REI will open a new satellite office in Issaquah as part of the co-op’s newly implemented “hybrid,” work model.

Last Fall, REI sold it’s corporate campus in Bellevue and planned a shift to what they describe as a “distributed,” work model that will allow office employees to work up to five days from home.

According to a company press release, REI employees will be given flexibility in how they log in for work, and the use of virtual and physical work spaces will allow for the use of not only satellite offices but public areas like parks and coffee shops.

“We believe the future of work is much more fluid,” said Chris Putur, REI’s executive vice president of technology and operations via press release. “We’re building the future around the work that needs to get done, and creating flexible, agile and inclusive ways to deliver innovation for our customers – and we no longer believe we need a traditional office model to do so.”

The new satellite office on 2005 NW Poplar Way, has over 68,000 square footage of space and is supposed to be able to host up to 400 employees at a time once pandemic restrictions are lifted.

It was developed by Rowley Properties, Inc.