Modernization That Elevated the Tenant Experience
An Interview with Brittany from WorkSphere | Tacoma, WA
WorkSphere is a premier shared workspace in Tacoma, Washington, serving a diverse community of local professionals, entrepreneurs, and growing businesses. Designed to provide flexible office solutions, collaborative environments, and turnkey workspaces, Worksphere’s building sees constant daily traffic from tenants, guests, and prospective members.
In a shared workspace setting, first impressions and day-to-day functionality matter. Unlike traditional office buildings with long-term single tenants, coworking spaces rely heavily on tenant experience, convenience, and building aesthetics to attract and retain members. Something as routine as elevator performance can directly influence how professionals perceive the quality and reliability of the workspace.
For WorkSphere, their aging elevator system had begun to conflict with the modern, professional environment they worked hard to create. Frequent service issues, slow performance, and a dated appearance were no longer just maintenance concerns — they were impacting tenant satisfaction and leasing momentum.
Recognizing the elevator as a critical part of their building’s infrastructure and brand experience, Worksphere partnered with Veteran Elevator to modernize the system and better align vertical transportation performance with the quality of the workspace they provide.
We spoke with their team about the decision process and the impact the modernization has had on their operations.
Q: What challenges were you experiencing before modernization?
A: Our elevator had become a constant issue. It was breaking down frequently, running slow, and overall just unreliable. On top of that, it looked very dated — it didn’t reflect the professional image we wanted for the building. It was clear the system was past its prime.
Q: What ultimately led you to modernize?
A: Tenant retention was the biggest driver. We were having trouble keeping tenants, and elevator reliability was a recurring complaint. When prospective tenants toured the building, the elevator left a poor impression. We realized modernization was essential if we wanted to stay competitive and improve occupancy.
Q: What stood out about Veteran Elevator during contractor evaluation?
A: Price was important, but so was trust. We were tired of working with large corporate elevator companies that lacked transparency. Veteran Elevator was honest, straightforward, and easy to work with from the start. They clearly explained our options and ultimately provided the best value for the modernization.
Q: How was communication during the project?
A: Excellent. Their team was very communicative and accessible throughout the entire process. They set expectations early, kept us informed, and made coordination easy for our management team and tenants.
Q: What improvements have you seen since completion?
A: The difference has been huge. The new elevator is fast, reliable, and looks great. It’s elevated the overall impression of the building for both tenants and visitors.
Most importantly, we’ve been able to bring the property to 100% occupancy. That speaks for itself. We love the new elevator — it’s been a great investment for our building.
