Global flexible workspace operator International Workplace Group (IWG) has launched two new workplace products in Singapore. The company is bringing its OpenOffice brand and its HQ brand to the Singapore market for the first time.
A new 1,620 sq ft centre at Fortune Centre will be the first under the OpenOffice brand, while a 6,770 sq ft shophouse at 1 Liang Seah Street will operate as the first HQ branded space.
IWG is an established brand in Singapore’s office market, and its most familiar workplace brands in the local market are Regus, Signature, and Spaces. The international company has other workplace brands in other markets, such as Basepoint in the United Kingdom, Stop & Work in France, and its C-suite focused No18.
Its OpenOffice brand had already been deployed to some of its flexible workspaces in Japan and South Korea, and the company has been progressively expanding it across some of its Asia markets, such as Hong Kong and now to Singapore.
The OpenOffice location at Fortune Centre marks the brand’s foray into Southeast Asia. Pairing a low-staffing model with tech-enabled workspaces, IWG describes its OpenOffice brand as a product that offers businesses a productive, self-service work environment at a prime district address.
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Singapore was picked as the brand’s first location in Southeast Asia because occupier needs here are shifting, says Vijayakumar Tangarasan, Country Head for Singapore, Malaysia, & Brunei at IWG.
Where previously demand for lean flexible workspaces largely stemmed from startups, larger corporate tenants are also looking to lower their capital expenditure (capex) costs, especially for non client facing teams, says Tangarasan.
There is also an ongoing shift towards decentralised and hybrid work arrangements, which many flexible workspace operators are keen to capitalise on. Similarly, IWG sees potential growth opportunities in city-fringe and suburban locations in Singapore.
In addition, the office market is unlikely to see new office completions in 2027, and office vacancy rates in the CBD have fallen to their tightest in 10 quarters as of 3Q2026. This has caused Grade A office rents to have risen to 1.6% the first six months of 2026.
Persistently high demand for CBD office space is largely attributed to strong demand from AI and technology firms expanding in the region, as well as the limited availability of large-format Grade A space in the CBD.
“The opening of OpenOffice Fortune Centre and HQ Liang Seah reflects our commitment to bringing more brands to Singapore as demand for flexible workspace solutions continues to grow,” says Tangarasan.
He says that by expanding across multiple brands in the locations where businesses want to be — whether in the Central Business District, city-fringe, or decentralised areas closer to home — IWG is well-positioned to support companies of all sizes as they establish and expand their footprint across Singapore and the wider region.
Separately, IWG’s latest additions in Singapore come on the heels of the business posting one of the best performing financial years. In the first half of 2026, the company signed a record 728 new locations globally, bringing its network to over 6,000 signed locations across more than 120 countries.
From the 1,132 new locations signed in 2025, 99% are partnership agreements with the likes of Google and Amazon forming part of its customer base.
Aligning with IWG’s capital and asset-light strategy, 95% of these locations are being delivered via managed partnership agreements. This model enables property owners and investors to generate higher returns from their buildings, while ensuring IWG is able to maintain quality and scale its network efficiently.
OpenOffice and HQ
OpenOffice Fortune Centre spans 1,620 sq ft across a single floor, and comprises 17 workstations, five private offices and a meeting room. Companies that prefer customised workspaces can also tap on IWG’s Design Your Own Office service.
Strategically located in the Bras Basah-Bugis precinct, the OpenOffice location is served by five MRT stations: Bras Basah MRT (Circle Line), Dhoby Ghaut MRT (North South Line), Bencoolen and Rochor MRT (Downtown Line) and Bugis MRT (East West Line).
Over at 1 Liang Seah Street, the HQ Liang Seah shophouse is significantly larger at 6,770 sq ft, with 70 workstations, 18 private offices, and three meeting rooms.
The centre is nestled within a buzzing hub of restaurants, retail amenities, and heritage landmarks in the core of Bugis’ commercial district. The location also enjoys good connectivity to Singapore’s key business and lifestyle hubs, with Bugis, City Hall, and Esplanade MRT stations all within walking distance.
Why is Singapore a focus?
With the launch of OpenOffice and HQ brands in Singapore, this brings IWG’s portfolio here to a total of 25 centres across six brands – Regus, Signature, Spaces, No.18, OpenOffice, and HQ. Most of its corporate tenants are foreign-based companies and local SMEs.
According to Tangarasan, the overall occupancy rate of its entire Singapore portfolio is close to 80%. He predicts that figure may rise in the coming months as more companies relocate to safe haven countries such as Singapore in the midst of geopolitical uncertainty.
Christian Schmitz, CEO of IWG PLC, says Singapore’s role as a key business hub in Asia is ideal for the company to boost its expansion plans.
“Our openings in Singapore come at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible and platform working is incredibly popular with employees. Our workplace model is proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs while providing access to thousands of locations,” says Schmitz.
Tangarasan observes that IWG’s clients span a range of industries from financial services, professional services to AI companies that look to Singapore as a base while venturing into other parts of Southeast Asia.
Some companies may not want to commit huge budgets into buying large office space, which is where flexible office operators like IWG fill the gap. Depending on the size and configuration of the office, a monthly subscription at either OpenOffice Fortune Centre or HQ Liang Seah can range from approximately $1,600 to $7,000.
As demand for flexible workspaces ramps up, IWG is exploring different routes in its expansion across Asia Pacific. For instance, bringing in different brands from IWG within the same building, or forming partnerships with hotels.
As for a preview of upcoming growth opportunities, Tangarasan shares that the group is in talks with potential partners in Singapore, and he hopes that they can launch three more locations by year end.
In Singapore, IWG is planning to adopt a “hub-and-spoke” approach, expanding beyond the CBD into suburban locations in Tampines, Balestier, Paya Lebar and Novena.
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