WeWork expands 'on demand' concept to region

TAMPA — Co-working firm WeWork is expanding its “WeWork On Demand” concept in South Florida and to WeWork Place in downtown Tampa, at 501 E. Kennedy Blvd.

The pay-as-you-go program, unveiled last year in New York City, allows co-working patrons to rent office space for $29 daily and meeting rooms for $10 per hour from the convenience of their mobile phones.

The company says the expansion involves seven cities, including Miami, Miami Beach and Coral Gables in addition to Tampa.

In all, the “On Demand” concept is now being offered in 29 markets nationwide, comprising more than 190 buildings.

In Miami, WeWork is offering the flexible office space at Brickell City Centre, Wynwood Garage and Southeast Financial Center; in Miami Beach at 429 Lenox; and in Coral Gables at Giralda Place.

WeWork in a statement says the expansion underscores that the “future of work will be driven by flexibility and technology” and that office workers are increasingly “craving in-person, human connection and in-office collaboration” as vaccinations against the COVID-19 virus become more widespread.

WeWork has occupied the 20-story WeWork Place building since early 2020, after signing a lease for three full floors, or about 60,000 square feet, with a joint venture consisting of Orlando-based Parkway Property Investors and Swiss-based Partners Group.

Together, the pair of investors acquired five Tampa-area properties for $157 million in late 2019.