Two years vacant. Our serviced workspace is now over 80% occupied. What changed at The Freight Building?

The Freight Building in The Point Village had been substantially vacant for two years. Today, the serviced workspace XDanu operates is over 80% occupied.

Our work has also helped create a magnet for the wider building, supporting the landlord in attracting occupiers to its directly leased space. These are distinct parts of the building’s offer, but they reinforce each other: an active serviced workspace, shared facilities and a growing business community give prospective tenants more reasons to consider the building.

For us, that change started with a question.

Give people a reason to choose the building

“How do we fill this space?” is an understandable starting point. It tends to lead to familiar answers: adjust the price, refresh the presentation, increase the marketing. We wanted to understand something more fundamental: what would make this building irreplaceable to the companies using it?

That meant looking at the surrounding area, the businesses we could attract and the support they needed. It meant identifying gaps the building could help address, from flexible workspace and meeting facilities to industry connections and specialist support. The aim was to give companies a reason to choose the building beyond the space itself.

Build a magnet that benefits the wider building

Film, media and technology offered one opportunity. We saw potential to bring together businesses that could benefit from access to specialist skills, facilities and industry connections.

Attracting an anchor business in the screen sector gave the emerging community a practical foundation: specialist work happening in the building, with relationships and expertise around which further activity could develop.

That sector focus is one magnet for The Freight Building. Our serviced workspace welcomes companies across industries, including teams whose priorities are a well-run office, good meeting facilities and flexibility as their business changes.

Together, these elements help make the wider building more attractive. A prospective occupier can see activity already happening, facilities their team could use and a community they could become part of.

Make the everyday experience work

Positioning the building was only the beginning. We also had to deliver the experience people were being offered.

That means looking after shared spaces, responding to problems, welcoming clients and visitors, and helping occupiers access the facilities they need. It means making useful introductions and creating opportunities for businesses to meet. The value comes from doing these things consistently, long after a viewing or a move-in.

A business may first visit because of the location, the space or a connection to another occupier. Its decision to stay depends on whether the building works for its team.

Build momentum while the area develops

The Point Village is an evolving part of Dublin, and surrounding construction has been part of the experience during our time here. We cannot control every aspect of the surrounding area. We can influence how our workspace operates, how people are supported and whether being here adds value to their business. That has been central to our approach: give people compelling reasons to come, then make their experience worth returning for.

Connect the strategy to the operation

There is more to do. Growing occupancy and developing a creative community are part of the next chapter. But one lesson is already clear: deciding what a building should become and taking responsibility for making it work need to be closely connected.

At The Freight Building, our approach has been to identify what could attract businesses, develop the right mix of workspace and support, and stay involved in delivering it every day. That has helped grow occupancy in our serviced space while strengthening the appeal of the wider building.

For owners with space that has been waiting too long, the starting question is worth revisiting: what would give companies a stronger reason to choose this building—and how will you keep delivering that value?

If you would like to explore that question for your building, we’d be glad to show you around The Freight Building in The Point Village.