Hawaiian backs big co-working space

Spacecubed will open a new co-working space at 191 St Georges Terrace, under a partnership with commercial property owner and developer Hawaiian.

Hawaiian and Spacecubed are expected to launch the new space, FLUX, in March next year.

Spacecubed managing director Brodie McCulloch said the 1,400 square metres over three floors of Parmelia House would triple the company’s capacity to support startup companies and entrepreneurs.

Mr McCulloch said Spacecubed and Hawaiian had been working together for the past six months to develop the concept.

“Partnerships are how Spacecubed has grown to date, through corporate partnerships and partnerships with government,” Mr McCulloch said.

“This is just extending that.”

Mr McCulloch said Parmelia House would allow Spacecubed to offer private offices as well as co-working space to its members.

“Some feedback we got from members was that when they grow to a certain point they would like to have an office that they work in with their team, but still have the connectivity to the entrepreneurial community that Spacecubed has got, and we think that this will really help to achieve that,” he said.

“Our goal is to offer a range of different inspiring spaces to our members and this will provide a really interesting space for them to work and start up their ideas.”

Hawaiian chief executive Russell Gibbs said he expected co-working spaces to become more commonplace in the CBD office environment as it evolves over the next few years.

“As WA’s resources sector matures into its operations phase, it’s essential for WA to develop new opportunities in other industries,” Mr Gibbs said.

“We are committed to creating the largest co-working office space in Perth – not just a space to sit but a place to connect, develop, engage and grow new ventures that will become WA’s platform for ongoing economic sustainability.”

The Spacecubed partnership is the second innovative new initiative announced by Hawaiian in recent weeks, with the property group unveiling its Food Circus pop-up experience late last month.

The Food Circus program is a collaboration with renowned chef Iain Lawless and will involve food and retailer stalls being installed in eight of Hawaiian’s Perth shopping centres, including Carillon City, Claremont Quarter and Bassendean Shopping Village.

“We know the world of retail is changing, therefore we are keen to explore ways in which we can create an environment that our communities want to engage with,” Mr Gibbs said.