Some workers in Southern California who don’t want to return to the office will soon be able to work simultaneously at the office and from home. Flex space operator Industrious is partnering with AvalonBay Communities to establish ground-level co-working offices throughout the multifamily company’s portfolio. The co-working space offering will be known as SecondSpace.
The first SecondSpace offices will debut at an existing AvalonBay community in Monrovia outside of Los Angeles, and a second co-working office will be at an AvalonBay complex under construction in nearby Brea, California. The SecondSpace office in Monrovia will encompass about 1,400 square feet, and the co-working space in Brea will cover 2,400 square feet. The SecondSpace units are available to building residents and non-resident Industrious members. Industrious didn’t provide details for its lease agreement with AvalonBay, but the company said they plan to use a profit sharing formula.
Co-working spaces are becoming an increasingly popular amenity in multifamily properties, and co-working operators like Industrious and WeWork are moving to cash in. WeWork recently announced its first-ever partnership with a residential developer, as it will team up with Cedar Street to offer an on-site workspace in Cedar Street’s 176-unit multifamily residence at 4753 North Broadway in Chicago. Having a third place to work complements the changing work patterns and shift to hybrid work, and having something so close to home could prove to be a big draw for multifamily companies and co-working operators.