A Founder’s Guide to Choosing Office Space

Selecting a workspace is rarely a pure real estate transaction; it is a fundamental strategic decision that shapes company culture, talent acquisition, and operational momentum. For growing enterprises, the traditional binary choice between restrictive multi-year commercial leases and generic, fragmented co-working environments often presents an unnecessary operational compromise. The objective is to secure a modern enterprise footprint that provides immediate architectural credibility while preserving maximum financial and structural flexibility for future scale.

 

Architectural Precision and Operational Fluidity

At STAK Space, design begins with a clear understanding of how high-performing teams actually inhabit physical environments throughout the day. Across our Oakland campus, spaces like the 39th Floor Lounge and 4th Floor Club Lounge at 1900 Broadway are crafted to support the full spectrum of modern professional work. Beyond standard desks and high-speed connectivity, a premium commercial asset serves as a dynamic canvas for deep focus, informal collaboration, and high-stakes client engagements. Board-ready environments like the 39th Floor Board Room and flexible private suites coexist within a single refined footprint, allowing founders to scale their physical presences smoothly alongside head-count expansion without incurring unnecessary friction or capital expenditure.

 

The Power of an Institutional Foundation

Crucially, a premium workspace derives much of its operational strength and long-term viability from the institution behind it. Operating within the broader Behring Co. portfolio connects STAK Space directly to a vertically integrated real estate developer and long-term asset operator. This foundational alignment brings structural stability, deep market intelligence, and institutional rigor to every square foot. Whether leveraging Qualified Opportunity Zone structures or broader development expertise, tenants align themselves with a built ecosystem specifically engineered for enduring value, capital efficiency, and strategic growth

 

Designing for Talent Magnetism and Culture

The physical office is no longer merely a container for daily activity; it is a primary venue for corporate storytelling and employee engagement. In a competitive talent landscape, the aesthetic quality, light, acoustics, and hospitality standards of a workplace directly influence recruitment and retention metrics. When team members enter a space designed with purpose, it elevates daily execution and reinforces a shared commitment to excellence. Providing flexible access options for our members alongside dedicated private suites ensures that remote, hybrid, and full-time team members experience a consistent, high-touch environment that reflects the ambition of the organization.

 

Mitigating Capital Friction in Early Growth

Financial efficiency remains paramount for venture-backed founders and scaling leadership. Traditional office build-outs require significant capital expenditure tied up in tenant improvements, furniture procurement, technology integration, and legal overhead long before the space generates operational return. Our STAK Ventures platform eliminates this upfront capital friction by delivering turn-key environments equipped with enterprise-grade infrastructure. By shifting capital from fixed real estate assets back into core product development and market expansion, leadership teams maintain maximum balance sheet liquidity while occupying an asset of uncompromising quality.

 

Enterprise Event Infrastructure and Media Production

A truly scalable workspace must accommodate milestone moments without forcing teams off-site. The STAK Space portfolio features specialized, high-capacity venues built for every tier of corporate presentation. Flagship assets like Event Room F at the 1950 Franklin Event Center provide full-wall LED screens for global livestreams and keynotes, while private screening facilities like the Theater at 1920 Broadway cater to product launches and all-hands meetings. For digital-first brands, on-site broadcast media infrastructure including the soundproof Podcast Studio high above the city at 1950 Franklin and the Fox Recording Studio allows founders to produce broadcast-quality media in-house without external logistics.

 

Hospitality Integration and Executive Amenities

Modern asset management demands that professional utility be paired with high-end hospitality. STAK Space integrates lifestyle amenities directly into the built environment to elevate daily work dynamics and client entertaining. From executive gatherings on the 350-capacity 4th Floor Podium Deck at 1900 Broadway to informal team syncs in the app-powered Digital Taproom or competitive team-building sessions inside the 1920 Broadway Swing Suite, the physical environment supports every phase of workplace interaction. These curated spaces allow enterprise founders to host investors, partners, and internal teams in sophisticated settings without stepping outside the property line.

 

Urban Connectivity and Regional Placement

A superior commercial asset does not exist in isolation; it is deeply connected to the surrounding urban fabric and transportation infrastructure. Positioned strategically across prime Broadway and Franklin Street addresses in Uptown Oakland, STAK Space delivers immediate proximity to major regional transit, high-density residential developments, and dynamic commercial corridors. This seamless integration shortens commute friction for top-tier talent across the Bay Area while establishing your headquarters within a growing node of innovation and capital activity.

 

Experiencing Asset Performance Firsthand

The most effective way to evaluate a workspace is to experience its spatial flow and operational rhythm in person. STAK Space invites founders, executive leadership, and growth teams to tour 1900 Broadway, 1920 Broadway, and 1950 Franklin, explore basic and enterprise membership structures, or spend a complimentary trial week inside the building to observe firsthand how a thoughtfully managed asset accelerates daily execution and elevates enterprise posture. Taking a walk through the suites, assessing the meeting facilities, and experiencing the hospitality of our lounges offers direct clarity on how the physical environment will support your strategic trajectory.

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Jeff Bezos

CEO • Amazon

Colin Behring is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Behring Companies, a vertically integrated real estate investment and development firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a third-generation property developer and investor, he has continued his family’s legacy in the industry.

Behring began his professional journey in 2006 as an analyst intern with Morgan Stanley Properties in Shanghai, China. He later held various positions within the Behring family’s development company, Behring Group, Ltd., contributing to significant projects such as the Sanctuary at Dongtan—a 330-acre mixed-use master-planned community on Chongming Island, Shanghai, with an estimated project cost exceeding $1.2 billion.

In 2013, Behring founded Behring Companies, focusing on real estate development, investment, and EB-5 financing. Under his leadership, the company has undertaken various urban mixed-use developments, addressing the cost-of-space crisis in Northern California.

Colin Behring

CEO • Behring Capital

Colin Behring is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Behring Companies, a vertically integrated real estate investment and development firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a third-generation property developer and investor, he has continued his family’s legacy in the industry.

Behring began his professional journey in 2006 as an analyst intern with Morgan Stanley Properties in Shanghai, China. He later held various positions within the Behring family’s development company, Behring Group, Ltd., contributing to significant projects such as the Sanctuary at Dongtan—a 330-acre mixed-use master-planned community on Chongming Island, Shanghai, with an estimated project cost exceeding $1.2 billion.

In 2013, Behring founded Behring Companies, focusing on real estate development, investment, and EB-5 financing. Under his leadership, the company has undertaken various urban mixed-use developments, addressing the cost-of-space crisis in Northern California.