Twitter set for hybrid workspace in Oakland
Twitter has signed a lease at 1330 Broadway in downtown Oakland, a sign that its permanent remote work policy isn’t stopping real estate growth.
The social media company will occupy 66,000 square feet across four floors in the 18-story tower, with an opening planned in late 2022. Twitter said the space is being designed to support hybrid work, with areas for quiet focus and collaboration. The company confirmed the Oakland expansion plans in July but didn’t specify the location until Friday.
It’s the third Bay Area location for Twitter, which is headquartered in San Francisco’s MidMarket area and also has a San Jose outpost in Santana Row. Twitter is allowing almost all employees to work remotely forever, and 95% of its over 5,500 employees plan to stay home or be in the office only a few days a week.
“Twitter was born in San Francisco and we’ll always have a home here. We’re continuing to look at ways to support a more distributed workforce and better meet our employees and talent where they are and where they want to be,” Tracy Hawkins, Twitter vice president of real
estate, workplace and remote experience, said Friday.
But rising coronavirus cases have thrown office return plans into disarray, with many companies delaying reopenings until early 2022. In July, Twitter closed its newly reopened San Francisco and New York offices in response to the surge. No reopening date has been set.
Before the pandemic, Oakland was already attracting migrating and expanding San Francisco firms. At 1330 Broadway, the travel tech company Deem relocated from San Francisco, and tech giant Oracle — now headquartered in Austin, Texas — also signed a lease. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s other company, Square, also signed a big Oakland office lease in 2018.
“Twitter’s expansion into Oakland demonstrates that major employers are still drawn to our city’s unique cultural amenities and creative energy,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said in a statement.
Landlords TMG Partners and KKR renovated 1330 Broadway with a new lobby, common areas, elevator and building systems to lure new tenants. The property is next to the 12th Street BART Station and near restaurants and bars.
“The Oakland office market has maintained strong tenant demand from companies both growing their footprint in Oakland and those looking to move to Oakland for its strong workforce, diverse lifestyle, entertainment options, transportation, and ample housing options,” David Cropper, TMG director of development, said in a statement.