Featured image credit: Mike-Hope
For tech companies already within or moving to the Los Angeles area, it seems the mantra has become, “Go west.” Trends illustrate that technology-based businesses in need of office space for lease are overwhelmingly preferring listings on the city’s west side. And there’s more to it than a quicker drive to the beach.
The Gateway to the Future
Connect the dots and you’ll find that Southern California’s tech industry has its own interlocking ecosystem, a nexus point of media, creative firms, and, of course, tech. And the nexus point is in West LA, spread across communities like Venice, Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista, and Century City. Nearby educational institutions like UCLA are steadily producing the boundary-breaking minds that will define the tech industry’s future. And office space for lease in West LA gives tech companies a prime perch to get first crack at this new wave.
But it’s important to woo these beacons of talent with the perks that make the hard work worth it. And that’s where that proximity to the beach actually delivers. But surf, sand, and sunshine aside, West LA offers chic shopping, foodie-fueling dining, and enough diversity to satisfy virtually any lifestyle. It makes for some premium incentives during recruitment and doesn’t hurt with talent retention.
Statistics Underscoring the Trend
Numbers show demand for office space for lease has picked up in recent years. In the third quarter of 2023, Avison Young reported a roughly 63% increase in square footage of leased office space in West LA when compared to the previous quarter. According to Lancelot Commercial, the second quarter of 2025 emphasized robust leasing volume in westside communities like Playa Vista, Santa Monica, and Century City. Some of the bigger deals highlighted in these reports support the trend that tech companies are looking at long-term plays in West LA.
Pivoting to Tech Industry Demands
Commercial buildings in West LA are listening to what these tech companies want when it comes to amenities, lease terms, and more. Impressive square footage isn’t enough. Westside investors who want to stay competitive with their office space for lease need to consider:
- The preference for Class-A structures with quality details.
- More amenities, including onsite dining options, wellness, outdoor recreational areas, and spaces reserved for meetings and creative collaboration.
- Flexible lease terms, including shorter leases and responsive scalability, dependent on evolving needs.
Because of these demands, some investors have put effort into renovations, showing more leniency toward tenant customizations, and pivoting to modern fit-outs to allow smoother move-ins.
Higher Priced Office Space for Lease = Higher Quality
West LA continues to be one of the most expensive rental markets in Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles Times published the first quarter results for this year, showing that full-service gross asking rents on the westside were around $5.14 per square foot per month (significantly higher than much of the rest of the county’s markets). But if any businesses can afford office space for lease on the westside, it’s modern tech companies. And those who can’t will keep seeking investors until they find a way to afford it. They recognize that these higher rates also bring higher value.
While commercial lease rates took a hit all around with the COVID-19 pandemic, West LA has bounced back better than a lot of other local markets. Fluctuations still happen, especially in buildings that can’t meet the lofty expectations of innovative tech companies shopping around for office space for lease. Needless to say, the higher-quality properties tend to be absorbed more quickly.
(Silicon) Beachfront Property
The proliferation of tech companies on the westside has earned the region the nickname of “Silicon Beach”. And that distinction alone is a driver of demand for office space for lease among rising tech entrepreneurs. There’s a certain sense of strategy in positioning a rising tech brand in areas like Santa Monica, Playa Vista, and Culver City. But this isn’t just about a trendy location. It’s a logistical move that renders easier access for cross-brand collaboration, competitive hiring, and long-term partnership.
When tech companies are considering office space for lease, it’s easy to see why so many settle on West LA. Between the steady influx of talent, competitive amenities, premium spaces, flexible terms, and property investors who listen to their demands, this trend stands to be a long-term one.
