
Coworking as a Commercial Leasing Solution for Vacant Buildings
Vacant buildings cost owners millions annually. In commercial districts across Southeast Asia, floors once buzzing with tenants now sit in eerie silence. The bright interiors remain spotless, the lights are still operational—but no one comes. These spaces, once the crown jewels of real estate portfolios, have become silent losses.
The scale of the issue is significant. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s 2024 report, vacancy rates in Southeast Asia’s commercial buildings hovered between 15% and 20%. In many cities, the hardest-hit properties are those built for an earlier era—designed for traditional tenants, long-term leases, and single-use occupancy.
Yet, tenant behavior has radically changed. Enterprises have shifted to hybrid work. Freelancers and startups dominate the growth curve. Businesses seek shorter commitments, amenity-rich spaces, and flexibility. But many landlords are stuck offering a leasing model that no longer fits the demand.
Waiting for a major tenant to sign a long-term lease is no longer a viable strategy. Every passing month of vacancy eats into operating budgets, increases security costs, and affects building valuation. But the real loss? Opportunity cost. The chance to engage a changing market is being missed.
The real estate game isn’t just about filling space. It’s about staying relevant to the needs of modern workers. And that requires a new playbook—one that sees coworking not as a trend, but as a practical, scalable commercial leasing solution.
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Philippines is one of the few operators in the region who has built that playbook. With active hubs in Cebu, Makati, Japan, Vietnam, Hawaii, and Singapore, the company has proven that operatorship can breathe life into dead real estate.
Their method is simple but transformative: convert idle floors into low-CAPEX, high-engagement coworking hubs. Handle everything from fit-out to staffing. Launch events and activate community use. And do it in under 60 days.
In this article, we’ll break down why vacancy is the modern real estate threat no one can ignore, why coworking is the most effective solution today, how one space in Vietnam went from empty to essential, and how landlords can act now using a proven, step-by-step model.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Let’s quantify the pain. A 1,500 sqm floor left vacant in a prime building for just 12 months can result in an unrealized revenue loss of ₱25–35 million. This doesn’t include sunk costs from fit-outs, taxes, or depreciation. It also doesn’t account for the reputational damage a visibly empty building can create in a business district.
As vacancies climb, pressure mounts. You still pay security personnel, utilities, elevator maintenance. You lose out on scale economies, and worse—your building risks being perceived as “failing,†discouraging potential tenants from even touring the property.
The macro-level data is equally sobering. CBRE’s 2024 Asia Pacific Occupier Sentiment Survey reveals that over 60% of large tenants are downsizing. Instead of long-term leases, they’re choosing hybrid hubs or short-term solutions tied to project cycles. Small and mid-sized businesses now drive demand—but they need flexibility.
This signals a clear shift: we are no longer in the era of “build it and they will lease.†Commercial leasing is not just about square footage anymore. It’s about access, adaptability, and relevance. The buildings that offer these will win. The rest will fall behind.
Developers and building owners are at a crossroads. Cling to old leasing strategies, or adapt to what tenants want now: community, flexibility, and space that serves their growth—not just their size.
There’s also an urban design dimension here. Dead buildings impact neighborhoods. Empty storefronts and darkened windows reduce foot traffic and attract security risks. A once-thriving district can spiral into underuse, affecting surrounding property values and local commerce.
That’s where coworking re-enters the picture—not just as a temporary filler, but as a long-term, dynamic answer to market change. It brings people in. It gives space a voice again.
For landlords willing to explore coworking through a reliable partner, there’s a way to turn loss into recurring income and irrelevance into local impact.
THE SOLUTION
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Philippines doesn’t just manage coworking spaces. They transform underutilized floors into thriving communities that generate income, foot traffic, and brand value for the entire building.
Unlike typical leasing models where landlords front-fit-out costs and wait months for a tenant to commit, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ uses a lean operatorship model. You provide the space, and they take over from there—with fast execution and built-in community growth mechanisms.
Their approach is highly modular. No need to tear down walls or spend millions on construction. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ works with what’s there—adapting layouts, adding modular furniture, and layering in brand aesthetics suited to local preferences.
On the operational side, they deploy trained community managers, facilities staff, and support teams to ensure the space runs 7 days a week. They manage bookings, member onboarding, tours, security protocols, even local partnerships.
The model works across scales—from 300 sqm boutique floors to multi-level expansions. A key differentiator is ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s network effect: clients can access spaces across cities, making each new site part of a wider ecosystem.
Even marketing is built in. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ promotes each space on social media, through startup networks, and via international mobility channels. Events, workshops, and brand activations ensure that the space is always in motion.
The revenue model is flexible. Some landlords prefer a fixed monthly fee. Others choose revenue-sharing. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ works with both, designing terms that reduce risk and increase alignment.
Ultimately, this isn’t just about desks. It’s about activating value. The space becomes a living, breathing platform—one that adapts with tenants, hosts cultural moments, and positions your building as more than real estate. It becomes a landmark.
CASE EXAMPLE
Let’s zoom in on a case that illustrates the model in action.
In late 2023, a Vietnamese building owner approached ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ with a problem: their once-profitable ground floor retail space had been tenant-less for over 18 months. Once anchored by cafes and boutique retail, the space had been decimated by pandemic closures. No retailers were biting.
The 500 sqm floor had potential—it was centrally located in Ho Chi Minh, within walking distance of universities and startup offices—but foot traffic had dwindled, and the design was outdated. The space had become a liability.
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ proposed a bold idea: convert the space into a coworking hub with a built-in event area, daily access desks, and flexible rooms. Rather than waiting for one large lease, create a magnet for many small users.
Renovation was light-touch: new lighting, fresh branding, movable furniture, and acoustic improvements. The total fit-out took under 6 weeks. A soft launch was scheduled with local artists and startup founders hosting small events.
By Month 2, the space was already at 60% hot desk capacity. By Month 4, regular events were bringing in over 200 visitors a week. The vibrancy returned. Startups began inquiring about leasing upper floors. Local press featured the revival.
Financially, the model worked better than leasing. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ handled member recruitment, operations, and partner programming. The landlord received a steady revenue share with zero management burden.
More importantly, the building had been reborn. It wasn’t just a place to work. It had become a place to connect, learn, and grow. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æâ€™s playbook turned 500 sqm of silence into a story of success.

Vacant space is no longer a passive problem. It’s an invitation to innovate. The most forward-thinking developers are no longer waiting for the “perfect†tenant. They’re creating ecosystems that attract tenants across industries, generations, and work styles.
STEP-BY-STEP INSIGHT
TAKEAWAY & FUTURE OUTLOOK
Coworking is not just a design trend or an interim solution—it’s a commercial leasing strategy rooted in community, flexibility, and operational excellence. And in markets like Southeast Asia, where urbanization is rapid but corporate behavior is shifting, it provides the agility that developers need most.
ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Philippines has shown what’s possible. By converting unused real estate into vibrant coworking spaces—without high upfront costs—they help landlords generate steady income, revive building reputation, and future-proof their properties.
What’s next? Expect coworking models to extend beyond traditional urban cores. Malls, transit hubs, and even residential towers will explore mixed-use work zones. Tenants will continue to demand purpose-built, hybrid-ready spaces that evolve as they grow.
For developers and building owners, the call is clear: stop thinking of your building as inventory. Start thinking of it as infrastructure for innovation.
And for cities, coworking isn’t just about where people work. It’s about how neighborhoods live. If your building can become a hub for creators, technologists, founders, and freelancers—then you’re not just earning rent. You’re shaping the future of your city.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Underutilized office floors, vacant retail areas, and even former residential-commercial hybrids can work. Spaces with easy access, decent natural light, and shared restrooms are ideal—but ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ can adapt layouts for most setups.
Depending on the condition of the space, most launches take between 30 to 60 days from assessment to activation. Their modular approach ensures speed without sacrificing quality.
No large upfront investment is required. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ offers flexible partnership terms—either revenue share or fixed management fees—covering design, furniture, staffing, and community activation.
You earn through either a revenue-sharing agreement or a fixed monthly fee, depending on the structure you choose. Coworking helps turn dead space into recurring, diversified income.
Even small floors (as little as 200–300 sqm) can become profitable coworking hubs. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ specializes in adaptive formats that work for limited footprints or single-level buildings.

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