Meet Ben Gattie, CEO of co-working and lifestyle space The Working Capitol

He is set out to redefine the workplace in Singapore.

For Ben Gattie, CEO and co-founder of co-working and lifestyle space The Working Capitol, real estate is not just about acquisition of properties. More importantly, it is a tangible way in which a property can be transformed to take on another life, changing the way people interact with it.

After learning the ropes with Red Brick Properties in New York City, Gattie returned home to Singapore in 2010 and founded The Bamboo Group, a boutique real estate investment and development company focusing on the acquisition and conversion of shop houses and small buildings. The Bamboo Group’s portfolio includes APATO, a simple studio living for young professionals, and The Bamboo House, a hostel accommodation for students.

Their prime property, The Working Capitol is a co-working space, lifestyle provider, and food and beverage destination. It offers a range of workspace solutions, community programmes, and professional and lifestyle events aimed at inspiring growth and well-being for the networks it touches.

"Our members tell us that what sets The Working Capitol apart from the rest is our passion for community, design and hospitality - and it all starts with our staff," says Gattie. "We invest a lot of time in onboarding and training our team to ensure we can support our community."

Founded in 2014, The Working Capitol plans to grow into a multi-country network of sites grounded in shared workspace environments and deeply ingrained in the neighbourhoods and cities in which it will operate. Spanning five light filled, historic shophouses, The Working Capitol on Keong Saik occupies 33,000 square feet and provides options for companies ranging from start-ups to multinationals with hot desks and private offices.

Their second location, The Working Capitol on Robinson was launched in March 2017, occupying approximately 55,000 square feet across 11 floors, with options for businesses ranging from 1-200 people with hotdesks, private offices, and duplex penthouses.

Coming from a real estate background, Gattie has a keen eye on rising trends, such as the disruption of the real estate industry by the onset of co-working.

"We also create experiences through our events and our F&B offering on our premises that make The Working Capitol a destination even for non-members. We offer a lot of partnerships and the addition of Ritual gym to our site on Robinson Road allow our members to find a huge variety of services and perks." he notes.

Gattie catapulted into the co-working industry with the opening of The Working Capitol in 2015, which has grown to become one of Asia’s most vibrant and diverse co-working spaces that redefined the work environment for the best business outcomes.