Geek Offices Fills 6,000SF in Fairlane Condos

CAMBRIDGE — Michael Grill, president of Fairlane Properties, recently announced the expansion of Geek Offices from 3,400 sf into another 2,600 sf
at 1035 Cambridge St., a commercial condominium building where Boston-based Fairlane owns nine units totaling 65,000 sf. Geek Offices is using the expansion to Suite 3 to accommodate new firms it in turn provides space for, often fledging technology start ups who hope to benefit from a sharedoffice
environment catering to like-minded companies. “We are thrilled to have Geek Offices continuingits growth here,” Grill says this week, praising the firm’s
co-working model for infusing greater collaboration and interaction among tenants than seen in other shared office environments. Touted as an alternative
to the Cambridge Innovation Center in Kendall Square that has a similar mission, Geek Offices provides cubicles, private offices and work tables for members as well as amenities such as bike racks, on site storage, showers, a UPS drop box and full-time building superintendent. There is a Zipcar available and plentiful parking for those who do drive, notes Grill, while 1035 Cambridge St. is on “restaurant row” in the eclectic Inman Square district, and within close proximity to major MBTA bus and subway lines. Geek Offices CEO John Smith says the expansion at 1035 Cambridge St. has enabled his firm to welcome several new members, including Pull Not Push, a burgeoning Internet marketing firm. Indigo Venture Law Offices delivers legal services to emerging companies, while Scienc3 specializes in apparel, branding, print and web design. Also on board is Emerson Media, which offers event design and multimedia production services, and Flashpoint Development, which brings products and technology to market.

With the leasing of Suite 3, Geek Offices now has expanded conference room access and space for new members. The operation is now offering a 75 percent discount in membership fees for up to four employees or contractors, Smith relays. Founded a year ago this month, existing Geek Office companies include 30delivery, Action for Clean Energy, Growth Spark, HJBX Consulting Services, KMDM Group, MD Informatics Lab and Outlaw Media.
The Geek Office commitment underscores a spirited rebound of 1035 Cambridge St. since Fairlane Properties paid $5.5 million in 2009 for a majority
share of the 120,000-sf building previously known as 432 Columbia St. Fairlane infused the building with capital that enhanced telecommunications capabilities to attract new millennium operations.

The Geek Offices pact illustrates the property’s ability to service that constituency, relays Grill, whose firm also owns buildings in Newton and Westwood.
Unlike many other communities, leasing fundamentals have remained resilient in Cambridge. CBRE/New England recorded positive net absorption of 214,000 sf in Q3 for an inventory of 11.1 million sf, putting the vacancy rate at 11.2 percent, with the Mid-Cambridge submarket at just 6.5 percent for 2.0 million sf. CBRE/NE pegs the average asking rent in Cambridge at $35.12 per sf after a modest gain from the mid-year rate.