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BCBusiness + Pavilion Cowork Pavilion Cowork creates shared office space tailored to professionals
Ever since the first shared office space launched in San Francisco over a decade ago, coworking has become a global movement. People have embraced the concept of communal office spaces, which provide not only shared amenities and resources but also a sense of community.
Once seen as an alternative to working from home, coworking was especially popular among startups, tech businesses, entrepreneurs, designers and freelancers. Now, coworking is an appealing option for companies seeking space that don’t want to deal with long leases and high rents—especially in Vancouver’s increasingly expensive and competitive office market.
However, what hasn’t existed is a coworking space tailored specifically to the unique needs of professionals—executives and leaders working in fields such as finance, accounting, law, engineering and architecture.
Pavilion Cowork aims to change that.
Launching in Vancouver this summer, Pavilion Cowork is a new venture by the Alabaster Group of Companies, an award-winning local real-estate developer specializing in premier multi-family projects. Pavilion Cowork’s first location will be situated in a newly constructed state-of-the-art building in the heart of Mount Pleasant, near Main Street and East 5th Avenue.
“Historically, coworking and shared workspaces have been used by startups and tech companies, but there’s a significant and growing need for this kind of space for professionals,” says Yosh Kasahara, Pavilion Cowork’s managing director. “The type of space that these users need is much different.
“A lot of coworking providers try to focus on things like foosball tables and give it a party-type atmosphere; that works great for a tech company to attract talent, but for many professional users, it doesn’t work,” he explains. “The biggest test for us is whether a company would feel comfortable bringing clients to the office.”
Interiors are inspired by boutique hotels from around the world, such as 11 Howard, a luxury hotel in New York’s SoHo district. Pavilion also offers enhanced acoustical treatments in offices, going further than other coworking locations to meet the unique requirements of professionals.
“It would be difficult for a law firm, for example, to operate in a conventional cowork space where people can hear each other’s conversations and where Wi-Fi access is shared.
There’s a need for confidentiality and more privacy,” Kasahara says. “Pavilion will provide the most secure high-speed internet connection of any coworking space in the city.”
Pavilion Cowork offers membership opportunities for private offices of varying sizes and layouts, many accommodating for two to four people, with ergonomic seating. Members also have access to a professional boardroom and meeting rooms outfitted with the latest integrated technology for video conferencing.
There’s a fully equipped kitchen and spacious, sleek, upscale lounge space with designer sofas and banquette seating, where professionals can meet with clients in a more relaxed atmosphere or connect with fellow members. Situated away from the private offices—each of which is highly secure with fob access—are showers, change rooms and a secure bike storage area.
“Our vision is to create a totally unique coworking experience for the city,” Kasahara says. “It’s not going to look like any shared office Vancouver has seen before.”
Alabaster Homes has entrusted the same interior design firm it uses for its high-end residences, Gaile Guevara Design Studio, to create Pavilion’s stylishly contemporary interior.
Located at 22 East 5th Avenue, Pavilion Cowork is in a burgeoning neighbourhood dubbed “Mount Pixel” which is bound by Olympic Village, Broadway, Cambie Street, and Main Street. Joining the area’s tech companies are businesses from other sectors, including commerce, law, design and media.
Pavilion Cowork even offers virtual offices, package receiving and phone-answering services.
“This is place where our members will feel like they have their very own headquarters,” Kasahara says. “That’s why we call Pavilion your new HQ.'”
The Pavilion Cowork pop-up opens in mid-May, and the space opens for members this summer. For more information and to register, visit pavilioncowork.com