Office spaces have seen an evolution over the years. With the changing tide of the economy coupled with a new generation entering the workforce exposed to technology far more advanced than what existed in generations prior, attitudes toward work are quickly evolving.
Wired magazine featured an article about the changing attitudes toward work and how it helped shape the design of office spaces from the past, the present, and perhaps what we can expect in the future.
The need for office spaces is dependent on the existence of a business. But what happens when a business folds, as we have consistently seen happen at the onset of the recession? Does it result in an abandoned space that marks the beginning of a ghost town? For OfficePort, it was a case of turning life's lemons into lemonade.
The birth of OfficePort KC became a positive new business that was a direct
result of what seems to be a negative business scenario. "There (in Kansas City) we had a company that ran out of business. So we had a whole building that became vacant all at once. We also had the entire furniture along with it," says Michael Edmondson, Co-founder of OfficePort and a realtor. An empty space, existing office furniture, and dynamic open office design and layout became the recipe for a coworking environment catering to entrepreneurs. "We are entrepreneurs ourselves. We want to keep the prices low and keep the business transaction as simple as possible," says Michael, who understands the direct needs of start-up companies, small
businesses, independent contractors, or freelances when it comes to
overhead and the costs of running a business.
The success of their first coworking environment prompted its founders to bring this new way of working to the windy city. One day in the dead of winter, Shaul Jolles, Co-founder of OfficePort along with James Carver, Manager of what is now OfficePort CHI, flew to Chicago in search of a space where they could replicate OfficePort KC. "I came to Chicago in January 2009 and put an offer on the first and only building I looked at. I had many other appointments to look at, but made my mind when I first searched and saw this space," recalls Shaul. With that visit, they found a space across the famed Block 37, at the heart of The Loop, on the corner of Washington and State Streets. On August 24, 2009, OfficePort CHI opened its doors, as a conversion from the empty residential condominium space above Atwood Cafe. The design of this coworking space had a modern and dynamic feel to it from the entrance all the way to its interior ports. The reception area is flanked with modern furniture that mimics the modern ports/desks available for lease on flexible terms. The no deposit/no contract scenario diminishes the taxing paperwork normally involved in securing an office lease. It allows a business owner to focus on running the business as they see fit.
"We're up to about 32 companies now, a lot of them in web development, different aspects of consulting, several in social media marketing, journalists, and freelancers. It's interesting to see how these companies can blend, how they intertwine with each other. We have a website called Weave where you can see different groups or members that we have. There's a lot of mini-market research--the different aspects of running a small business," says James Carver.
As a business, this coworking environment focuses on the idea of community from making it as easy as possible for entrepreneurs to get a turn-key office space in a good location, to having a cost effective option, equipped with all the tools needed to run a company, to sponsoring community lunches once a month.
James further explains "There's a sense of being independent (as an entrepreneur) and yet part of a group. We have a lot of people who will still be here (coworking) whether the economy is good or bad. I do think the economy propels that aspect (of entrepreneurship) but as the economy gets better, I don't think entrepreneurship would dry up as a result of a good economy." For example at OfficePort CHI, currently "We had one business start out as a one-desk operation, then upgraded to an office suite, and has now hired 2 people, and has 2 interns."
Exploring the inner ports of OfficePort CHI evokes a feeling of walking into an industrial loft space, with its exposed ceilings at the back of the space, free-flowing spaces, refurbished Herman Miller furniture, and sealed concrete floor finish. Coworking in this space is all-inclusive, housed in a decent looking office that allows one to do work.
Doing work outside the confines of a coffee shop, or out of the home office, where clients can be entertained in a professional yet casual environment is exactly what Dante Hamilton was looking for as an entrepreneur.
Dante is a graphic/web designer and owner of Internet Webpages Newspaper, Inc. In 2008, he had an office space with Regus, functioning as his headquarters. "I was working in a traditional office environment for about 20 hours a month. That turned out to be too expensive and there was no benefit in meeting anyone because the offices are completely isolated," shares Dante. When OfficePort CHI opened last year, he became one of its pioneer tenants. The draw was how this coworking space was designed--it gave the tenants the ability to collaborate, making it more conducive to interaction with other tenants, resulting in sharing of ideas, thus building a community.
With access to an office space 24/7, coworking has become an attractive alternative for people who travel a lot, those working in projects with teams in different geographic locations and time zones, or perhaps those who just requires more flexibility than what a traditional office open from 9am-5pm can accommodate.
Celebrating it's first year anniversary of coworking in Chicago on August 26th, OfficePort CHI is located at 9 West Washington Street, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602.
Lira, this is perhaps the best article written about OfficePort CHI from an angle of the space. No one has covered it this way that I know of. Thanks!
Dante
My pleasure. While others think of the coworking approach as a movement, I really believe it's going to change how architects like me and the designers for that matter, view and design office spaces. It's important to share this message because it affects both the designer and the end-user.