(SPOT.ph) It’s hard not to be a little impressed when entering KMC Solutions’ latest branch at One Griffinstone Building in Alabang. Before entering the flexible office space, you find yourself in a high-ceilinged, spacious lobby. The receptionist will then hand you a card to operate the automated elevator that takes you straight to the right floor without even having to press a button.
A brightly lit common area welcomes you upon entry, with tables and chairs situated around a space decked out in neutral colors and pink and blue accents. The common area is right beside the pantry, which comes with access to a refrigerator and microwave, as well as unlimited water and coffee. The space immediately has a way of making you feel at ease—wide windows inviting light in, space to move around and stretch your legs, and a sign that reads "hustle and grind." The whole office actually takes up the entirety of the building’s ninth floor, with private rooms all around the circular expanse, each rented out by different companies. The smallest of which holds nine people, while the largest holds more than 150.
The entrance alone feels a lot like a step into the future, and that’s kind of what it is. KMC, which opened its first serviced office in 2009, was able to foresee how the landscape of business and entrepreneurship in the Metro was changing, even before it was a big trend. They began by targeting primarily IT and BPO companies and offering them smaller serviced offices, but have since grown into providing offices for all kinds of companies and industries—"from small startups to multinationals and everything in between," as described by chairman and co-founder Gregory Kittelson (a.k.a the "K" in KMC). Today, they are the biggest flexible workspace provider in the Philippines with 21 locations all over the country (including three outside of Metro Manila), the one in Alabang being the latest.
Unlike other coworking spaces and serviced offices which normally offer either a seat or a room in a specific location under a certain time period, KMC offers a Passport, a type of membership that allows you to make use of any of their spaces around the Philippines. If you find yourself working primarily at their branch in Makati, for example, but for some reason end up working in Ortigas or even Alabang one day, you’ll immediately have a go-to place to work.
The latest branch includes several private offices, meeting rooms, and a boardroom, each with a panoramic view of Alabang thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The area around the building is largely residential, so tenants are treated to a view that’s comprised mainly of greenery. Plus, the lush surrounding area is pedestrian-friendly, perfect if you’re the type to need a quick breather in the middle of the work day. Plus, the building is right smack in Alabang’s Filinvest City, so people working in it will have no trouble finding restaurants or shops nearby. Area Manager Drea Mendiola Mozo notes that international clients in particular find the space very convenient thanks to the hotels situated all around the area.
According to Chief Operating Officer Tracy Ignacio, who had a big hand in the space’s design, the latest branch is an amalgamation of all the best features of the previous branches, putting together all the things that other customers and clients liked the most.
Besides the regular amenities like offices and a pantry, it also has a clinic and lactation room (complete with a registered nurse on site), 24/7 IT support, and private phone booths for people who need to make important calls. "The color is [just] the icing on the cake," says Ignacio, referring to KMC’s use of bright pops of color and quirky designs all around the office, which she says were purposely made to allow the space to be "a place where you can really get work done."
Kittelson notes that the space is very busy and lively on a daily basis. The space also offers different levels of privacy so you can decide where you want to work and whether you want to work alone or collaborate with others. For Kittleson, the beauty of the flexible space is that people can work in private, but later on "they walk around, come out, interact, [and] socialize." Kittelson shares that this sense of community naturally helps forge more possibilities in networking and collaboration, with startups and individuals getting to meet each other or even being introduced to bigger companies and multinationals.
With its continuously growing footprint around the country and its ability to understand the ever-changing landscape of working culture, KMC hopes to be top of mind when it comes to flexible office spaces in the Philippines. If you ever need a place to work, you might want to keep them in mind—it’s highly likely they’ll have a branch nearby.
KMC Solutions Alabang is at 9/F One Griffinstone Building, Commerce Avenue corner Spectrum Midway, Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. See a list of KMC's rates.
Photos by Hans Fausto
