David Poland, General Manager, Carolinas and Tennessee, Industrious
David Poland, general manager for the Carolinas and Tennessee at coworking spaces provider Industrious, spoke with Invest: about the company’s focus on developing state-of-the-art mixed-use centers and creating attractive spaces for those returning to the office. “In the real estate sector, there’s a flight to quality,” he said. “Industrious is amenity- and experience-focused for our members.”
What does the merger with CBRE mean for Industrious and the national market?
I’ve been with Industrious for seven years. There were 20 locations when we started, about one per major market. The acquisition by CBRE is a huge win, with instant credibility in an industry where we were only 1% of the market share a short time ago. CBRE purchasing our company highlights the growth in the industry in our particular coworking segment. It’s a signal that individuals and companies want a return to the workplace to create an in-person culture.
What do your locations offer in Nashville that make them an attractive option when businesses are looking for space to lease?
In the real estate sector, there’s a flight to quality. Industrious is amenity- and experience-focused for our members. Our Neuhoff and Nashville Yards projects top that list, where you’ll find amenities including a gym, retail and food and beverage offerings, shared amenity spaces like the full classroom-style conference center, and a rooftop entertainment patio. When the company is investing in space that includes all of those amenities, it signals an investment and commitment by a company to its team’s happiness, comfort, and willingness to come into the office and participate in the culture.
To what extent do you believe mixed-use developments will be the future of Nashville?
The culture in Nashville goes way back throughout history. It starts with the connection between music and Broadway that draws people to a common place. At 1:00 a.m. on a Saturday in the summer, Broadway is bringing people together. That’s what this new version of high-quality real estate is doing. It’s placemaking and bringing in attractive food, beverage, retail, fitness, and coworking options. Something the city of Nashville has always had and done a good job of staying true to is the feeling of community and togetherness that the music industry has helped create. The current office environment is benefiting from it with its own version of community and togetherness and creating a place where people want to be.
How do you feel public transportation and alternative transportation options will impact leasing activity in Nashville?
For many years I have managed both the Charlotte and Nashville markets. I live in Charlotte, where there is a light rail stop two blocks from my home, and I work in an Industrious office next to another light rail stop. I can take the light rail to Panthers or Charlotte FC games or travel to our uptown office. Public transportation creates a high quality of life when you don’t have to worry about parking and gas. As Nashville continues to develop and neighborhoods start to develop more of their own identities, it creates more of a need for folks to get in and out of those neighborhoods with ease. The easiest and most efficient way to do that, although it costs a lot of money up front, is with larger forms of transportation.
In terms of the coworking concept, are there any misconceptions that you address with potential clients?
This has certainly evolved over time, as coworking and flexible offices have continued to gain a larger share of the office market. I think the early idea of coworking was that it was geared towards startups and entrepreneurs, with less of a focus on private offices. When you step into an Industrious office, you can immediately tell that our product has been designed for those individuals as well as established companies of any size or status. Our newest spaces at Neuhoff and Nashville Yards are prime examples of beautiful spaces tailored to how people work today, with flexible lease options to fit the needs of any business.
What is your outlook for Industrious over the next three to five years?
I view the return to office mandate as a challenge. Our mission is to make people proud and excited to go to work. If an employee isn’t happy about going back to the office, our job is to change their day and provide an experience that an employee is happy with. We sell to a lot of individuals and smaller companies that can very easily work from home. We’re competing with that freedom. We have to mean what we say and deliver what we promise. We want to be synonymous with being the best. If we can continue to deliver on that promise, the sky’s the limit. As Nashville continues to grow and other companies plant roots in other parts of the city and surrounding area, we want to give our members the ability to work in those new locations. If there’s a place to do business, we want it to be at an Industrious.
