Flexible workspace operator Common Ground is expanding its Philippine footprint through a strategic partnership with the billionaire Andrew Tan-led Megaworld Corp. and its real estate investment trust arm, MREIT Inc., as demand for more agile office solutions continues to reshape the workplace.
The partnership is anchored by the opening of Common Ground Digital Park McKinley Hill, the company’s biggest facility in the Philippines and its first location positioned as a ‘Digital Park.’
Located at the Intellectual Property Center in McKinley Hill, Taguig City, the facility offers nearly 2,000 square meters of flexible workspace designed to serve startups, small and medium enterprises, multinational companies and remote teams.
The launch formally marks the start of a long-term strategic partnership between The Flexi Group, the parent company of Common Ground, Megaworld and MREIT.
The alliance combines the real-estate capabilities of Megaworld and MREIT with Common Ground’s expertise in flexible workspace operations and community-building.
Under the arrangement, Megaworld provides Grade-A infrastructure through its integrated township developments, while Common Ground supplies the flexibility, community and operational support required by companies adopting more agile work models.
‘This partnership is a tremendous privilege and a strong validation of Common Ground’s track record in creating beautiful, premium, yet cost-efficient workspaces,’ Chris Edwards, CEO of The Flexi Group, said.
Edwards added that the company is honored by the confidence placed in its vision as it brings its office environments to Megaworld’s developments.
Expanding the flexible-office model
The partnership comes as businesses increasingly adopt hybrid and agile work arrangements, creating demand for office solutions that can adjust to changing workforce requirements.
Common Ground Digital Park McKinley Hill is equipped with hot desks, private offices and conferencing facilities. It has an expandable 16-person boardroom that can accommodate meetings and training sessions for up to 32 people, soundproof call booths for video meetings and an event space that can accommodate up to 80 people.
The facility is also designed to offer more than conventional office space.
Its location puts members within walking distance of Venice Grand Canal Mall, providing access to retail establishments, restaurants and cafés. It is also adjacent to the McKinley Hill transport hub, while nearby residential and leisure developments reinforce the township’s live-work-play environment.
For MREIT, the partnership provides another way of enhancing the use and appeal of its office assets by integrating flexible workspace into Megaworld’s established business ecosystems.
MREIT is the flagship REIT of Megaworld and manages a portfolio of office and commercial assets in key business hubs, including Eastwood City and McKinley Hill. Its properties are occupied by a diversified base of BPO companies and multinational firms.
Platform for expansion
The McKinley Hill facility could also serve as a model for Common Ground’s broader expansion in the country.
The company said its partnership with Megaworld will enable it to be present in business corridors where modern companies need flexible workspace, digital connectivity, community and other services to support their growth.
Common Ground currently has five locations across Greater Manila and is part of The Flexi Group, which operates more than 50 locations across Asia Pacific and Australia through several workspace brands.
The partnership consequently represents more than the opening of another coworking facility. It brings together a flexible-office operator and a major Philippine property platform in a model that could allow flexible workspaces to become a more integrated component of large-scale mixed-use developments.
For Megaworld and MREIT, the alliance adds a flexible-workspace offering to their established office portfolio. For Common Ground, it provides access to strategically located business districts and a platform for further expansion.
As companies continue to reassess their office requirements in the era of hybrid work, the partnership positions McKinley Hill as a test case for how flexible workspace can be integrated into the broader live-work-play ecosystem.