JLL’s new flex space at MetroTech in Brooklyn officially opens

NEW YORK, Apr. 1, 2021 – JLL announces the opening of Orchard Workspace by JLL, a new 50,000-square-foot flexible office and coworking space at Brookfield Properties’ MetroTech in Downtown Brooklyn. JLL designed, constructed and operates the site located at 15 MetroTech Center, with tenants in the legal, health and wellness as well as marketing fields.

Orchard Workspace by JLL offers flexible offices, coworking space, meeting rooms, custom team suites and virtual offices designed with a focus on wellness and sustainability. Located within MetroTech Center, the facility is accessible to 13 subway lines, a 3.5-acre public outdoor park programmed year-round with art and activations from Arts Brookfield and more. MetroTech’s growing tenant roster includes Slate, Magellan Health, Think! Architecture and Design, Uniworld Group and Stratasys.

“MetroTech has attracted creative and forward-thinking companies who want convenient, high-quality office spaces within a community of innovators. With the addition of JLL’s Orchard Workspace, we are opening MetroTech up to a greater diversity of companies who want a home in Downtown Brooklyn, offering a variety of flexible office spaces for small businesses and startups,” said Mark Kostic, Senior Vice President for Asset Management and Leasing at Brookfield Properties. “We are excited for JLL’s global Flex team to create a unique offering that will benefit the property, our tenants, and the community.”

According to JLL’s Shaping Human Experience report, 66 percent of workers want the ability to alternate between different places of work post-pandemic. Of those surveyed, 40 percent would like the option to work from a third-party place such as a coffee shop or a coworking space, up 11 percent since COVID-19 began. As companies witness this shift in their workers’ preferences, demand for flexible office space has substantially risen to accommodate it.

“Orchard Workspace by JLL meets the needs of today’s modern workforce. It provides a flexible office environment for engaging, productive work – all underpinned by the latest health and wellness features and five-star hospitality service,” said Ben Munn, JLL’s Global Head of Flex, whose Flexible Space team facilitated the construction and management of the space.

One of the key features of Orchard Workspace by JLL’s design is its emphasis on sustainability, featuring 70 percent reuse of existing architectural elements, such as sprinkler systems, water heaters, HVAC system ductwork, AC units, electrical distribution panels and more. Lighting controls are designed to the latest energy code (NYCECC 2020), leading to greater energy savings. In addition, Interface flooring products are 100 percent carbon neutral across its full life cycle and can be fully recycled.

Another major focus of the post-COVID workplace is wellness, with 73 percent of workers surveyed expecting wellbeing services to be offered upon return to the office. Meeting this demand, Orchard Workspace by JLL includes state-of-the-art UV air purifiers, plants and mobile dividers to create physical separation in open work environments, as well as workspace buffering, signage, hand sanitation stations and space-use policies that optimize health and safety.

The enterprise-grade space will be distinguished by high-quality acoustic materials and sound masking technology, ergonomic Steelcase furniture, a micro-market with food and beverage options and a dedicated hospitality team running an environment that promotes business growth and an engaged community.

“The future of real estate will retain many of the key elements that helped fuel this evolution. Space will be fast, flexible and fun. Pre-built spaces, agile design, technology integration, flexible lease terms and hospitality services will become the norm and continue to transform commercial real estate from a commodity to a consumer product,” Munn concluded.