By Pepper Parr
March 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
You remember the Hive don’t you?
They took a neat idea, really gussied it up, held a boffo official opening event and then struggled to say alive.
The kind words from the city about how nice it was to see new high tech ideas arrive on the city but there was nothing in the way of support.
The Hive on Elizabeth was something different – the downtown location proved to be a bit of a challenge.
They struggled – and finally decided that there was no advantage in the downtown location; the rent didn’t help and parking made it less than viable. The two Smart cars parked in front of the office that was on Elizabeth Street were a nice touch.
Shaun Pennell packed it in downtown and set up shop again on Guelph Line at Harvester Road. What was the Burlington Hive became the Halton Hive.
Then the location became a construction site when the Region started laying pipes and the owner of the property was said to want to refresh the rental agreement.
Then an opportunity came Shaun’s way.
A group of property investors were preparing to purchase a well-known Burlington location and they wanted to work with someone on a new approach to office space. There was a meeting of minds and Pennell found himself heading up an operation that would ideally become a community that made space available on an as needed basis and added a number of amenities that would create a lifestyle that suited the younger set who tended to lead the high tech sector.
If Pennell’s action is equal to his words the new location will become a destination – a place where events can take place and where workers can use and pay for what the they need on an ongoing basis. Hua adds that a group will be able to scale up for a short period of time and then revert to the couple of offices they started with.
It is a concept that is being introduced in every major city in North America and throughout Europe.
The Bank of Montreal recently signed a lease for the old Sears space in the Eaton Centre in the heart of downtown Toronto. They are calling it an urban campus that will be geared to the needs of those smart as a tack techies who are creating the economy of the future that arrived yesterday.
Bank of Nova Scotia opened a “digital factory” that included a bowling alley and a speakeasy to attract talent.
No bowling alley at the Crossroads facility that is being sold – the deal is due to close on March 7th – but there is a lot of open space that is going to be converted to a totally different office concept
Hive clients working from a desk they can just plug into and have everything they need – great wireless access and open air space
Two work stations in the upper gallery area.
A number of the tenants at the Halton Hive followed Pennell to the new location. Kune Hua who is handling rentals explains that the Sound of Music will have space, Burlington Green will have space.
The new organization has yet to determine what the new corporate name is going to be – the focus right now is getting the space ready for tenants and creating a much different working environment.
The investors are currently renting the space from the Crossroads organization. The purchase of the property will see the Crossroads organization become a tenant.
Crossroads is going through a major organizational change that has resulted in a significant downsizing. The recent death of Crossroad founder David Mainse meant changes in the corporate structure and the use of the corporate assets.
The Crossroads Centre is at the North Service Road just west of Kerns Road. Loads of parking.
