By Nina Steiner Call/Text 310.487.2982
The Westside Los Angeles office market is quieter than it was a few years ago, but itโs also more rational. Tenants today have more choices, more flexibility, and more control over how much space they take and how long they commit.
From Santa Monica and Culver City to Playa Vista and Marina del Rey, companies are approaching office decisions with clearer priorities: reduce risk, support hybrid work, and choose locations that make sense for their teams.
National coverage from The Wall Street Journal reflects whatโs playing out locally on the Westside.
As the WSJ recently reported, office users are no longer treating flexible space as a temporary fix, itโs becoming a core part of how companies plan their footprint.
โWhen we go into a market, one of the first things we do is look for a co-working space,โ said Will Monaghan, global head of corporate real estate for WTW, in The Wall Street Journal.
Why the Westside Continues to Attract Office Users
The Westside has always functioned differently from the rest of Los Angeles. Proximity to talent, coastal neighborhoods, and lifestyle amenities keeps demand steady even as companies reduce overall square footage.
Whatโs changed is the approach. Tenants are no longer leasing space based on projections five or ten years out. Theyโre choosing space that works now, with room to adjust later.
This shift is especially visible among professional services firms, entertainment and production companies, tech-adjacent teams, and growing small businesses.
Submarket Overviewย
Santa Monica Office Market
Santa Monica remains a strong option for legal, professional services, media, and creative firms that value walkability and access to amenities. Many tenants are taking smaller footprints than they would have pre-2020, often in higher-quality buildings.
Shorter lease terms, turnkey spaces, and flexible expansion options are common points of negotiation.
Culver City Office Market
Culver City continues to serve production, post-production, and creative companies that need flexibility. Demand is strongest for move-in-ready offices and short-term solutions that align with project-based work.
Culver City also appeals to teams split between in-office and remote schedules.
Playa Vista and Marina del Rey
These submarkets attract technology, aerospace, and professional firms looking for newer construction, efficient parking, and proximity to housing. Hybrid teams often favor these locations because theyโre easier to access without a daily commute requirement.
ย Flexible and Managed Offices Are Part of the Strategy Now
Flexible office space is no longer limited to startups or freelancers. According to the WSJ, U.S. coworking space has grown from 115.6 million square feet to 158.3 million square feet in just three years, with large companies using flexible offices for satellite locations and short-term needs.
The article notes:
โEconomic uncertainty and the rise of artificial intelligence are compelling more companies to embrace flexibility for their workspace.โ
On the Westside, this shows up as demand for private, professional managed offices, not communal coworking floors. These spaces allow companies to enter a market, support hybrid work, or house a small team without taking on long-term risk.
ย What Tenants Are Prioritizing in 2026
Across Westside Los Angeles, tenant priorities are fairly consistent:
- Smaller, more efficient office layouts
- Lease flexibility and exit options
- Professional environments that support collaboration
- Locations closer to where employees live
Monthly rent still matters, but itโs no longer the only factor. Tenants are weighing overall cost, usability, and flexibility together.
As the WSJ put it:
โShared offices allow employers to avoid long-term leases [and] adjust space quickly.โ
Seeing the Full Market Still Makes the Biggest Difference
Many Westside tenants are surprised by how fragmented the office market has become. Direct leases, subleases, managed suites, and independent flexible operators all coexist, and many options never appear in public listings.
Tenants who take time to review the full market typically end up with better terms, better layouts, or more flexibility than they initially expected.
ย What This Means for Westside Office Tenants
The current Westside office market rewards clarity. Companies that understand how their teams use space, and remain open to different formats, tend to make better decisions.
Office space in 2026 isnโt about locking in a long-term bet. Itโs about choosing something functional today, with options built in for whatever comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
ย Is now a good time to lease office space on the Westside of Los Angeles?
For many tenants, yes. Lease terms are more negotiable, especially for small and mid-sized spaces.
ย Are flexible lease terms common right now?
Theyโre far more common than in past cycles, particularly in competitive submarkets.
ย What size offices are most active on the Westside?
Demand is strongest for offices under 5,000 square feet, especially turnkey and managed spaces.
ย Is flexible office space always more expensive?
Monthly rates can be higher, but upfront costs and long-term exposure are often lower.
ย Which Westside submarkets work best for hybrid teams?
Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista, and Marina del Rey all perform well, depending on commute patterns.
Office decisions donโt have to be rushed. Seeing the full market early usually leads to better outcomes.
ย By Nina Steiner Call/Text 310.487.2982
Iโve always been someone who reads the room.
It started in live television, where timing was everything and silence usually meant something was on fire. With years of experience behind the scenes in TV production, I learned how to stay calm, think creatively, and resolve issues before they become problems.
Now, ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐บ ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐, I bring that same mindset to commercial real estate.
Itโs not about pushing space, itโs about understanding people. When someone tells me they need an office, what they mean is:
โ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐จ, ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐จ, ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ. ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐ค๐ค๐ฃ.โ
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป.
I don’t just lease office space. I help you get the right space at the right price!
Nina Steiner – TenantRepLA
Text: 310-487-2982
Email: nsteiner@saxumwest.com
Website: TenantRepLA.com
Nina Steiner -TenantRepLA