Jason Omens and Leslie Schneider in front of their new building
The owners of OfficeXpats, the co-working suites located in The Pavilion, are taking a leap into the commercial real estate market. Leslie Schneider and Jason Omens recently purchased the Aspect Consulting building, almost directly across the street from their facility, at 350 Madison Avenue N.
OfficeXpats, which specializes in shared offices, meeting spaces and private offices, has been holed up on the second floor of The Pavilion, at 403 Madison Avenue N., since 2011. Schneider, a member of the Bainbridge Island City Council and Omens, who works as a Cybersecurity Analyst for the Naval Undersea Research Center at Keyport, said they will eventually move OfficeXpats to the new building possibly by the end of the year or when the few remaining Aspect Consulting employees move out. The company still maintains a lease on the building.
Aspect Consulting was purchased by Geosyntec of Seattle last year and is consolidating its local operations and will eventually have a smaller footprint elsewhere on Bainbridge Island.
“It’s practically move in ready,” says Omens of the Aspect space. “Why did we (decide) to buy (the new building)?” he asks. “For the long-term viability. Rents keep going up. If we invest in a building, we can build equity. We want to continue to grow,” he explains. “We figured out a way to buy the building. … There are more opportunities (there) than in the (existing) space.”
Checking out their new space
Adds Schneider, “Acquiring this property will allow us to re-invent our culture of collaboration and innovation in a beautiful new space, with stability for our future. … We look forward to welcoming our members to this new building with even more community space as soon as it becomes available, hopefully within this year.”
Set back in the trees on Madison Ave., the spacious facility has 4,200 square feet on two floors. Some of its key features include: a second-floor boardroom with access to a large south-facing deck, seven large private offices with floor-to-ceiling windows, two kitchenettes, a shower in one of three bathrooms, covered bicycle parking, and ample vehicle parking out back.
“It’s kind of a stealth building, set in the trees, kind of by itself,” Omens says. “Nobody knows where it is.” In a previous iteration, the building was a veterinarian office and dog kennel before it was acquired by Aspect in or around 2011. “We looked into at the time and almost bought it,” recalls Schneider, “but we’re glad we were outbid. It would have taken a lot of work to turn it into our space.”
Omens agrees, “They bought the place and tore it down to the studs and rebuilt it, (installing everything) including HVAC system. It was totally re-done,” he says. “We could move in and not touch a thing, expect for maybe some funky pony walls.”
Indeed, the existing configuration of the former Aspect building appears to fall right into OfficeXpats’ sweet spot, Omens and Schneider say, without involving too much in the way of repurposing. Taking a recent tour of the company’s potential new digs, the owners confide that the new space offers some amenities that its existing place at The Pavilion doesn’t have. For example, there are four (of the seven) offices upfront that are 10 feet by 12 feet and have windows that easily open for fresh air. Omens sees those spaces as a “prime” attraction to enhance users who may be looking for more elbow room, plus the spaces look into what the owners call “the Zen Garden,” an outside area with Greenier that suggests a certain calmness.
Hanging out on one of the decks
The new space has a lot of sky windows, to let in more natural light, several outside decks that could be used for meetings, lunches and other activities, and lots of storage spaces. One of its biggest members Ignik www.ignik.com, a Bainbridge Island-based maker of sustainable outdoor heating products, is staying with OfficeXpats and will move into a larger footprint in the new space, adjacent to a garage that will allow it to ship its products more conveniently.
“Generally, there’s more space,” says Omens, noting that every office and open platform collegial space will be hardwired. While the upstairs is smaller than the first floor, Schneider and Omens are still imaging what can take shape there in addition to a large boardroom. “It’s a comfy space for members to hang out,” Omens says. “If you want a place that’s a little quieter, it can be here. There’s room for a bike desk, a treadmill desk. There’s a small phone booth sized room, as well, and the whole top floor could easily turn into retreat space.”
If you are not familiar with the concept, OfficeXpats (https://www.officexpats.com) is one of at least four co-working and conference centers operating on the Kitsap Peninsula and is the oldest of the bunch. Each of these centers offers similar amenities: 24/7 access, high-speed Internet, dedicated desks, conference services, event spaces, and professional development workshops and events.
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Chris Miller – Windermere Real Estate Bainbridge
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Typically, the clientele ranges from serious entrepreneurs like long-time writer and entrepreneur Dave Kragen to employees of companies working remotely to independent business people, as well as representatives of fledgling non-profits looking to grow and expand their networks.
“A lot of people want to be part of something,” adds Omens. “I love hearing about members doing work for each other and seeing the happy accidents (with other members) that help their businesses.”
“It’s a physical place to share resources,” says Schneider. “By sharing space (and talking with each other), you get these accidental relationships that form.”
Kragen agrees. “Since getting involved with OfficeXpats, I’ve learned that co-working is much more than just a convenient in-town office space away from home… I have found that by the end of each month I’ve made enough new contacts or gotten enough new work that my monthly dues pays for itself. And, I’ve also realized that I work more efficiently, am less distracted, and am more disciplined and focused on those days that I work at OfficeXpats then when I work out of my home.”
OfficeXpats has about 80-plus members, who are charged by the hour to rent a desk in membership packages that range from $45 a month for 10 hours at the facility, up to $395 a month for a “resident” with a reserved desk.
Chris Miller – Windermere Real Estate Bainbridge
