Chiswick home to first x+why site in West London

Leading flexible workspace specialist x+why has opened its first West London site at Chiswick Works, W4.

The site will offer forward-thinking, flexible and sustainable workspace facilities for businesses wanting a West London base and meeting the local demand for hybrid-working. It will enable people to work ‘close to home’ when they do not travel into the office.

The Chiswick Works space will also be x+why’s first site targeted at remote workers, offering the escape, community, fun, and focus that working from home can lack. The 30,000 sq foot space will be a mix of co-working, dedicated desks and small offices, and several enterprise suite spaces, suited to larger companies – located in Chiswick Park, home to some of the world’s leading companies.

Features range from triple-height reception with floor to ceiling glazing bringing a huge amount of natural light, to the dramatic mezzanine and inspiring Mission Room with amphitheatre style seating.

The building has a BREEAM’ Very Good’ rating, and there is a full fresh air handling system in all spaces. The fit-out and furnishing of the space includes sustainable materials such as cork floors and Baux acoustic panels and locally and environmentally sourced furniture, and a biophilic design. The site’s industrial heritage is reflected in its contemporary design features.

The passing tube and train tracks provide the perfect, fun distraction through the floor to ceiling windows on the first floor.

Rupert Dean, chief executive and co-founder of x+why, said: “Chiswick Works, is ideally located as our first West London outpost, an area that has long been considered a valuable base for creative and innovative entrepreneurs.

“The region was home to the UK’s first-ever shared workspace at Barley Mow in 1976, encouraging many individuals from designers and architects to jewellers and craftspeople.

“That eclectic mix of creative types remains as strong in West London today as ever, with 41 new start-ups said to be operational per sq km across the region. Furthermore, the pandemic has driven an increase in demand for hybrid-working with locals looking for a place to work close to home on days when they are not going into the office.”

x+why’s member benefits not only include lightning-fast internet and facilities such as showers, changing rooms, bike racks, kitchens and an honesty bar but also extend to a cultural programme of purpose-related events and workshops, including the exclusive Why B Programme.

The programme forms part of x+why’s mission to change the way the world works for good by supporting a community of purpose-driven companies to advance people and the planet and make a profit. This mission gained certification as a B Corporation last month, joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose and profit.

Phil Nevin, a co-founder and chief operating officer for x+why, said: “All our spaces are designed and operated as industry-leading green workspaces, with every element designed in collaboration with purpose-driven brands. The spaces are not just for charities or not-for-profits; they are aimed at any person or business committed to a more impactful and positive way of working.

“Becoming a B Corporation was fundamental to x+why, and we are thrilled to have now certified. For us, this is the beginning, not the end, of the journey, and we are excited to use our certification as a powerful tool to create a forward-thinking, equitable and sustainable business that hopefully inspires others to also use business as a force for good.”

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