Youth Summer Program for Entrepreneurship

Warning: Poor Communication, Unmet Commitments, and Unusable Office Space at SpaceWorks Philadelphia (Hale Building) I am sharing my experience to warn other professionals—especially those in healthcare or client-facing fields—to proceed with caution when considering SpaceWorks Philadelphia. I leased an office in the Hale Building (101 S. Juniper Street, Room 505J) with a lease start date of December 1, 2025. During my initial meeting on November 6, 2025, I clearly outlined my professional needs as a licensed social worker. I was explicitly told these needs would be met before my lease began. Those requests included: Privacy film on the glass window for HIPAA compliance A loveseat/couch suitable for couples therapy A desk lamp When I arrived on the first day of my lease, none of these items had been provided. The office was also extremely cold, and despite staff stating the heat would be adjusted (the thermostat is locked), it never was. I was told the couch would arrive “by the end of the day” and the privacy film would “possibly” be installed by the end of the week. No follow-up occurred, and I later received an email asking clarifying questions about the privacy film—after my lease had already begun. Because the office was neither furnished as promised nor legally compliant for my profession, I was unable to see clients for approximately one full week, despite paying rent. When I returned nearly two weeks later for a scheduled client session, the privacy film had finally been installed, but the couch and lamp were still missing. A staff member insisted—condescendingly—that a couch had already been placed in my office and claimed personal responsibility for it. When asked to verify this in person, she acknowledged that the furniture was not there and could not explain how it had gone missing, raising concerns about unauthorized access to my office. I was then told, for the first time, that obtaining a couch could take up to six months due to tariffs—despite my lease itself only being six months long and despite earlier assurances that my needs would be accommodated. After repeated misrepresentations and ongoing issues, I requested to terminate my lease. I was passed between staff members, told decisions needed supervisor approval, and ultimately informed—without explanation—that my termination request was denied. Follow-up requests for clarification have gone unanswered. Key issues prospective renters should be aware of: Promises made prior to lease signing were not honored Office was not usable or legally compliant at lease start Poor internal communication and lack of accountability Dismissive and condescending staff interactions No accommodation or credit offered for unusable rental time This experience has been frustrating, stressful, and professionally disruptive. If your work requires privacy, reliability, or basic preparedness, I strongly recommend getting everything in writing and thinking carefully before committing to SpaceWorks Philadelphia.

Spaces puts on a really clean show for tours and definitely is a good (and competitive) offering for those looking for private or shared work space. The only problem with it was the online sales process, whereby they list their prices as “per person” but don’t make it clear of the minimum requirements.

I called to cancel my membership and was told i was 2 days pass my 1 year renewal and i couldn’t cancel and it wasn’t nothing they can do! They automatically renew you without sending notice and still tries to charge ya card and send invoices, they can shove those invoices up their (you know what)

Update: They comment saying they will be reaching out but they never do. Company is a scam and I am pursuing a class action. If any other people have been scammed by spaces please contact me. After nearly two years as a tenant in the Spaces Hale Building, I can say, without exaggeration, that this is the worst-managed office property I’ve ever encountered in Philadelphia. The gap between the “AAA” pricing and the actual day-to-day experience is nothing short of outrageous. Let’s start with security. The entrance is a revolving door for loiterers at all hours. People regularly urinate and defecate directly in front of the building, with the stench lingering for weeks on end. For over two months, there was a literal pool of urine at the doorway, making it nearly impossible to get in or out of a rideshare vehicle without stepping into it. Graffiti is sprayed on the exterior frequently, and the building management doesn’t respond quickly or sometimes at all. The result? Any attempt to bring clients to the building turns into an exercise in embarrassment before they even walk through the front door. Inside, the problems only multiply. The walls in this building are so thin that you’ll hear everything - tenants holding loud conversations and, unbelievably, screaming at the top of their lungs for weeks at a time, cursing and threatening whoever is unfortunate enough to be on the other end. The lack of sound insulation is a daily disruption, not an occasional annoyance. These are not minor gripes; they are fundamental construction flaws that render the place unfit for any professional work requiring focus or privacy. I have documented proof of these issues, and I intend to make it public so prospective tenants can see the reality for themselves. The infrastructure of the building is in just as poor shape. The HVAC system is a complete mystery, with temperatures varying wildly from floor to floor, with some spaces freezing and others boiling, and nobody seems to understand how or if the system is even meant to work. The building’s included internet is not only excruciatingly slow but also unsecured to the point of being a liability. Unless you pay extra for the “premium” service, expect constant outages and disconnections. The same “pay more, get less” mentality applies to other supposed amenities. The coffee machine is almost always out of order and the printers barely function. All of this would be bad enough if the rent reflected reality. Instead, Spaces charges $600+ a month for a mere 88~ square feet—without including reliable internet. This is premium pricing for bargain-basement quality. Nearly every aspect of the tenant experience is an exercise in frustration. Management is either unable or unwilling to address the most basic problems. If you plan to work here, prepare for constant disruptions. If you’re trying to focus or project professionalism to visitors, forget it.

I used Spaces for a 1-day meeting in July 2024. They exceeded my expectations and impressed the colleague I met here. The available spaces are clean and inviting and the furnishings are conducive to business and creativity. It felt private and was quiet — their set up both works really well and felt secure too. Renee at reception was awesome — organized, proactive, kind, and helpful. She went the extra mile in walking my guest up to my reserved space to meet me, helping to make a great experience for us.