Hybrid working is about to become a reality in Joondalup
July 21, 2021
The first of a new hybrid flexible workspace opens this September in the Lakeside Shopping Centre complex. Liberty, West Australia’s largest local and independently owned flexible workspace provider, are opening their sixth location in the heart of Joondalup city centre.
The new Flexible Workspace facility, located on the prominent junction of Grand Boulevard and Boas Avenue, will provide 122 workstations in 34 private offices and coworking space, a generous lounge area and 2 state of the art boardrooms across 776 sqm.
The Joondalup location will mirror the inspiring interior design enjoyed by businesses at their 197 St George’s Terrace and 35 Outram Street facilities, and the recently refurbished and iconic 1060 Hay Street location.
In addition to providing a home to the local small business community, the new facility is a solution to the hybrid real estate strategy (hub & spoke) being adopted by larger corporates where workforces spend some time working from (or near) home and some time in head office.
This strategy reduces the amount of floor space required centrally and will trickle down to medium and small businesses as it becomes even more mainstream.
Even before the pandemic, Jamie Vine, Liberty’s visionary Chief Executive recognised businesses were increasing their use of flexible workspace. With more than 50% of APAC businesses considering flexible office space as part of their real estate strategy (Source. Colliers International).
Business resilience means being ready to react quickly to market opportunities and manage risk. As a result of the pandemic, organisations of all sizes now realise that being agile is smart, sustainable, and strategic. Flexible workspaces allow companies to improve adaptability, increase cost-efficiency and lower risk without compromising the environment they provide to employees.
Jamie Vine, CEO at Liberty said, “The hub and spoke principle is where corporate headquarters remain centrally located and are combined with the use of satellite offices for teams and employees in suburban catchments. The main office is still the place for key collaborative work, where company culture is nurtured, and where professional development and career progression relies on proximity to managers and executives, but the use of our satellite locations near employee’s homes means the long commute to the CBD becomes less regular. We know it is what staff are demanding and in today’s skills shortage it pays to listen and respond.”
“Many enjoy the ‘work-from-home’ model without it affecting productivity, however working from home is not practical for everyone, many have young children, are struggling with residential internet connections or do not have the space to dedicate to a home office.
Until now the only way to enjoy the benefits of working in an office environment, including access to corporate grade IT infrastructure and a workspace designed to inspire and encourage collaboration, has been to commute to the CBD.”
Joondalup Mayor Hon. Albert Jacob said, “With the impact of COVID-19, the key to unlocking the future of work means that Joondalup is needing more co-working spaces and incubators. The City is transitioning from an economy focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, business and investment,”
Mayor Jacob added, “Having Liberty Flexible Workplaces opening in Joondalup provides an opportunity for our residents and the wider community to access co-working spaces to support working close to home. We welcome Liberty Flexible Workplaces into the Joondalup business community and look forward to seeing the growth and prosperity of their business, along with new innovation and entrepreneurial ideas forming into start-ups and businesses.”
The new Joondalup facility will bring Liberty’s portfolio up to 7000sqm of office space across the Perth Metro, incorporating 767 workstations in private offices and 78 coworking desks. With expansion sites already identified south of the Swan River and in Fremantle, their commitment to growing in suburban catchments to meet the demands of a changing workforce is clear.
This story ran in The Property Tribune and in Business News WA
