Principal Financial Group will adapt the 19th floor at 801 Grand to better meet the needs of current and future tenants, company officials said in a statement released to the Business Record.

The 19th floor will be turned into a new fitness center and private tenant lounge and offer grab-and-go food items, the statement read.

In the statement, Principal representatives said the project is part of “a dramatic shift in where work gets done, not just at Principal but around the world.”

“This change presents us with an opportunity to evaluate our current workspace offerings for employees and tenants,” they said. “801 Grand remains one of the state’s top Class A buildings and we expect the need for quality commercial real estate options with enhanced amenities to continue.”

The 41-story building, which Principal owns, is managed by JLL.

The project will occupy 14,000 square feet. The building is 89% occupied.

Justin Lossner, managing director in JLL’s Des Moines office, said projects like the one going in on the 19th floor in 801 Grand are something companies are considering to appeal to both in-office employees and remote workers in an attempt to bring them back to the office.

“The rationale is they’re hearing from people touring the building that they want those types of amenities,” Lossner said. “They want those amenities to help bring people back to work, but then also just to have that happen outside their space and not in their space. It’s very footprint-focused at the same time.”

Lossner said there’s still a demand for higher-quality office space with higher occupancy rates in those buildings that have tenant amenities.

“People aren’t necessarily as much looking around saying, ‘I only want to pay $40 a foot for space,’ it’s about ‘how can I get the most lean footprint that I can but then amenitize it outside of my space with building amenities to help supplement,'” he said.

Principal did not provide a timeline for the project.