Architect Aims for 'Radical Shift in How People Work'

"" is a recently launched Santa Monica Patch series that spotlights new businesses in our city. For our second edition, we focus on , a collaborative workspace for independent professionals that is the biggest of its kind in greater Los Angeles. Located at 1450 Second St., an open house was held Wednesday night.

We dialogued with founder and architect Jerome Chang about what makes Blankspaces unique, why Santa Monica was chosen as the location for its second LA workspace and more.

Santa Monica Patch: Why did you decide to open your business in Santa Monica in particular?

Jerome Chang: Ever since we opened our LA location, we've been fielding many calls to be in SM.

Patch: Please provide a brief history of your business.

Chang: We incorporated in 2007 and opened in 2008 in the Miracle Mile district of LA. I began my business plan in late 2006 after realizing the many people who used cafés as their office. I integrated my architecture skills with my business interests to develop a concept that I thought would help lead the revolution for a radical shift in how people work.

Patch: What makes your business unique?

Chang: An office is just an office. We are much more of a community of entrepreneurs who collaborate within a shared office. In commercial real estate, everything is static. For example, one tenant might sign for 10 years. Blankspaces encourages fluidity so that you can use the office for as little or as much as you want. In other words, we operate like an office hotel: You're there for the experience, its brand and its fellow clients, and the space is just the means to achieve that experience.

Patch: What contribution(s) do you believe your business will make to the city?

Chang: SM already is the mecca for entrepreneurial, and particularly, tech activities for greater LA. Blankspaces facilitates that huge demand with office space on the one hand, but innovates by creating a more collaborative community than any networking mixer could affect.

Patch: Why should Santa Monicans frequent your business?

Chang: Work is often something you have to do. We make work something you want to do.