It took many off-site brainstorming sessions, an in-house focus group, an outside marketing firm, tons of research, and countless hours of whittling, but Uniland Development Co. finally has a name for the coworking business space concept it is launching in downtown Buffalo. And it only took 309 names – and a switch to Latin – to get there. The Amherst-based developer will debut the new brand – Hansa – on Friday, with a marketing campaign designed to promote the new venture and attract potential tenants, well in advance of the coworking center's expected opening in spring 2020. The name – which is Latin for "guild" – is geared to highlight the new center's philosophical goal of "bringing people together for common purpose," said Uniland spokeswoman Jill Pawlik. In turn, those "collisions" of people from different industries, in a unique and "elevated office experience," will promote creativity and innovation, said Kellena Kane, Uniland's senior real estate development manager, who will also act as president of the new division. "I’m thrilled. It’s so exciting to have this as an offshoot business and to be able to be at the helm," said Kane, who has worked at Uniland for 12 years and specialized in large-scale projects like The Delaware North Building, the Wonder Falls Resort plan in Niagara Falls and the Ellicott-Tupper innovation campus that now includes Hansa. "We all feel like this first location, we’re going to really hit it out of the park, and the plan is to hopefully add more locations." Located in an old warehouse that Uniland acquired at 505 Ellicott St., the rehabbed two-story facility will offer "flexible and on-demand workspace" for small businesses, with fully furnished options. Those would range from traditional coworking at open, unreserved desks in a large shared space to private offices for up to two people, team rooms for up to six, private suites for up to 20 employees, meeting rooms for up to 45 attendees, and special-event spaces for up to 230 guests. Hansa will offer passes for one or more days, as well as monthly and annual memberships. But rather than use preset pricing, Uniland will design both the space and pricing to fit each company's needs, so that they're not paying for more than they would use, Kane explained. Member amenities would include high-speed Internet, onsite support and technology, a podcast room, secure access, fresh food delivery and a cafe, onsite wellness, mothers' and meditation rooms, storage, private phone booths, changing rooms with showers, networking programs, and even local craft beer on tap for special events. The facility is part of the former Frey the Wheelman campus that Uniland acquired. The developer is currently rehabbing the building with new skylights, windows, a central staircase and a new mezzanine level, while adding a brick facade, exterior lighting and an outdoor patio. Kane said the "core and shell" of the building should be finished by year-end, followed by the interior design and installation of technology, furniture and fixtures early next year, with an initial "soft opening." Upon full completion, it also will include a privately run cafe and two apartments – enabling it to also qualify for city tax breaks. "We have had people already calling and expressing interest. It’s really like a light bulb goes off," Kane said. "So we’re thrilled and we cannot wait to formally launch our pre-opening membership drive next week."
Real estate development and management company Uniland Development is entering the co-workspace market with the launch of Hansa. The firm, which is based in Amherst, New York state is debuting the brand with a marketing campaign in October, before opening at 505 The Delaware North Building, Buffalo, New York on the former Frey the Wheelman campus early in 2020.