Business North October 2021

56 | B:HIVE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Flexible workspaces the way forward Karen Phelps The unique design of the B:HIVE building has won numerous awards. F lexible workspace provider B:HIVE has launched a new product in response to the pandemic. It is now offering a mem - bership option to give businesses ultimate flexibility, says B:HIVE manager - leasing and community Lisa Bryan. “The membership model gives businesses the option of trialling new ways of working and figuring out what the future might look like for their business,” she says. While B:HIVE enquiries initially tripled after the first lockdown, months down the track it was interest from businesses wanting to op- erate a hybrid model where staff sometimes work at home and sometimes at the office. The membership option means businesses don’t have to lease desks to accommodate every employee and can have greater flexi - bility with staff coming in as they feel like it, says Lisa. Members simply swipe in with their phone and use their office, or the vibrant shared areas on each floor. Lisa says that if businesses find they have used more than their allocated space/ free hours each month they are simply charged an hourly rate for the excess. They can purchase more memberships or relinquish member- ships at any time if their needs change. She says there has also been increased in- terest from larger corporates who are utilising the dedicated office option offered at B:HIVE for businesses who want their own exclusive, yet highly flexible office space. “The size and subsequent rental is based on the number of employees and has the ability to flex with the business. If their needs change B:HIVE has easily movable office walls which can be shifted out to expand the space or in to reduce it. It means businesses are always paying rent based on the exact requirements of their business, not for space that’s sitting idle,” explains Lisa. At the B:HIVE the total occupancy cost includes fit out, furniture for all employees, OPEX, net rent, utilities, cleaning, events and Friday drinks – costs that Lisa points out are usually over and above what businesses would normally pay in rent. As the B:HIVE community team takes care of all these administration issues for them it makes for an easy option. She says this has been particularly apparent during the pandemic where B:HIVE has ensured all gov - ernment regulations for operating at various levels are met in the building taking that hassle away from businesses. Located at Smales Farm, a 10ha site on Auckland’s North Shore, B:HIVE spans five lev - els with 2300sqm of workspace on each level including over 1000sqm of shared space. On the ground floor are state-of-the-art meeting, event and conference facilities accessible to all tenants and the wider community. The unique purpose-built design of the building has won numerous awards including being voted best office in the world at the 2019 World Architecture Festival. Lisa says B:HIVE offers businesses many advantages. They don’t have to invest in ex- pensive fitouts, equipment or services and can benefit from the cost savings B:HIVE offers. The biophilic design of B:HIVE also has wellness at its heart and seeks to incorporate natural elements and processes into the building. For example a vertical open-air atri- um delivers natural light deep into all floors so people can feel connected to the time of day and outside conditions. Lisa says this can result in increased productivity of staff and also help with staff recruitment and retention. B:HIVE also en - courages the sharing of ideas and collabora- tion, which can also assist businesses to grow and innovate. Lisa says that the growing popularity of the shared workspace model means that B:HIVE is currently in the process of expanding to add an additional 6000sqm of workspace. “Covid-19 has shown businesses the diffi - culties of trying to forecast their needs far into the future, which they have to do when taking up long commercial leases. “The pandemic has forced businesses to look at their workplace strategy and shared workspaces are clearly a great option for many.”