Flexible workspace operator Flex has expanded into Sydney, opening a 2,000m² coworking space in Alexandria as demand for alternatives to traditional office leases continues to rise.
The Hickory-operated model launched this month at Bourke & Bowden, the award-winning inner-south development co-developed and built by Hickory. The company has retained its role as building and asset manager.
The Sydney launch follows the success of Flex South Melbourne, Market Lane, which opened in 2021 with 1,200m² of workspace. According to the Flexible Workplaces Australia Flex Futures 2026 report, flexible workspaces accounted for 15.5% of the market in 2025, double the level of three years earlier.
Conversely, the broader office market is moving in the opposite direction. The Property Council’s July 2026 Office Market Report puts national office vacancy at 16.1%, up from 15.8% in the first half of the year and the highest level reported since 1995.
Flex Alexandria, however, has already secured 61% occupancy ahead of its official opening, with BESTSELLER and Dusk among its anchor tenants.
From coworking floor to whole-building model
Flex General Manager Josh Alfafara says the changing nature of office work is pushing businesses to rethink how much space they commit to and for how long.
“Tenants of all sizes have felt a sense of uncertainty around their leases for a number of years, with many questioning how long they should commit to, how much space their team needs or whether or not they should move to a hybrid model,” he said.
Instead of locking businesses into long leases, the Flex model offers a mix of options, from day-to-day flex desks to private offices for longer-term tenants.
“It’s no longer a matter of signing a 10-year lease and accepting that you have little control over your tenancy; instead, tenants are looking for solutions that give them the flexibility to choose from a range of options whether it be a flex desk for a day or a private office for multiple years,” Alfafara said.
Members at Flex Alexandria will also have access to a suite of workplace amenities, including gigabit internet and Wi-Fi, bespoke IT support, printing facilities, reception and mail services, secure 24/7 access and on-site parking.
The space also offers cleaning and housekeeping, high-tech meeting rooms, bespoke breakout areas, multipurpose function spaces and a members-only bar, with the workplace also welcoming pets.
A workplace designed around community
Flex Alexandria occupies the floors of Bourke & Bowden with a mix of private offices, suites and flex desks, accommodating teams from three to 30 people.
The workspace includes meeting rooms, a podcast studio, quiet areas, end-of-trip facilities and a cafe called About You. Its central courtyards and rooftop areas are designed to pull members out of their offices and into shared spaces.
Flex plans to run events, activations and wellness programs for members, with access to the community and programming at Flex South Melbourne also included in an Alexandria membership.
Moreover, Flex Alexandria sits a short walk from The Grounds of Alexandria and four minutes from Green Square station, with cafes, restaurants and parkland nearby. WiseTech and Soak Bathhouse (with discounted rates for Flex members) also occupy space within the development.
Alfafara said proximity to both the CBD and Sydney Airport was particularly attractive to businesses looking for a satellite location.
Biophilic design meets industrial Sydney
The workplace takes a premium, biophilic approach, incorporating lush landscaping, light-filled offices and calibrated LED lighting designed to support workers’ circadian rhythms. The space also carries a bespoke scent.
Flack Studio handled the interior design, while Wardle designed the architecture for Bourke & Bowden. The development draws on Alexandria’s industrial past, using terracotta and umber tones across its facade and softer materials and greenery throughout the interiors.
As Sydney’s office market adjusts to hybrid work, Flex is betting that the future of coworking will be shaped as much by community and amenity as by the desk itself.
