Spaces, Hub Expand Melbourne’s Co-Working Footprint

Co-working office space competitors, Spaces and Hub Australia will be less than one kilometre apart in Melbourne's CBD, with both companies committing to two separate tenancies on Collins Street.

The duo will join Google in the Collins Street precinct, with the global tech giant opening its doors to its new Melbourne home last week.

Global creative workspace provider Spaces has embraced surging demand for flexible workspace, opening its second shared office space on Collins Street this year. The company has another location in Richmond.

The Dutch workspace provider opened 2650sq m of office space in Melbourne’s Rialto building at 525 Collins Street next to Southern Cross Station in the CBD.

Head of Spaces parent company IWG Australia and New Zealand Damien Sheehan says demand for co-working spaces is ramping up across Australia.

“Our Spaces office in Richmond is operating at 100 per cent occupancy as is our Spaces office in Surrey Hills, Sydney, so we know there is a high demand for a more collaborative and inspirational working environment,” Sheehan said.

Spaces' new Rialto office, styled by Alexia Biggs, will offer members co-working desks, private offices along with mindfulness and yoga.

Spaces has locations in Europe, Canada, the United States, Latin America, Africa, Australia and Asia.

On Monday, Australia’s largest owner of office space Dexus announced its move into the flexible workspace with “SuiteX” in Sydney’s 44 Market Street.

Co-working giant WeWork leased 100 per cent of Lendlease’s timber office building at Barangaroo South this month, marking its ninth location secured across Australia.

“People around the world are demanding greater flexibility in how they work,” Lendlease managing director of urban regeneration Mark Menhinnitt said.

Related: Co-working Giant WeWork Expands into Brisbane

Hub Australia commits to lease at Georges building

Privately-owned co-working operator Hub has entered a long term lease in the historic Georges building at 162 Collins Street.

Hub secured the site in March, signing a massive 3,500sq m lease over three levels in the building.

Savills Australia director of office leasing Phillip Cullity negotiated the lease.

Cullity said that the lease allows Hub to gain a foothold in the "Paris-end" of Collins Street.

“The building has a retail arcade on the ground level linking Collins and Little Collins Street, a restaurant and bar in the basement and offices on the upper levels,” Cullity said.

Constructed in 1883, the Georges building underwent a $25 million refurbishment in 1999.