Flex space is an increasingly popular trend in commercial real estate construction, but what exactly does it mean?
Flex space is at its core a flexible, lightly zoned space that can be used for multiple purposes and typically has a combination of industrial and retail or office space. Combining these mixed uses has become a new art form. Thoughtfully designing and planning flex spaces with both beauty and function in mind to meet your company’s specific needs is something we excel in at Rubicon Contractors.
How can you utilize flex space to increase the functionality of your commercial property? Here are a few of the ways you can incorporate flex space to make the most of your square footage.
Warehouse and Industrial Space
Many flex spaces begin with a large, open warehouse or industrial space that is then designed to include any office or retail needs of the business. A wide variety of industries in Utah and the Intermountain West can benefit from a well-designed flexible facility including energy and natural resource companies, retailers, suppliers, and those specializing in manufacturing and distribution.
Research and Development Facilities
Flex spaces are ideal for laboratories like those needed for R&D in medical manufacturing, pharmaceutical research, chemical production, and product development. Rather than being forced to rely on offsite labs, flex space and flexibility to maintain the specific variable controls necessary to meet the needs of your R&D lab while providing ample comfortable office and meeting space.
Artists and Craftsman
Artists were some of the early pioneers of flex space, often combining their studio, gallery and even living spaces all in one building. Modern-day flex spaces allow everyone from painters to furniture makers to have an adaptable space that is designed with their craft in mind.
Event and Entertainment Venues
Hospitality and tourism can benefit from flex space, too. Event, entertainment and wedding venues are especially well suited to flex space because of the ability to accommodate a variety of formal, informal, and administrative areas all under one roof. Large bay doors can be utilized to create an indoor/outdoor atmosphere that has the added benefit of extending the use of your space in the warmer months while still remaining seasonally appropriate in the winter or during inclement weather.
Coworking
A new emerging trend is coworking facilities that combine private office space and open flexible space that is used for a variety of purposes including shared workspace, dedicated rented desks, meeting space, and event venue rentals. These facilities are often utilized by entrepreneurs, individual contractors, those with side gigs, and startups looking for shorter leases, shared amenities and a sense of community and comradery.
Offices and Retail
Within each of the above potential uses of flex space lies the need for incorporating either office or retail space. The possibilities are endless — from administrative offices for a distribution center or a showroom for a product manufacturer to a gallery for an artist or a retail storefront attached to a warehouse for easier distribution logistics.
The variety of uses of flex space is only limited by your imagination and the experience and expertise of your general contractor. At Rubicon Contractors, we work with you to
identify your specific needs and provide the right design and execution to maximize the use of your space.
If you’re interested in learning more about how flex space could benefit your business, contact us and one of our experts will reach out to you.
