Before founding Modern Work Suites & Studios, a coworking space at 88th and F streets in Omaha, Curt Brannon asked himself two questions: How could a shared office space attract small businesses in a city with a low population density? And more importantly, how could it be stylish?
Brannon’s resulting experiment led to the monumental 50,000-square-foot Modern Work Suites & Studios. Located in a former Pamida building in a generic industrial area, the property distinguishes itself with its midcentury aesthetic, colorful interiors, and modern, sleek furnishings.
“It’s fun and edgy, not for thin-skinned people,” Brannon said. “You either like it or you don’t.”
Photo by Bill Sitzmann
Like other shared spaces such as WeWork or Shift, the property was developed as a creative co-working space where a modern working professional would find all they need to succeed, and then some.
“Modern Work is ideally for people who take their work seriously, but not themselves,” Brannon said.
A host of amenities, including a low-impact gym, a game room, a collaborative work area, the 1960s-style Mixx Lounge, conference rooms, and photo and video studios, entice tenants. With 76 of 80 spaces for lease occupied, the campus is nearly at capacity.
Photo by Bill Sitzmann
Modern Work is also dynamic and receptive to tenant needs, such as in the case of Matt Tompkins of Two Brothers Agency. Tompkins leased the largest Modern Work suite available. Working with recording equipment, it was crucial Two Brothers’ space had a sound studio.
“We looked everywhere, about 30 spaces, but all of them were sketchy,” Tompkins said. “One of our clients said you need to check out Modern Work. It looked like a great facility, but what is this space? We were looking to build a studio for our podcasting projects. What blew me away is they said they would do a build-out for us.”
Photo by Bill Sitzmann
Sharon Stephens, the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association, Nebraska Chapter, was also surprised at how accommodating Modern Work has been for her team. The Alzheimer’s Association is a fairly new tenant at Modern Work, and the facility has been well received by the nonprofit’s staff and clients.
Like Tompkins, Stephens was referred by a colleague. “I visited before COVID and I was intrigued by the property. We just love it. What’s wonderful is that volunteers and the families we serve love it. You want these people to love it as much as [we] do.”
Photo by Bill Sitzmann
Brannon had an upper hand in furnishing Modern Work, as he manufacturers cabinets and other furniture in another business venture. This inside track, along with working with an in-house interior designer, gave him creative control in developing the property’s midcentury design concept. Looking to the past and for inspiration from designers like Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles and Ray Eames, Brannon has created a workspace unlike any other in the metro...one that will take professionals back decades in time to an era of style and class.
This article originally appeared in the October 2022 issue of B2B Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
