smartest Upgrade for Property Managers
Walls are the fastest way to modernize an aging building. NextGen wall printing empowers PMs to:
• improve aesthetic quality instantly
• support leasing efforts
• deliver ESG-driven improvements
• avoid tenant disruption
• stay within tight operating budgets
This is the easiest, most efficient building enhancement a property manager can deploy today.
