MarketScale Building Management 01/08/19: Multi-Use Spaces in Unexpected Places

 

Underutilized space is all around us. Rather than sitting on their hands, creative building managers are rolling up their sleeves and finding ways to put this space to work for them. Whether it’s opening a co-working space in a restaurant during the day when business is slow, or repurposing an old department store or mall to be used as a school, these spaces are changing the way we think of how facilities can be used. On today’s episode of the podcast, we talk to two people at the forefront of this movement. MarketScale correspondent Sean Heath speaks with Gary Kuklin from the Commercial Division of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices about repurposing spaces for many different uses. We also have a conversation with Mike LaRosa of Agora RDM about co-working spaces can fill the space void in locations that aren’t traditionally thought of as an office.

Target Becomes Middle School in Iowa

When taking a trip to the mall, you might expect to learn a lesson about sales, customer service, or traffic patterns in a parking lot. You probably don’t expect to learn 7th grade Biology or 5th grade Mathematics. If you live in Council Bluffs, Iowa, though, that is exactly what could happen.

On today’s podcast, MarketScale correspondent Sean Heath had the chance to chat with Gary Kuklin  from the Commercial Division of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. We discuss the open mindset necessary to be able to proceed with unexpected surroundings, the mutual benefits of repurposing existing spaces, and how this might become the norm instead of an outlier.

How a Yoga Studio Can Also Be a Co-Working Space

Building managers are consistently faced with a question: how do I make the best use of the space I have available? Co-working spaces are providing an intriguing answer to that question. Mike LaRosa, Co-Founder of Agora RDM, joined the podcast to explain how businesses are using space that is underutilized at certain points of the day to set up co-working spaces.

“A lot of players have woken up and realized they have a lot of underutilized space they’re paying rent for,” says LaRosa. Turning this space into a co-working area allows the business to subsidize their rent and put their full facility to use. He goes on to explain one his favorite examples of a business putting this plan into practice. How did a yoga studio leverage their open space during the day to become a hot co-working spot? Mike LaRosa has all the details.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Building Management Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @BuildingMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

career
Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters – From a CAO
March 11, 2026

Career advice in finance and accounting often centers around promotions, titles, and compensation. But in an era where professionals frequently change jobs every few years—the average American worker now stays in a role less than four years—industries are facing growing talent shortages and reevaluating what long-term career success looks like. The question many professionals are…

Read More
Career success
A CEO’s Blueprint for Career Success: Leading with Love to Drive Performance and Culture
March 10, 2026

Leadership right now feels heavier than it did just a few years ago. Teams are stretched, expectations are high, and many employees are quietly disengaged. In fact, Gallup’s 2025 U.S. data shows that only about 31% of employees are actively engaged at work, leaving the majority feeling disconnected or indifferent. For CEOs and senior…

Read More
employer-sponsored apprenticeships
The Degree That Pays You Back: How Employer-Sponsored Apprenticeships Are Rewriting Higher Ed
March 9, 2026

Higher education is under pressure. Over the past few years, public confidence in the value of a four-year degree has declined significantly, with fewer Americans expressing a strong belief that traditional higher education delivers a worthwhile return on investment. At the same time, employers consistently report that graduates lack job-ready skills—particularly the “durable skills”…

Read More
Denial Data
Turning Denial Data Into Action: How Healthcare Organizations Can Fight Back Against Payer Denials
March 5, 2026

Healthcare providers across the U.S. are facing a growing wave of claim denials that is putting pressure on already strained hospital finances. Industry research from the American Hospital Association shows that nearly 15% of medical claims submitted to private payers are initially denied, forcing hospitals and health systems to spend about $19.7 billion annually attempting…

Read More