Rentable office space for entrepreneurs, startups opening at Flux Apartments in downtown Des Moines

The first floor of a new apartment building on the western edge of downtown Des Moines will become boutique office space for rent. 

Onyx Office Suites will open April 1 on the ground floor of Flux Apartments, 1400 Walnut St. It will feature 12 private offices for rent at "budget-friendly" prices ideal for freelancers, startups and small-business owners, owner Kent Roers said in a news release. 

"We hope Onyx will help increase the vitality of the business community downtown," he said.

The pet-friendly offices range from 74- to 139-square-feet. Rents range from $575 to $700 per month.

Tenants will be given access to a coffee bar, kitchenette, conference room and bike storage. For additional fees, tenants can also use Flux Apartment's fitness center, rooftop deck and club room. 

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Flux Apartments opened May 1. The five-story complex has 90 units, with top-floor apartments offering views of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park and Kum & Go's new Krause Gateway Center. 

Minnesota developers Roers Cos. had originally planned a 2,400-square-foot restaurant on the first floor of the apartment building. Onyx Office Suites will occupy the entire level instead. 

This type of shared office space has been popping up in the Des Moines metro over the last five years, said Ryan Moffatt, economic development project manager for Des Moines. There are five in the city limits, and a few others across the Des Moines suburbs.

Gravitate opened its co-working space downtown in 2014 and is now expanding to a larger space next door. It opened a second location in 2017 in Valley Junction in West Des Moines. Desk space at the downtown location starts at $150 per month, while a private office starts at $1,000 a month.

Space2Work co-working space was in the Partnership Building downtown, but it moved to the Financial Center's 23rd floor. Its old location is now the permanent offices of a software company. 

"This is definitely a concept that's on a growth trajectory nationwide, but hasn't seen the same dramatic ramp-up here locally and mainly consists of smaller workspaces," Moffatt said. "We’ve certainly seen growth, but I don’t think it’s the same growth in coastal markets where there’s entire floors of high-rise buildings dedicated to co-working."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Space2Work's new location.