Buffalo, NY
HANSA
2020
HANSA is a turn-key, fully furnished shared office space in downtown Buffalo. This center represents a new chapter for Buffalo’s business community by providing the region with its first major coworking center and a new hub for meetings, events, and networking opportunities. HANSA (pronounced hähn-sä) is Latin for “guild,” meaning to unite people for a common purpose. HANSA is the bold transformation of a blighted 19,880 SF former Frey the Wheelman garage built in 1973 into bespoke Class A space strengthening this key Central Business District neighborhood as a connector with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
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At a time when many employees are working remotely due to the coronavirus, HANSA provides much-needed relief and structure for at-home workers. The bright, airy, and colorful space gives professionals many different places in which to work – be it their own rented space or one of the many common areas such as the Café, the fireplace lounge, the second story perch, and various seating nooks.
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HANSA, working with the IDEA Center at the University at Buffalo, is currently completing the certification process to become the first coworking center in the country to earn isUD™ certification for Universal Design. This socially responsible design approach incorporates usability, wellness, and inclusion to a building or space to accommodate as many people as possible – regardless of ability – and improve the overall user experience.