Pretoria's Hazelwood is getting a brand-new Workshop17

Pretoria's buzzing Hazelwood precinct is about to welcome a new addition: coworking brand Workshop17 is set to open its first purpose-built location in early 2027.

The approximately 2,455m² development, on the corner of Oaktree Avenue and 18th Street, will feature private offices, hot desks, meeting rooms, an on-site café and communal spaces designed for everything from quiet concentration to creative collaboration.

And the story behind it is rather unconventional.  

It all started when Pretoria property developer Andries Pretorius spent a month working from Workshop17's Tabakhuis location in Paarl. Impressed by the experience, he returned home, convinced his city needed something similar.

One LinkedIn message to Workshop17 CEO and co-founder Paul Keursten later, the idea began taking shape. Together with business partner Etienne Maritz of property development company Bow&Arc, Pretorius helped secure a prime Hazelwood property that wasn't even on the market. 

The result? Workshop17's first location designed and built specifically for the brand, rather than adapted from an existing building. 

Hazelwood's café culture, independent restaurants and walkable streets are central to the concept. Workshop17 also plans to collaborate with neighbourhood businesses, including coffee shops, restaurants and running clubs, to create a community that extends beyond the office.  

For Pretorius and Maritz, who both live in the neighbourhood, the investment is personal. They'll even be moving their own offices into the new development.  

With flexible working now firmly part of the professional landscape, the arrival of Workshop17 adds another dimension to Hazelwood's growing reputation as a place to work, meet, eat and spend time.

• What: Workshop17 Hazelwood
• Where: 26 Oaktree Avenue, Hazelwood, Pretoria.
• Opening: Early 2027, with an exact date still to be announced. 

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The Hazelwood development marks Workshop17's entry into Pretoria, expanding a coworking network that already stretches across Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg and Ballito, with an international presence in Mauritius. The company is also preparing new locations in Muizenberg and Johannesburg's Fourways, signalling continued investment in flexible workspaces as professionals rethink the traditional office.