“Flex industrial space” is a term you have probably heard thrown around quite often. But what is it, exactly? In today’s blog post, we offer a definition of flex industrial space, along with a classification of flex spaces, and some examples taken from the California Commercial Real Estate scene.
What Is Flex Industrial Space?
Flex industrial space is a type of industrial real estate that features a combination of areas designed to support office, warehouse, and business functions in a single property.
Thanks to its versatility, flex industrial space is used by a wide range of occupiers, from organizations focused on retail to IT companies and design firms.
One of the most important benefits of flex industrial space is that it makes it easy to centralize operations. For example, flex industrial space allows life science companies to have their labs and administrative offices all under the same roof.
What Are the Different Types of Flex Industrial Space?
While flex industrial space comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, flex properties fall into one of the following three broad categories.
- Research and development. Facilities where companies conduct tests in order to improve their current products or study the potential of new technologies.
- Data center. Building or series of buildings dedicated to housing computer systems for data storage or processing.
- Showroom. Large space where products are displayed to be seen by potential buyers. Car dealerships are the most common type of showroom, although they are also found in other industries.
Flex Space in California
California offers good examples of every type of industrial property, and flex space is no different.
For example, flex spaces dedicated to research and development are flourishing in San Diego thanks to the city’s thriving life sciences ecosystem.
As for data centers, California is home to the Silicon Valley, the region in the Southern San Francisco Bay that concentrates many of the world’s most influential tech companies, some of which maintain local data centers.
Finally, as one of the car capitals of the world, the Golden State also boasts a vast number of showrooms and car dealerships.
To learn more about industrial space, read our previous blogs, “What Is Warehouse Space Utilization?” and “Public Warehouse, Contract Warehouse, Private Warehouse: What Is the Difference?“
Disclaimer: This material is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions.
SoCal CRE Team: Commercial Real Estate in Southern California
At SoCal CRE Team, we specialize in industrial real estate solutions in the most sought-after Southern California markets such as Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, Anaheim, and more.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today by telephone (714) 456-0500 or email at gary@ashwillassociates.com