The New Flex-Space Workplace

Flexible workspace is a broad term that describes a range of office solutions that include coworking spaces, private offices, meeting rooms and executive lounges.

As a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies are increasingly deciding to have their employees work solely from home, whether it’s full time or only most of the time. By having employees work from home, a company’s overhead cost can be greatly reduced, after all, as they only require office space for occasional meetings or collaborative tasks. This trend has given rise to the concept of flex-space.

According to some pre-pandemic estimates, while 100 per cent of work-related real estate was used approximately 50 per cent of the time, the post pandemic goal is to use 70 per cent of space 100 per cent of the time.

 

What is Flex-Space?

Instead of a company owning and occupying a whole building, flex-space allows a company to rent a shared space for a set amount of time. These rented spaces can be anything from entire floors to individual desks where everyone shares common areas and facilities, such as printers, the Internet, and coffee machines. Companies like WeWork, Regus, and Spaces have built an entire business model on renting flex space to its members worldwide. Due to the sudden growth in demand, many office landlords are now considering adding flex-space sections to their buildings to increase revenue.

 

While traditionally a space is leased on a yearly basis, flex space not only rents space, it offers flexible leases, allowing a company or person to re-evaluate their needs every few months and only rent the desired amount of space required.

 

How Can Skyfold Contribute to Flex-Space?

Anyone offering flex-space must have the ability to provide an environment that can be quickly reconfigured. A space’s flexibility is dependent on its ability to adapt based on the specific schedules and function of a space required at any given time. For companies renting flex-space, or considering it, Skyfold provides an optimal solution for the several obstacles they face.

No wasted space: Skyfold requires no storage pockets, therefore no valuable floor space is wasted. More floor space equals more revenue.

Acoustics: With the highest available STC ratings, spaces separated by a Skyfold wall never disturb each other and they offer complete privacy.

Fast and silent operation: Because the wall silently folds and unfolds in minutes, there is no downtime when reconfiguring a space. Depending on the needs of their clientele, a flex-space company can add or reduce space instantly, maximizing their revenues. A company renting a space that includes a Skyfold wall in it has the option to have a single large room or multiple small rooms without the need to rent that additional space. It benefits both the renter and rentee.

These days, space is too valuable to serve a single purpose, and people are adapting every day to this new normal. So too must their space.