WeWork plans downtown Tampa site

The largest co-working company in the United States will open its first Tampa Bay location next year.

WeWork signed a lease in for 50,000 square feet in two floors at The Heights, a mixed-use development at 2002 N. Tampa St. on the northern end of downtown Tampa. The space has room for more than 800 WeWork members, the company said.

The location is slated to open spring 2020.

“WeWork is thrilled to call Tampa our newest home in the Sunshine State, as we plant our roots in historic Tampa Heights,” Bobby Condon, Southeast General Manager for WeWork, said in news release. “We’re always searching for strategic locations where our members can seamlessly live, work and play, and WeWork at The Heights development will be uniquely poised to provide that experience. WeWork is committed to supporting the growth and revitalization of downtown Tampa, and we look forward to expanding our footprint throughout the city in the years to come.”

WeWork will be located in the newly constructed 300,000-square-foot Heights Union Office project near the Armature Works Building.

Commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield arranged the lease.

WeWork, which is rebranding as The We Company, was named the No. 1 co-working operator in the U.S. by Colliers International.

“Flexible workspace continues to grow at a rapid pace, now accounting for one-third of office leasing in the last 18 months alone,” Colliers said in a Jan. 25 report.

What local leaders say about WeWork

Mayor Bob Buckhorn

“WeWork has locations in some of the hippest cities in the country. WeWork’s pick of Tampa is further proof that our city is gaining credibility as a vibrant, cool place to live and work, and a place where some of the country’s leading and most innovative companies want to be.”— Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

Craig Richard

“Co-working space is in high demand in Tampa and the addition of WeWork to the market will provide entrepreneurs, startups and innovative companies another option to house and grow their businesses. This new location will help us further market Tampa as a top business destination and we look forward to welcoming WeWork to our market.” — Craig Richard, President and CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation.

NOTE: This story has been updated to include the correct address for The Heights Union Office Project.