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Entrepreneur Andrew Erickson loves his office at the U.S. Custom House because it not only is inexpensive, but also provides flexibility.

鈥淭he physical layout is pretty great because it’s really easy to find distractions in that environment,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can change environments to focus on the task at hand.鈥�

The historic building, built in 1901, was remodeled by WeWork last fall. While open office configurations are popular these days, the work spaces in the U.S. Custom House are individualized. But because nearly all of the spaces are glassed in, the building has an open feel. Office spaces can also be expanded or contracted, depending on tenants’ needs.

Erickson is watching his budget, and pays only $270 a month for a 鈥渉ot desk鈥� 鈥� space at a long table with a lamp and Internet access. The setup has benefited his company, Macro Conscious Inc., which he started a year ago to help clients develop and market their websites.

WeWork, based in New York, has more than 30 locations that offer 鈥渇lexible鈥� rental office space ranging from a 鈥渉ot desk鈥� to private offices for up to 20 employees.

鈥淲e currently have about 300 small businesses and 579 members,鈥� Portland WeWork community manager Lisa Siems said. 鈥淲e can do custom builds and are very flexible and have a lot of (room) to work with members in different situations.鈥�

With a team of more than 140 designers, engineers and construction managers, WeWork creates all designs in-house. But each facility is designed to be 鈥渓ocalized and personal,鈥� said Devin Vermeulen, WeWork’s creative director.

鈥淭here’s nothing we love more as designers than getting a building like Custom House that has a lot of rich history and architectural detail that we can build off of,鈥� he said. 鈥淕iven that our co-founder and chief creative officer Miguel McKelvey was born in Oregon and is a graduate of the University of the Oregon School of Architecture, this was an extra special project for us.鈥�

WeWork spaces are designed to give people 鈥渁n opportunity to work and interact,鈥� Vermeulen said. That interaction often takes place in the open lounge areas on every floor with foosball and pingpong tables, as well as free cucumber and citrus water, tea, coffee, cider and beer. Other amenities include large and small conference rooms, high-speed Internet, bike storage and showers.

鈥淲e made sure there was plenty of open and communal space to create opportunities for collaboration, engagement 鈥� and fun,鈥� Vermeulen said.

Another 鈥渇un鈥� feature was created when the design team decided to transform several old money vaults, created by the Hermann Safe Co., into tiny spaces that can hold up to four people. Other renovators might have covered the old safes up or used them for storage, Vermeulen said.

鈥淲e took a different approach and turned them into small meeting rooms, unique and interesting architectural features that are obvious the second you step into the room,鈥� he said.

Julie Clarke-Bush, owner of startup HighViz Marketing, said business has improved since she moved operations from her dining room to the U.S. Custom House.

鈥淚’ve stopped wearing yoga pants,鈥� she said, which makes her feel more businesslike.

And because the one-person office is glassed in, Clarke-Bush often steps into one of the safes for more privacy.

Clarke-Bush often attends networking events in the open lounge areas, she said.

鈥淭here are a lot of freelancer types that kind of have the same story as me,鈥� she said. 鈥淓veryone can work online and can work anywhere they want.鈥�