Networking and namaste
The shared workspace is becoming a place to connect — and even adjust your work-life balance
D ESK space available, ayurvedic breakfast, and your next client, too?
For digital nomads and remote workers, the breadth of services and perks afforded by today’s co-work environments extend far beyond free Wi-Fi and videoconferencing.
Since opening its flagship Soho location in 2010, WeWork, a leading global network of workspaces, now boasts 283 physical locations in 75 cities and 22 countries, says Rui Barros, WeWork’s senior vice president and head of operations in the US and Canada East.
“What we’ve built goes beyond co-work environments. We’ve built a community (over 250,000 members globally) where people can come together to make meaningful connections to grow their business,” says Barros.
Take Satisfi Labs, a leading artificial intelligence engagement platform.
“The business started a couple [of] years back. Our four-person group took a very small WeWork office and immediately started to meet other office-mates, attend as many events as possible and share our story,” says Don White, the firm’s CEO and co-founder.
Since then, the company has upgraded their space to accommodate its expanding, 18-person team. They also scored a major client thanks to their co-work partnership — the New York Jets.
“We met the Jets through a ‘Shark Tank’-like competition hosted by WeWork. We continue to leverage all their network provides, like preferred pricing and access to recruiting and legal services. It’s not about office space. It’s about resources to grow and expand your company through community,” White says.
The Farm Soho is a co-work space providing for innovators and entrepreneurs in a reclaimed and time-weathered wooden loft. One member, Re-Nuble, offers a “line of value added agricultural products sourced from produce waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.” Its founder and CEO, Tinia Pina says: “The Farm [Soho] is a unique space in that it’s met all of our needs in an aesthetically pleasing work environment. It represents our value in creating a community that instills its values in not only the relationships it cultivates, but also the work setting.”
Today’s co-workplaces are also catering to the work-life balance of their members.
At the Assemblage, a New Age work and living space with Nomad and John Street locations, you can meditate between meetings. Multiple floors house meditation rooms and yoga classes, which are held throughout the day, and an all-natural, nonalcoholic elixir bar.
“There are so many ways to relieve stress here from a positive standpoint,” says Beth Tufekcic, general manager of the Assemblage. “The focus here is more on consciousness — being mindful of each other and ourselves.”
This concept is evidenced upon entry through its dome-shaped, moss-covered doorway and front desk area, where members and guests contribute to an “intentions bowl.”
“You take a moment before entering our space to drop a dried flower, stone or whatever speaks to you in water, with burning feathers and candles. Setting an intention for being in the space affects how your day starts,” says Tufekcic.
On-site public talks include guest speakers who discuss topics like conscious entrepreneurship in a chaotic world. Upcoming calendar events also include sound meditation and a hearts and minds festival.
For extended stays, guests can spend a night or two, or lease a space for over a year in one of the John Street location’s 79 “apartments,” complete with dining and bedroom spaces in a relaxed atmosphere, says Tufekcic.
Whether you’re a telecommuter seeking a change of scene, a solo entrepreneur or a startup, the benefits of operating within a supportive environment like this are key, says Tufekcic.
“There may be a graphic designer three tables over, which may not be your strength, and you’re trying to get something done. You can ask to chat. Most of the time, if people are passionate about what they do, they’re going to lend support through their energy and excitement. Having others around to inspire and toss ideas with is a big piece of it all,” says Tufekcic.
The Assemblage
House membership (flexible desk in communal lounge): $900 per month. Resident desk: $ 1,600 per month. Resident studio: From
$2,500 per month. Resident office (private offices with desks): From $4,500 per month. Included amenities: free Wi-Fi, free printing, IT support, complimentary ayurvedic breakfast, wellness program, meeting and meditation rooms. TheAssemblage.com
The Farm Soho
Day pass: $25. Hot desk: $179 per month. Dedicated desk: $319 per month. Private offices: From $500 per month per person at Nolita; $650 per month per person at NoMad. Included amenities: 24/7 secure access, free Wi-Fi, printer and scanner access, pet-friendly, mail and package service, premium tea and coffee, conference rooms. TheFarmSoho.com
WeWork
Hot desk: From $400 per month. Dedicated desk: From $550 per month. Private office (1100 people): From $800 per month. Included amenities: free Wi-Fi, business-class printer access, micro-roasted coffee, daily cleaning, bike storage, office supplies, mail and package handling, private phone booths, fresh fruit, water, craft beer on draft, professional and social events. WeWork.com