Leading flexible workspace specialist and certified B Corp x+why has announced the launch of a new space at Santander’s landmark new headquarters – Unity Place in Milton Keynes. The 60,000 square foot workspace, which will open in the summer, will cover the entire second level of the 500,000 square foot BREEAM Excellent rated building.
Rupert Dean, co-founder of x+why, said:
“As a key part of our expansion, we are delighted to be opening a space in Milton Keynes, the UK’s newest city. At the centre of the Oxford Cambridge Arc, it is an exciting, fast-growing part of the country, the epicentre of the tech, data and life science industries. We expect the demand for our forward thinking, sustainable and agile workspaces to be high, bringing like-minded people from the area together to collaborate under one roof.”
Designed by LOM, Santander Unity Place will be a centre for digital banking innovation that nurtures collaboration and staff wellbeing. It will also enhance the local area with a range of public amenities. Unity Place creates an enhanced workspace for Santander colleagues that will help attract and retain the best talent in the area.
The campus’s ground floor will be open to the public and have a range of facilities including an urban food market, retail outlets, a bakery, a frictionless corner store, a restaurant with a brewery, a community hall and an auditorium, seating 300. In addition, Unity Place offers health facilities including wellness studios, yoga and consultation spaces. There is also a rooftop wellness walk and outdoor terrace seating for a seventh-floor restaurant bar.
x+why plans to bring its signature ergonomic and playful style to Unity Place, the space will include private offices catering for teams but also open-topped desk pods for start-ups, entrepreneurs and agile workers. Across all their spaces, beyond the standard member benefits of lightning-fast internet, changing rooms with showers, fun break out areas and well-stocked honesty bars, x+why offers a cultural programme of purpose related events and workshops including the exclusive Why B Programme. The programme forms part of x+why’s mission to change the way the world works for good by supporting a community of purpose driven companies to advance people and the planet as well as making a profit.
Rupert Dean added:
“All our spaces are designed and operated in as sustainable a way as possible – from the supply chain for our fit outs, to the way waste is collected and recycled. The spaces are aimed at any organisation that is committed to a more impactful and positive way of working, whether they be a business, social enterprise or charity.”
Nick Roberts, Head of Property, Santander, said:
“Santander are incredibly excited to partner with x+why to bring a flexible workspace community to Unity Place. They are an impressive operator whose values align with the vision for the building, and whose strong brand credentials ensure that we will attract a range of impressive and innovative businesses. We are proud to welcome them to Milton Keynes and look forward to collaborating in 2023 and beyond.”
Tom Sleigh, head of Flexible Workspace Consulting at Colliers, Santander’s appointed commercial property advisors, said:
“We’ve been working with Santander to enhance the experience and office environment within Unity Place. x+why were the standout partner to operate this flexible workspace opportunity due to their shared commitment towards sustainability as well as their dedication to working with the local community to provide top-quality workspaces.”
Find out more at www.xandwhy.co.uk
