International coworking firm WeWork taps Crossroads for big space

WeWork, an international coworking firm with offices in 37 cities and 12 countries around the globe, is snagging four floors in Kansas City’s Corrigan Station for a new 40,000 square feet space.

With locations in Hong Kong, London, Buenos Aires, New York City and many others, the cosmopolitan coworking company will occupy the third through sixth floors at the recently rehabbed tower, which is the tallest building in the Crossroads Arts District. New York-based WeWork aims to host more than 750 members — from freelancers to small businesses — at the Kansas City location.

“WeWork is a platform for creators that provides the space, services and community that help people make a life, not just a living,” Adam Wacenske, general manager of WeWork’s southern region, said in a statement. “We’re seeing a macro shift in the way people work, one focused on finding meaning. Through WeWork, the people of Kansas City can have the opportunity to work and connect with a global community of more than 90,000 members, both in person at our beautiful workspaces and virtually through our member app.”

Located in five continents and such major U.S. metros as Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego and others, WeWork’s arrival in Kansas City seems to add another feather to its entrepreneurial cap. Launched in 2010 with a mission to empower entrepreneurs, WeWork chose Kansas City for the metro’s cultural renaissance in the last five years and its enduring values of hospitality.

“Kansas City is fast becoming one of the most popular cities in the Midwest,” the firm said. “It’s one of those rare places where you can get the hustle-and-bustle of a metropolitan sprawl without sacrificing the neighborliness of the heartland. Folks here take great pride in where they’re from. … Kansas City has come a long way from its roots in agriculture and manufacturing. Today you’ll find companies from all industries laying the foundation for strong business.”

WeWork selected one of Kansas City’s most recently rehabbed historic buildings in the 10-story Corrigan Station. Located on the Kansas City Streetcar Line, the building features a creative and modern floor plan set amid 11-foot ceilings and huge windows for natural light. The 1921 building also will feature a restaurant, rooftop patio, energy efficient design and planned LEED certification.

Co-developed by Copaken Brooks and 3D Development, Corrigan Station is already nearly full of tenants, which include an architecture firm and insurance brokerage and retail tenants such as the Roasterie.

WeWork’s arrival represents what’s been a sustained coworking boom in Kansas City. More than 12 coworking spaces of varying sizes — from 3,000 to 160,000 square feet — call the Kansas City metro home.

The coworking space also prompts questions about if supply may be outpacing demand for coworking in the metro, which will soon see the opening of the world’s largest coworking space in Plexpod Westport Commons. Occupying a former middle school, Plexpod Westport Commons was developed by KC Sustainable Development Partners and will offer 160,000 square feet of space. iWerx in North Kansas City and Edison Spaces in Overland Park also recently opened their doors. 

David Brain, a member of KC Sustainable Development Partners, previously said demand is growing in the metro and that given current trends, Kansas City needs about 500,000 square-feet of coworking space to accommodate independent workers. If that assessment is correct, the metro can still accommodate about an additional 150,000 square feet of coworking space.

Here are some examples of other WeWork spaces from around the United States.