Benjamin’s Desk coworking community signs on at Studebaker building

The historic Studebaker building on North Broad has found another tenant: Benjamin’s Desk has signed a lease to transform more than 17,000 square feet of space in the historic building into a coworking community.

The site will be called “Divine Works,” a nod to its neighbor the Divine Lorraine, which is located just a few blocks up North Broad and is also owned by developer Eric Blumenfeld.

“Divine Works taps into the great momentum created by the ongoing evolution of the utterly grand Divine Lorraine Hotel,” Blumenfeld said in a statement.

The historic Studebaker building at 667 N. Broad Street originally served as a manufacturing plant and showroom for the company namesake. It was later home to Ridge Avenue Men’s Shelter and in more recent years to Steven Starr’s catering company.

In 2016, TrustHouse Services Group bought the Starr’s catering group. It will continue leasing space in the Studebaker building, now with Benjamin’s Desk.

The goal for Blumenfeld and Benjamin’s Desk co-Founder and co-CEO Anthony Maher is for Divine Works to become a live-work-play set-up, given its proximity to not only the Divine Lorraine, but Blumenfeld’s other residential properties up and down North Broad like the Mural Lofts and Lofts 640.

Maher said with all of the development happening along North Broad, his hope is to “co-create an extraordinary atmosphere, unlike any other in the city.”

Benjamin’s Desk will spend the next few months renovating its space in the Studebaker building and plans to open later this year. It will be the local coworking company’s eighth location in Philly.

• The Studebaker Building on North Broad is now leasing [Curbed Philly]
• Mapping North Broad Street’s development boom [Curbed Philly]
• 28 adaptive reuse projects in Philly currently underway [Curbed Philly]