Around the Labor Day weekend 2026, flexible workspace provider Stark Office Suites opened its latest office space on the 14th floor of 717 Fifth Avenue. Operating under the name Excelsior by Stark, the unit spans two levels with a total floor area of 17,291 square feet. Construction was completed in August. Pre-letting has already reached 60 per cent, with the first move-ins commencing in November and continuing through January.
The concept deliberately sets itself apart from conventional co-working models. As Adam Stark, Chief Executive Officer of Stark Office Suites, explained, the company avoids the term co-working because the focus is on enclosed private offices and individual clients. The clientele consists predominantly of occupiers engaged in long-term partnerships, with agreements typically running between one and five years.
Flexibility and high-quality architectural design
Instead of entering traditional leases, occupiers sign flexible licences for the required space. This model enables businesses to adapt swiftly to staffing changes. The accommodation includes 27 offices and a bespoke internal staircase illuminated by a custom-designed chandelier. The premises benefit from ample natural daylight and sightlines towards Central Park, The Plaza Hotel, and the GM Building.
For the fit-out and design, Stark Office Suites partnered once again with TPG Architecture, following a comparable project delivered by the two firms at 825 Third Avenue. The design objective focused on understated elegance. Alongside coffee points and curated art, the scheme is defined by the company's signature Stark Blue colour palette. The accommodation schedule also includes private phone booths, a reception area, and workstations for solo users or support staff.
Enhanced building amenities
In addition to the leased space on the 14th floor, occupiers gain access to an 8,000-square-foot communal amenity floor within 717 Fifth Avenue. This offers additional facilities:
- —An exclusive conference centre for building tenants
- —A grab-and-go café, lounges, and collaborative working areas
- —Modern changing rooms with shower facilities
Adam Stark emphasised that this represents a fully serviced proposition. The firm provides furniture, technical infrastructure, and meeting rooms, enabling clients to take up turnkey workspaces that afford them complete operational independence.
