Ella House reaches full occupancy as hospitality-led fit-out reshapes Dublin flex office market

A boutique flexible office operator on Dublin's Merrion Square has achieved 100 per cent occupancy across its 340 desks and suites, positioning a hospitality-driven fit-out model as a benchmark for the premium end of Ireland's commercial workspace sector.

Business Plus reports that Ella House, developed by Kevin Stanley and Sonbrook business partners Paul McEnroe and John Ryan, occupies five interconnecting protected Georgian buildings acquired from the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) for €15 million in December 2020.

The refurbishment, overseen by conservation architects Howley Hayes Cooney alongside interiors by Natalia Sutherland and fit-out firm 21 Spaces, prioritised acoustic performance, insulation and ambient lighting throughout. Every floor was upgraded to near-new-build standards, with Crittall-style steel and glass partitions used to open up internal flow without compromising the buildings' protected status.

"I wanted to blow the myth that this type of building is draughty and has terrible wi-fi," said Stanley. Dual fibre lines, 120cm-wide desks, against an industry average of 90cm, and ten on-site meeting rooms underpin the operational offer.

Twenty of the 24 current occupiers are international businesses, including private equity firms, global law practices and investment managers. Suite pricing runs from €40,000 to €250,000 per year. Average tenancy duration at Ella House stands at three years, against an industry norm of 18 months.

Savills Flexmark 5.0 research recorded average flex office occupancy in Dublin 2 at 82 per cent in 2025, making Ella House's full occupancy rate a notable outlier in the capital's competitive flex market.

Discover how Ella House is reshaping Dublin's premium flex office market in the complete coverage.