+U Launches with a First in the Co-Working Space

Having introduced the new Veriu boutique hotel brand into the Sydney market in 2017, Director Alex Thorpe has launched a new co-working space concept called +U (pronounced Plus U), with the recent opening of the first location near Sydney’s Central station. +U Central, located at 822 George St, combines 19th Century architecture with intelligently designed spaces across seven floors, making it a ‘destination workplace’ like no other.  

In a first for the co-working space market, each of the seven levels are devoted to specific industries or like-minded disciplines. Beauty therapists, personal trainers and wellness experts share ‘The Retreat’ floor, while marketing and creative services congregate on ‘The Collective’ floor; professional services are located on ‘The Productive’ floor; interior designers and project managers on the ‘The Hub floor; and two floors – ‘The Hive’ and ‘The Co-op’ – are dedicated to start-up businesses.

A professional state-of-the-art recording studio available for rent to artists and producers in the music and radio/ podcast industry. A dedicated App for communication between floors is available to members to encourage networking and connection; for setting up meeting room bookings; and making food and beverage orders from the on-site upmarket café situated on street-level (opening October '18). The space doubles as a conference and event venue for up to 150 people in a unique converted heritage setting.

“We’ve really thought strategically about how best to configure each floor to maximise networking opportunities and ensure the right flow is achieved by aligning like-minded individuals and industries in the same space – it’s that point of difference that will really make +U a unique, vibrant and professional co-working option,” said Thorpe.

The number of co-working spaces around the world has increased from 75 in 2007 to now approximately 14,000 spaces worldwide, with the number of individuals signed up to use them to exceed one million.  In Australia, there are just over 300 co-working spaces in operation, servicing a growing network of independent contractors*. Thorpe is confident that the demand justifies the growth and investment in the new +U brand.

“With the rise of digital technology and the freelance workforce, co-working spaces provide a more practical and professional alternative to working from home or out of coffee shops, and provides a better economic alternative to the cost of renting commercial space in cities like Sydney and Melbourne.”

Thorpe has appointed David Clarke as GM for the +U brand, utilising his previous experience in senior roles in hotels and venues both in Australia and overseas – including QT hotels, W Hotels, Pacific Bondi and CUB private business club. Clarke will oversee the opening of +U Central - the first of a network of locations to open across Sydney over the next 18 months with sites for Melbourne also under discussion. “The lines between life and work are often blurred and we wanted to create a workplace that catered to that by replicating the comfort of a home office environment which also offers professional connections and facilities,” said Clarke.

+U Central is a $4 Million overhaul of the heritage listed building located at 822 George Street, situated between Central Railway Station and UTS with the burgeoning Chippendale dining precinct just metres away.  It offers tenants a choice of leasing options for daily, weekly, monthly or yearly timeframes for single desks, 2-people or 4-people office spaces. Each floor has communal meeting rooms, shredders, lockers and phone booths (known as ‘confessionals’), and even beer on tap, with bike racks scattered throughout the building. With an onsite ‘Zen Den’ +U members also enjoy health and wellness benefits such as an expert yoga instructor, barre classes and reformer pilates, with premium bathroom and shower facilities available (including hair straighteners, dryers and curlers). Valuing their tenants outside of the workplace, +U even offers their members discounts on Veriu boutique hotel accommodation across Sydney.

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*"Coworking Spaces Australia: The new places where people work, businesses grow, and corporates connect.” Sydney Business Insights, http://sbi.sydney.edu.au/coworking-spaces-australia/2017

Alex Thorpe brands include:

Veriu Hotels | +U Co-Working | UKO Co-Living (September '18) | Furnished Property | Punthill Apartment Hotels

For further information and press material, please contact Lauren: lauren@laurennicolepr.com.au

+U

822 George Street

Chippendale
NSW 2008

Website: www.plus-u.com.au

Instagram: @plusuworkcollective