Quest Workspaces, which bills itself as the largest women-owned coworking brand in the U.S., is offering the chance to step into Barbie’s world for a workday — for free.
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The Barbie Dream Office is at 1395 Brickell Ave. in downtown Miami, where the average desk rate is $666, according to The Instant Group, which tracks the coworking industry.
From now until Aug. 31, the glossy pink space can be reserved for no cost. After Sept. 1, it will be available for rent by the month for a fee.
The space aims to feature what Quest calls “resimercial” design, a furnishing style that brings residential features into the office. Design elements of the office take inspiration from the famous doll, the subject of an eponymous feature film hitting theaters this week.
Quest credited Barbie in a press release with breaking the glass ceiling with more than 200 jobs on her résumé, including in corporate America. Day-to-Night CEO Barbie was released in 1985, when women in the C-suite were even rarer than they are today. Some features of the office include a diamond-tufted pink swivel office chair, blush-colored rotary phone, velvet pink accent chairs and feathered lamps.
Quest Workspaces launched in 2010 and operates 13 locations, with 12 in South Florida and one in New York City. Its newest location in West Palm Beach opened in June.
Last year, demand for coworking space in Miami was higher than ever, with 48% more leasing activity than the average pre-pandemic year. This year, coworking companies are flocking to downtown Miami, where 59% of Miami-Dade County's flex spaces are.
While the national index for office rent gains hovers near the 1% mark, in Miami, that rate is at 7.3%. In Palm Beach, that rate sits at 6.6%. Fort Lauderdale isn’t far behind at 5.3%. South Florida’s office market is outperforming the nation in availability and rent gains. In Brickell, where the Dream Office is located, asking rents increased 33% year-over-year in January.
South Florida’s 14% office availability is lower than the 16% national average. Other large metros like Washington, D.C., and Boston are seeing companies reduce or cut their office footprints entirely. In Manhattan, availability hit a new high in the second quarter and has risen 79% since 2020.
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