Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., the developer behind Bonifacio Global City, opened to the public its newest co-working space, Square One BGC, on October 7.
Square One is specially designed for small businesses and startups. “They’re top-of-mind when we decided to come up with this facility,” says Eli Yaneza, FBDC manager for business development, property planning and office leasing.
“But we also cater to entrepreneurs, professionals and freelancers—basically anyone who needs to have his own small office or desk but cannot be intimidated by the costs incurred by traditional offices,” says Yaneza, Square One BGC’s project proponent.
The operational costs for startups can be enough to dissuade any budding entrepreneur to start a business. On top of the rent for a traditional office space, which can go as high as P200,000 for a 100-square-meter area in BGC, one still has to consider the bills for water, electricity, internet connection, plus salaries for secretarial staff, among others. Moreover, the tenant spends on interior design, furniture and equipment. These concerns are addressed by co-working spaces—making them the perfect solution for small businesses and startups.
For just a fraction of the cost, anyone wanting to have his own office space need not have high capital to rent a space at Square One BGC. Membership is customizable depending on the needs of the business: clients can choose between small offices which can fit between three to 14 workers, dedicated desks, or hot desks where members can work anywhere within Square One BGC’s large Social Hall and Library.
Moreover, FBDC wants to provide the perfect environment for incubator businesses. “BGC has always attracted the creative class, these are the gamechangers that will one day be another Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs,” adds Yaneza.
FBDC’s office leasing portfolio includes eight office buildings in BGC with five more in the pipeline for large-format office spaces. “It is about time we also offer small spaces. In the future they will be our clients in our bigger offices as well,” says Yaneza.
Square One BGC is near convenience stores, retail shops, dining areas, as well as pocket parks where, a five-minute skip-hop can easily take clients’ mind off work-related stress. Just across Square One BGC is Bonifacio Stopover Pavilion with four levels of food, beverage and wellness shops for the co-worker to choose from.
Square One BGC offers a reliable internet connection, free brewed coffee and other refreshments through its creatively-designed pantry, as well as postal/courier services. Other services needed by the members are also available upon request, such as digital scanning and printing.
Square One is open from Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located at the ground floor of the Bonifacio Technology Center at 31st Street corner Second Avenue in BGC. For more inquiries, visit www.squareonebgc.com.ph or contact Francesca Padilla at 09173933646 or francesca@squareonebgc.com.ph.