Co-working space chain WeWork has a new chief in Washington D.C. to go with the opening of its fifth space in the area and preparations for the sixth. Kley Sippel is taking up the reins for WeWork in D.C. after more than two years at the startup in New York.
"I love the pace and hustle of WeWork," Sippel told DC Inno in an interview. "We've got very large ambitions."
Sippel had been directing special projects for WeWork most recently, including the new WeLive "co-living" spaces like the one in Crystal City, Virginia. That's also where he has moved in as part of the transition from New York.
"WeLive is a more ambitious expansion of the brand, and each one is different," Sippel said. "I do like that you can play country music [at the Crystal City WeLive] without people complaining. There's a laid back vibe. People might set up a cornhole game instead of just making a quick dinner and going out [in New York]."
Sippel is only the second D.C. lead for WeWork, taking over for Carl Pierre, who oversaw the company's expansion from when it arrived in early 2014 to its current size.
"I want to build on Carl's success," Sippel said. "The energy and authenticity he brought to the market delivered phenomenally. I won't even try living up to his impeccable clothing taste though."
As WeWork gets set to open its K Street office this week and plan out its Manhattan Laundry space, Sippel said he wants to focus on expanding out the kinds of people and groups that sign up for space. The ways that D.C. differs from other cities WeWork is in make that entirely feasible according to Sippel.
"We can really broaden our member base," Sippel said. "D.C. has a larger number of non-profits and the concern over impact is much more pronounced here."
Another way D.C. stands out is that members are apparently more likely to bring their own furniture in too, Sippel said. The new K Street location is a good example of how WeWork wants to expand the base. is deliberately aimed at lobbying and advocacy groups for which that street has become synonymous for instance, a different crowd from the young entrepreneur stereotype for co-working spaces.
Sippel said. "It's exciting to have K Street on the market. Lobbying firms might think there's no way they could be based out of a co-working space, but by the time they walk out of the tour they say they wish we'd opened up three or four years ago."
