Spaces: Community-Building Platform WeWork Expands Its Influence in Southeast Asia with the Premier of First PH Branch in BGC

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(From left to right) Edukasyon.ph Chief of Strategy Judge Calimbahin, Klook Philippines Market Lead Michelle Cruz, WeWork Director of Engineering (Technology) Beverly Dolor, Taguig City Deputy Chief of Staff Atty. Maricar Loinaz-Sarmiento, WeWork Managing Director of Southeast Asia Turochas “T” Fuad, Megaworld Senior Vice President Jericho P. Go, and Megaworld Vice President JP Balboa in the opening of WeWork Philippines’ first branch in Uptown Bonifacio BGC

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY—WeWork provides a space for creators to help them make a living. To expand their online platform, they opened their first location in Manila in Uptown Bonifacio Tower Three.

They will expand their headquarters in the Filipino region in RCBC Plaza, Makati by the second quarter of 2019 due to strong demand from various enterprises that joined the WeWork team. After successful launches in Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur, the company’s entrance in the local market will pave the way for innovative working culture in the Philippines.

Providing a Community-Driven Experience

WeWork Uptown Bonifacio can accommodate 800 people in the 9th and 10th floors of the building. This will increase the total reach of WeWork Southeast Asia to more than 13,000 in its regional community.

The space contains curated elements like Games and Karaoke rooms. It also has an indoor garden area where freelancers, startups, and entrepreneurs can elevate their work environment.

Turochas “T” Fuad, Managing Director of WeWork Southeast Asia perceived that now is the best time for WeWork to begin their operations in the Philippines as a rising economy in Southeast Asia.

“WeWork is not just about the space, but also the value that we create by providing an inclusive member-driven experience that fosters an environment of creativity and collaboration across a vibrant global community of individuals … we look forward to fostering greater cross-border collaborations and ideation that will spur business growth in the region,” he added.

WeWork’s mantra: “Global Company, Local Playbook”

WeWork prides on their core mission of creating collaborative opportunities for the community through optimizing space and good design into one. Since then, it has made its mark in 425 physical locations, 100 cities, and 27 countries. The platform’s growth in the SEA market in 2018 has increased into 17 sites in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand.

“Global company, local playbook” has always been the company’s motto towards growth. It commits in the Philippine Market through close collaborations with key partners and experts. Their efforts are visible through the Filipino elements incorporated in its space in BGC.

Features of the Space

WeWork BGC’s common area

WeWork Uptown Bonifacio relied on the ideals of fresh air and mobility in making the space work. The location is brought to life by natural light and various open-air meeting places.

As mentioned, unique elements in the location include a Karaoke room, Games room, and an indoor garden on the 10th floor for relaxation. The garden contains artificial turf mounds inspired by the Philippine islands, it also showcases a mural by Bitto, an artist and a cultural worker.

WeWork BGC’s Gaming and Karaoke Room

One of the focal points in the space is the mural hanging on the common area at the 9th floor. To integrate the spirit of “bayanihan” in the area, WeWork’s arts and graphics team collaborated with Bitto to make it work. There is also a neon sign on the 10th floor inspired by Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao and another sign that integrates the colors of halo halo, a popular Filipino iced dessert.

Wework’s indoor garden on the 10th floor

The space follows a mostly neutral palette, with pops of color on the ceiling and eclectic murals to make it stand out. To maintain a Philippine tropical vibe, natural light and plants are also added.

WeWork’s pantry area stocked with snacks and beverages

When asked about the BGC space, Fuad commented, “Apart from creating habitats for creativity and focus, our goal is to shape truly dynamic environments to create better experiences where our members are inspired to go to work … by transforming spaces into beautiful multipurpose and responsive environments that function like an office, we are very much rooted in our values that demonstrates how every design element and corner in WeWork was considered with the member in mind.”

An Inclusive Community that Empowers a Global Network

WeWork bridges the gap between physical space and digital platforms by utilizing software and data to ensure efficiently built spaces and connected communities. The growth of the company is also driven by technology spanning from design, real estate, construction, research and development, to community experience. To manage the workspace experience of the WeWork ecosystem, the WeWork Members Network App is launched.

The app enables members to book meeting rooms, invite other members to events, and get access to like-minded individuals or companies from WeWork’s global membership. It is a convenient experience for any member to promote his or her service to an international market or engage in cross-border collaborations.

WeWork also proves its edge in the industry by developing Powered by We, a service that applies data-driven approach in providing owned or leased spaces for enterprise members. Companies like UBS, Sprint, and Standard Chartered HongKong trust WeWork to provide optimal workplaces for their employees.

The platform also welcomes Filipino organizations such as Edukasyon.ph, Klook, and Shopback in their community.

Judge Calimbahin, Chief of Strategy for Edukasyon.ph, stated, “We were looking for an efficient and productive working space that would enable us to continuously optimize, innovate and up our game … (WeWork) became a natural fit for us (since) our team thrives in a collaborative environment, we are confident that WeWork’s global network and resources will enable us to progress even faster towards our goals.”

“(At Klook), we embrace the power of community as a firm foundation of our exponential business growth. With Klook also a member in Seoul and Japan, partnering with WeWork gives us the flexibility and peace of mind to be dynamic with our growth, without worrying about real estate needs and costs,” said Michelle Cruz, Market Lead of Klook Philippines.

WeWork believes in effectively bringing all aspects to create a remarkable member experience. Fuad added, “The Philippines is a now a major growth center in the region and we are amazed by how much creative and entrepreneurial potential there is here … we are keen on helping propel individuals and companies towards growth through our workspaces.”

Developing spaces and strengthening partnerships

WeWork’s new location in Manila is a testament to its core mission of building communities through interaction of space, people, and technology. Aside from expanding its physical footprint, there is an increasing demand from landlords in participating leases that enables them to share its growth on a global level.

Research from real estate consultancy HR&A shows that WeWork helps in generating 29% in rent premiums for building owners. This can be seen in the 50 to 120% increase in sale price where select buildings that sold after WeWork moved in. Through this, the platform envisions more partnerships with landlords to move their expertise in the Philippines and beyond.

“As WeWork strengthens its presence in Southeast Asia, whether it’s work, living, education, wellness, or retail – we can reimagine, reshape, and re-humanize the architecture of our space, our buildings, and our cities to support and encourage human connection and creativity,” Fuad concluded.