WeWork offers startups, freelancers and even large corporations a collaborative environment through contemporary design and innovative technology.
Since its launch in 2010, WeWork has over 400 locations in 26 countries and manages over 10,000,000 square feet of office space. Offices include a wide variety of amenities including Wi-Fi, video conferencing, printers and more.
“We cover all this maintenance so our members can simply come into our spaces and get to work with no technical distraction,” said Punit Rajpara, director of technology services, WeWork Europe and Australia.
Andy Heath, WeWork’s head of design, said that the company’s mission is to create a community and multi-purpose environment.
As WeWork has grown, it has created in-house design and technology departments that include a team of specialists from architecture, interior design, IT and more.
Another unique aspect of WeWork’s environment is its ability to create a community through design. In-house art teams allow for each location to have its own aesthetic, but all offices have an element of predictability to allow designs to be scaled up.
“We play on existing conditions such as brickwork too. A homely and community-focused feel is created using plants, soft furnishings and so on,” said Heath. “It’s a celebration of locality too and book and artwork selection can be used to reflect the city you’re in.”
An overarching theme throughout all WeWork buildings is its technology-fueled environment. For example, WeWork is currently experimenting with Bluetooth and proximity technology meaning that members could gain entry without use of a card.
Everything is automated from the moment you walk in, with the front desk consisting of iPads and data collecting technology to keep track of member usage.
Overally, Heath believes that WeWork’s success can be attributed to its ability to provide the most up-to-date offerings for its members.
