An alliance to rethink office use
For several years now, the commercial real estate market has been facing profound transformations: the hybridization of working patterns, the demand for flexibility, the enhancement of user experience, pressure on ESG performance… Faced with these challenges, Hiptown and La Française have pooled their expertise to devise a new way of operating office assets.
This unprecedented partnership combines Hiptown’s ability to operate “plug & play” workspaces with the heritage and innovative DNA of La Française, a major player in real estate asset management in Europe.
The challenge: create value without sacrificing control
Through its institutional real estate vehicles, La Française owns a portfolio of offices in the Paris region and elsewhere in France, some of which are in need of rapid, high-quality refurbishment. Hiptown brings to these assets a serviced, flexible and attractive approach to meet the needs of premium SMEs and ETIs looking for “turnkey” office space, without rigid long-term commitments.
The model developed is based on :
-
A standard 3-6-9 lease between La Française and Hiptown
-
A turnkey “Plug & Play” offer implemented by Hiptown (fittings, furniture, services, etc.).
-
Sharing in the value created through a surcharge on rent or an incentive based on rental performance
-
Off-balance-sheet work and equipment for lessors thanks to secure third-party financing
Testimonial: Jean-Marie Célérier, Director of Innovation at La Française
“When we met the Hiptown team, we were looking for an operator capable of rapidly reactivating some of our commercial assets that were losing momentum. But we wanted more than a manager: we wanted a partner capable of understanding our heritage challenges, our regulatory constraints and, above all, our ambition to experiment with new operating models.”
“We were convinced by Hiptown’s Plug & Play model, which combines agility, rental appeal and rigorous execution. We have launched an initial trial on an asset in the Paris region, and the results are there for all to see: time-to-market halved, quality of occupants, value-added for the building, and real peace of mind for our in-house teams.”
“This partnership is a strong signal: faced with a changing market, we need to think outside the box, and that means collaborating with agile players like Hiptown.”
Result: a replicable collaboration
This first joint operation has laid the foundations for a model that can be replicated on other properties in the La Française portfolio. It has made it possible to address areas or asset types that were difficult to reposition on the traditional market.
With Hiptown, La Française steps up a gear:
-
Putting its assets into operation
-
Diversifying its rental offering
-
Reducing the structural vacancy rate
-
TheESG attractiveness of its buildings, thanks to more eco-friendly layouts and shared uses
A shared vision: operate, innovate, enhance
This collaboration between a historic asset manager and a new-generation operator illustrates the strength of hybrid alliances in a changing market. Together, Hiptown and La Française are demonstrating that real estate operations can be a strategic lever for performance and transformation, far beyond simple leasing.
👉 Are you a real estate investor, asset manager or owner who would like to find out more about our Plug & Play offer?
Let’s meet over coffee, at your place or ours.