Work Work Work Work Work: Inside 14 of Brooklyn’s Top Coworking Spaces
Oh, the drudgery: Waking up in the morning, dressing, making coffee, and then putting off your next step—packing yourself into the C train until you hit 34th street—for as long as possible because, then, you’ll be at the office. Bland and uncomfortable, it is still somehow filled with distraction and does the opposite of promoting that sweet, productive spot: the focus zone.
Thankfully, Brooklyn is filled with motivated creative people who have done their best to fix this system. In the past five years, coworking spaces here have taken off. Most are small, personality-filled places whose aim is to support the tailored needs of creative professional (architects, writers, designers, filmmakers, social entrepreneurs) and, in order to do that, one word among their owners kept cropping up: Comfort. People work better when they feel better, they all say. They’re not simply talking about standing desk- or ergonomic-chair comfort, they’re talking living room comforts, with couches and rugs and additional creature comforts like full kitchens that come with bottomless coffee, tea, and shared snacks. These places also offer flexibility—many are open 24 hours a day—and with both private and open pockets (phone booths on one hand, and big open spaces on the other), cross-creative collaborations emerge naturally. And, let’s not forget Vitamin D! Lots of these coworking centers have peaceful outdoor refuges attached, like roof gardens and patios out back, so you may remember you are a person on Earth, not a soul-less office drone.
So, independent workers of Brooklyn, meet your new and improved office of the future and—if these owners are right—look for your options to continue to expand, as coworking really becomes the standard everywhere rather than the niche exception for Brooklyn creative professionals.
Founders Workspace, Windsor Terrace
For Founders, co-owners Abby Palanca and Teresa Lagerman looked for a space for more than a year in a neighborhood that would be the right fit. They noticed that an increasing number of creative professionals were moving to Windsor Terrace, and the neighborhood didn’t have a coworking space. Yet, they knew a lot of people (including each other) who worked from home, local coffee shops, or even trekked to Gowanus and farther afield to cowork. So Lagerman and Palanca set out to make their own space, where local entrepreneurs could pursue their passion in their own neighborhood. It opened on April 1.
What was your vision for the space?
We wanted it to be very “Windsor Terrace”: friendly, beautiful, and community-oriented. We are in love with the space itself, a 120-year-old former fire extinguishers repair shop. We wanted to keep the old industrial character and warm it up with our own design choices.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
Honestly, the best part is the vibe. We have a really fantastic mix of people. We’re all listening to music, talking over coffee, and getting lots of great work done. Besides that, we love our orange phone booths, and our meeting/lounge space which is warm and inviting—not corporate at all. Our windows are also pretty amazing. We get great light!
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
Memberships start at $30/month for a Drop-in Membership, $175/month for Part-time, and $375/month for Full-time. We currently have a wait list for Full-time memberships, and have availability for Part-time and Drop-in.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
We’re just seeing the beginning of coworking in Brooklyn. There are so many spaces opening up, from the 20,000 square foot giants to the 1,000 square foot boutique shops. Life is busy and people are always on the go. Working closer to home gives you a little more time in your day. Who wouldn’t want that? With people expanding into different areas all around Brooklyn, you are sure to see more coworking spaces popping up.
Rough Draft, Williamsburg
The especially cozy and handsome Rough Draft opened just this year in mid-March. Alison Zullo and co-founder Glenn Pajarito are Creative Directors, who have worked at several different agencies, but started thinking about changing their expectations in their careers. And this led them to some conclusions about the kind of work they like doing—and not only that, but, more importantly, how and where they would do that work. Zullo said they wanted to create a place that was less of an office and more of a comfortable studio environment that they wanted to go to every day.
What was your vision for the space?
We like to think of it as a hybrid of your living room and favorite coffee shop but without the distractions that come along with each of those spaces. Balancing creative inspiration and productivity is important to us.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
We’re split between the free beer and the secret phone room. But one of our most important amenities is our library. We have tons of books on everything from design and creativity to history and house plants. We want our members to use these resources to inspire their work.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
We offer daily weekday and weekend rates ($28 and $19), and part-time and full-time monthly plans ($240 & $350). We have an open floor plan that can seat 24 people, with additional communal spaces for meetings and calls.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
What we will see in the future are more people ditching their Midtown commutes for co-working spaces in their neighborhoods. We’ll also start seeing more coworking/co-living spaces. And once the L train closes for repairs, we’re guessing there will be an additional spike in interest.
Work Heights, Crown Heights
Work Heights is a collective of two spaces, Dean Machine and Franklin Electric started by Sam Strauss-Malcolm, who had spent many years working as a designer at a corporate fashion brand. Meanwhile, he spent nights and weekends renovating a small brick building with a junk yard out back. After he left his job to become a consultant, he realized working from his apartment was not going to pan out—he felt isolated and couldn’t focus. He snacked all day and was not productive. He realized that the commercial space in the ground floor of his building could be turned into a coworking space; maybe, he thought, it could help him get back the productivity and focus he had felt at his prior job. Strauss-Malcolm spent a year building the first Work Heights space, called Dean Machine. Once he opened, other entrepreneurs and freelancers joined. Dean Machine filled up with a lot of demand quickly—and and there was a growing waiting list. So he opened Franklin Electric just a block away, which opened January 1; already, it’s close to full.
What was your vision for the space?
I’ve tried working in other Manhattan based coworking spaces and generally they feel impersonal. I’ve been focusing on building smaller spaces with fewer members to help keep a familiarity within the membership. Work Heights also mainly has solo-preneurs, fewer teams. I think that helps with our personable vibe. Our spaces are also store-fronts which, to me, is important for the neighborhood vibe. It’s good for our members to feel part of the neighborhood and vice versa. Because our spaces and workers are visible to the street, I think we’re promoting community engagement.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
Our backyard, called the Junk Yard, is probably our members’s favorite. There’s lots of seating and WiFi, so on nice days it’s a great outdoor oasis to keep working or just relax in. I also host member hang-outs back there. From a design sense, I love our conference rooms, which all our members share. They are full of light and made of reclaimed glass. I’ve focused a lot on light and using mirrors to spread it around.
What are you day/month rates?
We are open 24/7 for our members. We always have work space available even when we’re hosting free events like our reading series and our comedy night. Some members start at 4am and some work until 2pm. It’s up to them. We offer 3 types of membership. Flex Desk Memberships that are $225/month, Dedicated Desk Memberships that are $425/month, and we offer a Dedicated Partnership Membership for $600/month. The Partnership Membership is a favorite with couples and business owners which have an assistant or intern. Our members share both our locations and are welcome to go between them whenever they like. We’re still expanding, but currently we max out at roughly 60 members.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
In some ways, coworking has become the local community space that coffee shops were in the 90s and early aughts. They’re a great way to connect with your neighbors and be productive without the wasted time and effort of a commute to an office in the city. Sharing amenities is a great way to build spaces that are used to a fuller potential. It’s a common sense approach and I think it will continue to grow.
The Compound, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
At compound, opened in May 2014, Aki Hirata-Baker didn’t initially imagine opening a simple coworking space, he envisioned a place where busy professionals could find balance in life. “We wanted to open a ‘Life Space,’” Hirata-Baker explains, a place where people could easily transition from “working, to moving, to communing, to healing.” Hirata-Baker wanted this message to be clear by the design of the space, not by shoving it in anyone’s face. It was, instead, “about a space where this becomes a natural evolution in everyone’s mind.” And now that vision is closer to being completed: COMPOUND just opened a sister space, MINKAbrooklyn, on the 3rd floor of the building—a wellness and healing space that also offers co-working room for “therapuetic professionals.” In sum, COMPOUND is “just like your living room, just more productive,” says Hirata-Baker. “I believe comfort bring out true productivity.”
What are some of your favorite amenities?
A hammock chair and bean bag couches! Oh, crystals; our natural air purifier, plants, and tons of natural light feels nice, too. At our sister space, MINKAbrooklyn, there is massage, acupuncture and reiki treatments. If you need lunch time or post work movement classes, our neighbors are Bikram Yoga Lefferts, and Triple Threat Boot camp.
What are your rates and capacity?
Daily open – $45; 5-day pack – $125; 10-day pack $200; Open membership $225; Dedicated Desk Membership $375; Small Office $550; Large Office $800; Activist open membership $180; Domestic Partner additional member for $50, when the other partner is an open, dedicated, or office member. We offer students discounts of 20 percent.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
I really love that there are loads of choices now for Brooklyn freelancers. We even got a co-working space open right next door! I think it is so important for people to be able to choose where they spend most of their days, and seeing all these options, to me, is a great sign. I hope the Brooklyn cowork-sphere will stay as diverse as this greatest borough.
SHARED Brooklyn, Red Hook
Allison Reeves saw a need in Red Hook for a space that wasn’t a coffee shop and wasn’t a home office—but also a place that provided things like a conference room that independent professionals don’t have access to. In 2013, Reeves took a sabbatical form her full-time job in architecture to do a freelance project; at first, she loved the freedom of working from home. Who doesn’t love working in pajamas? But after a few months, Reeves felt she was not being productive and missed socializing in an office. There must be a better way, she felt. Reeves learned about coworking spaces and quickly became a convert—then started thinking of opening her own. It was a natural step, she says, that combined her desire to be independent, and to do it in her own neighborhood, but out of the house. SHARED Brooklyn opened in November 2014.
What was your vision for the space?
I wanted to create a workspace that could also serve as a community builder for the people I knew: creative professionals. I think our mission statement says it all: “Where you work can change the way you Work. The way you Work can change how you Live. Work better, Live Better.” SHARED Brooklyn is a design-centric coworking space that welcomes all stripes of creative industry pros. We have members who are architects, graphic designers, web developers, marketing consultants, and others who are interested in being part of a smart, unpretentious group of professionals. The coworking holy grail of synergy has already happened at SHARED Brooklyn. We’ve had several members collaborate with each other and trade services, and we learn from each other on a daily basis. We also aimed to be sensitive to the environment with the design and construction of the space, using a lot of reclaimed materials and local craftsmen to build our extra-large custom desks.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
In terms of amenity spaces, our kitchen, lounge, outdoor lounge, and phone booths are the most important. These places allow members to step away from their desk and clear their mind, have a conversation, or stare out the window and recharge. We also offer amenity programming for our members and the public, such as continuing education lunch seminars, happy hours, and other special events for the members. We just started a partnership with a new group called Think Olio, who offer really interesting short-format classes.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
We have 16 custom designed dedicated desks, three offices, and two common tables. We are currently almost at peak capacity—here are only two desk vacancies and two offices left. Dedicated Desks are $475/month; offices range from $675-$750/month; Part-time and Full-time Community table memberships are $225 and $375. Day passes are $30.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
Coworking is a fast-growing phenomenon and there’s a lot of competition out there. Some spaces have already closed because real estate is expensive and it’s not easy to turn a profit, especially if you don’t understand your target market and target users. What works in one city or neighborhood may not work in another so you have to know your members and provide what they need to work and grow productively.
There has also been a huge influx of very large coworking spaces in Brooklyn this past year. I don’t know if they are finding enough members, but I think they are a little impersonal and too corporate to appeal to certain niche segments of freelancers and independent professionals. So I think we’ll see an increase of smaller spaces that cater to certain industries, such as design, film, fashion, and architecture, to name just a few. These are industries that rely on a network of related professions, and individuals, or young companies that can benefit from sharing space with others, who could potentially provide inspiration or needed expertise to help them grow.
Nowhere Studios, Crown Heights
Porter Fox says, quite simply, he opened Nowhere “because we had nowhere to work,” referencing both himself and his wife, Sara, who is a photographer. Fox had worked at coworking spaces for 12 years in New York City (called, back then, an “office share” he says), and his wife worked from home. Eventually, they decided to get a space big enough for them both, plus a few others. That is how Nowhere was born in August 2015.
What was your vision for the space?
We wanted the studio to be naturally lit, filled with plants, and be creative and productive. We also wanted to make working more fun. We cook our meals here, take breaks to garden on the roof, lie in the sun, chat with friends in the phone booth, nap on the couch, throw parties, play with the cat. I read somewhere that work focus fades after 90 minutes, then you need a 15-minute break. We designed the space to fill those 15 minutes.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
The roof garden is the best. It clears my mind between writing sessions. Wifi is the fastest I have ever used, which really helps productivity, as does the wireless printer/scanner. The espresso machine is nice, and white noise machines make work spaces more private. The roof deck and chaise lounges are relaxing. Endless Brooklyn Roasting Coffee is GREAT!
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
We only rent by the month. $180/month for Flex Space; $300/month for a small desk; $475/month for a large desk. We cap capacity at about 50 people to keep it from being too crowded.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
Coworking will grow as freelancing and virtual offices grow—but more importantly, it will evolve. There is a huge difference between a cubicle and a progressive work space. My wife and I like to read and brainstorm about what makes a work space… work. What inspires creativity? What makes people happy? If you are happy, you make great stuff. So we bake chocolate chip cookies and make people happy.
Bat Haus, Bushwick
Bat Haus co-founder Cody Sullivan was writing his first novel at cafés and public libraries. He had a hard time concentrating due to an environment that was too noisy or distracting, however. Co-founder Natalie Chan says, because they were dating at the time, it affected her as well. Chan suggested they get a space for Sullivan to work at and rent out to others who had similar needs. It was only later, says Chan, they both realized this was called “the coworking movement” across the country; Bathaus opened in the summer of 2012.
What was your vision for the space?
I grew up in Taiwan where high school kids rent out tiny cubicles packed in a private building to study. I was one of them and hated it. We envisioned an open space with high ceilings, wooden textures, and lots of sunlight—like a secret cave you would find in the woods. I walked by our current space everyday and noticed the gate was up one day. I talked to the owner Sal (who is a plumber and used it as a garage and storage space for his plumbing bits), and found out that he’s thinking about renting the space out for extra cash. As soon as the space was put on the rental list through an agency, some Manhattan restaurant put down the deposit. And it was off the market. We were devastated. A few days later, I noticed Sal’s email address in one of the emails my broker sent to me. I contacted him and communicated what we had in mind for the space (it was a looooong email). He eventually dropped the restaurant and rented the space to us. We have lots of bars and restaurants in Bushwick. What we needed was a spot for the community to come together, to work at; a space to showcase arts/independently produced music production, and to host fundraisers for good causes!
What are some of your favorite amenities?
One of my favorite features is our mezzanine that, from the outside, looks like a bat house (and therefore the name “Bat Haus”). It has a kitchen/dinning area where coworkers have lunch together and Happy Hour every Thursday (when it’s warm, we do it in the backyard!). We are truly lucky to have a space that has separate sections as a coworking space (open working area on the first floor, kitchen on the mezzanine level and a backyard in the back). The clear separation of different areas provides a good balance between work and break time, which is extremely important for freelancers who work at their own pace. When people want to take a break, they either go to the kitchen or backyard to chill/have a conversation with others. But when working in the main area, you never feel alone either because of the open-space concept as a workspace with people surrounded without dividers!
What are your day/month rates?
Full-time monthly membership is $225, and part-time (3 days a week) monthly membership is $175. We can seat 40 members at a time.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
In the future, the styles of coworking spaces will go to two extremes–one as WeWork, divided corporate offices in one big building, and the other one like Bat Haus, independently operated, hosting mostly local “solopreneurs”.
ELECTROPOSITIVE, Crown Heights
After creating a prior coworking space, Freecandy—a creative space for over five years that hosted hundreds of live music and art shows—Todd Triplett and his partners felt the mission of creating a simple space for emerging artists to showcase their work had grown somewhat limited. At the same time, says Triplett, they had begun to use their former space for coworking by day, and quickly discovered that there was a significant need in their community for a space that allowed emerging entrepreneurs, creatives, and culture-makers to convene, connect and build ideas. Their new space, ELECTROPOSITIVE (E+) was born from that need, says Triplett. He and his cofounders found a new space that was more conducive to serving both the Brooklyn creative and cultural and entrepreneurial communities simultaneously. ELECTROPOSITIVE soft opened early this spring, and will open officially on June 1.
What was your vision for the space?
ELECTROPOSITIVE is built specifically for people and companies that want to change the world for the better and have an idea, vision and plan on how to accomplish that. We are community of entrepreneurs, creatives, culturalists, idealists and doers. We have created a space that builds on our past work at Freecandy, but improves on that work by providing a home for social innovation, social impact, and culture-making. We seek members that are driven to use their talents and skills to create products, services, or companies that contribute to the greater good of society. We hope that ELECTROPOSITIVE will be the catalyst for world-changing ideas to be born and grow!
What are some of your favorite amenities?
The ELECTROPOSITIVE space was built with “directed serendipity” in mind. That means that we want to create a space that continuously allows purpose-driven entrepreneurs and young businesses the ability to meet one another and grow together organically. As such, our greatest amenity is the community that we’re building.
Being that our pedigree is in the cultural space with Freecandy, we’ve created a fun and comfortable space that continuously reveals something new at every turn. ELECTROPOSITIVE has many attributes—from our 2nd story studio and classroom that we use for everything from health and wellness programs to coding classes, to our three outdoor space (including a 4,000 Sq. Ft. garden coming online in late summer), to our full kitchen, we have so much to offer our members. Thanks to support from our partner IKEA, ELECTROPOSITIVE is a space that addresses every need a budding purpose-driven and social innovation entrepreneur can have.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
We have several membership options to choose from including over fifteen private offices for up to eight individuals, dedicated desks and general assembly seating for for solo entrepreneurs. We’re offering a “Founding Member” special rate for general assembly seating of $150/month. Private offices and dedicated desks rates vary a bit.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
I believe that coworking in Brooklyn has an extremely bright future! After all, we are at the epicenter of the gig-economy in the US. There are so many talented and passionate creative entrepreneurs, idealists and makers in Brooklyn that it is inevitable that co-working will continue to thrive. We’re going to see more spaces like that ELECTROPOSITIVE that seek out specific types of entrepreneurs. In our case, we focus on purpose-driven, social impact and innovation businesses, but there will be spaces that services all types of individuals and types of businesses. Coworking in Brooklyn is beginning of a revolution in America. The old “gold-watch/career-for-life” economy has proven to be relic of the past that is no longer available to our generation. It’s time to rethink how we live and work and what types of communities we prefer to join to help support and grow our ideas. It’s communities and spaces like ELECTROPOSITIVE are leading that.
Ditmas Workspace, Ditmas Park
In 2008, Erica Anderson rented the professional office in her Flatbush Vicotorian home to Ditmas Workspace founder Liena Zagare. Zagare published the local blog, Ditmas Park Corner and, later, Corner Media from the workspace. In early 2016 Zagare moved her digital media businesses to a more commercial strip in Ditmas Park. She asked Anderson if she was interested in continuing to operate Ditmas Workspace for the then-members and other writers, journalists, filmmakers and neighbors who need quiet professional workspace in the area. Anderson loved Zagare’s model of shared workspace with a homey atmosphere, all the amenities needed for today’s new forms of work, and affordable membership fees. So, Anderson said yes on the spot, and Ditmas Workspace has been under Anderson family ownership/management since February 1 of this year.
What was your vision for the space?
We Andersons are long-time residents of Ditmas Park and love the neighborhood. (Gina grew up in an apartment on Westminster and Cortelyou. Tom first came to the neighborhood in the 1970s and bought our present home in 1980. Our daughter Erica attended public schools in the neighborhood, and has lived here most of her life.) We value the “old Brooklyn” character of Ditmas Park as well as the “new Brooklyn” restaurants, yoga and pilates studios, and other services in the area. We want Ditmas Park to stay as diverse and affordable as possible. Gina and Tom are retired from their traditional jobs in book publishing and sales. Now we do volunteer work, gardening and other things we love. Erica is the workspace community manager. Our vision is for Ditmas Workspace to continue as a resource for the neighborhood and a small, self-sustaining family business.
What are your favorite amenities?
Our beautiful garden setting with outdoor bench for members. Original Victorian details–high ceilings, oak-paneled quiet room, butler’s pantry. Brand new adjustable standing/sitting desks. Great mix of congenial journalists, writers, filmmakers, and others. Free notary services for members. There is also 24/7 access, plenty of desks, small private rooms that members can reserve in 2-hour blocks, Wifi, printer/copier/fax, office supplies, complimentary coffee & tea. All amenities are included without additional charge.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
Ditmas Workspace memberships are available on a monthly basis for $200/month for shared space. We have one private office membership at a higher fee (presently occupied). First and last months’ fees are payable upfront. Our current membership numbers are in the low-teens and we estimate capacity at about 25 people. With our 24/7 access and members’ varied work schedules, even at maximum, the workspace isn’t crowded.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
Coworking and shared workspaces are the way of the future. More people are working remotely, independently, self-employed or free-lance. Many live in small apartments with families or others and lack room for quiet work. Traditional office rent and long-term financial commitments are too pricey for creatives, non-profits and start-ups. Shared workspaces fill this niche extremely well. Email DitmasWorkspace@gmail.com or call 718 284 6759 for a free tour of the space.
BrooklynWorks at 159, South Slope
Vicrum Puri was working from home on another business and was not happy. So he and his wife decided to get an office in South Slope, where they lived. They started looking at options, but then decided to open a larger workspace. They finally found 159 20th Street, a raw space that worked well for them. It was fun and challenging, says Puri, because they did everything on their own—the design, layout, and most of the buildout. But they managed to make it work, and opened their doors in Februrary 2013.
What was your vision for the space?
First and foremost, we wanted a place where members could be productive. That was and still is the number one goal. Networking, collaboration, community, all of that is very important, but if you can’t come in and knock out your to-do list, the space will eventually lose value for you. We knew that, and are constantly working on the space so we can meet those goals for all our members.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
My favorites can be broken up by space, food, neighborhood, people. We have some open and light filled spaces that members and drop-ins can spread out in and enjoy, as well as few cozy or private nooks. We have food Fridays, happy hours, pancake days, and other treats we offer up. Some of our members even pitch in and bring food from time to time to share. It is also a place for the neighborhood; we host music and art events throughout the year. The greatest amenities here, however, are the members themselves. There is some amazing work being done every day, in all sectors, and it’s a thrill to be a part of.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
We have daily passes for $15. Our popular 10×10 card allows 10 daily uses for $100, and includes unlimited tea and coffee. Dedicated Desks with 24/7 access and a locker start at $325, lockable offices start at $475. We hover between 90-100% capacity through the year.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
I think coworking is still at its early stages and is still growing and evolving. What we are seeing now is more and more of a buyers market. There are now so many options out there. There is the big and small dichotomy that is taking place. There are now chains quickly becoming ubiquitous, Starbucks’ of the coworking world, with a focus on boundless growth with tons of VC money behind them. Then there are also many folks like us, my wife and I, opening up a small business serving our neighborhood and trying to become part of the fabric of the community, without dreams of international dominance. So the freelancer, nonprofit or small business that needs a space now has plenty of options to choose from. It’s becoming highly competitive, and a whole lot of fun!
BKLYN Commons, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens
Albert and Ikey Srour decided, as real estate owners in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens—a Brooklyn neighborhood that was on the rise—that they wanted to be a part of the community’s growth. After looking at different uses for the space, they realized that people want to work in their own back yards. So, they looked into the concept and it paid off. They opened their first 5,000 square foot space on January 15 of this year, and filled up in four weeks. In March, they opened another 5,000 feet, and are currently at 80 percent capacity.
What was your vision for the space?
We really wanted to capture the neighborhoods (Prospect-Lefferts Gardens) flavor. We have so much talent in the neighborhood so we knew that we needed to build the space to the highest standard to attract that talent. We also see our space as a hub for many cultural events. We just hosted Souls of Lefferts gardens a local artist who photographs members of our community. We are hosting The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival on June 7th, and are working on booking many such events for our space.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
We were lucky enough to work with a great interior designer, Katie Vitale, who really brought the flavor out of every space we built. We just opened our outdoor deck which is one of the great highlights of our space. People go out there to eat lunch, so their work or just simply to chill out. Another great highlight are our conference rooms which are designed with an authentic Brooklyn feel as well 24/7 access for members only. But I would say train access is probably one of the biggest advantages we have. The prospect Park station (Q,B,S lines) are directly across the street from the space Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the space.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
We have 50 private offices and 24 open desk spaces. We are the most competitive when it comes to price vs. what we offer. An open desk will run you $150/Mo., 1 person private office will run $475/mo., 4 person private office $1200, 6 person $1500/mo., and 8 person $1800. Day rate is $20 to use our common area. Prices are all inclusive (Internet, utilities, cleaning, conference room space and more. We are planning to build out another 10,000 square feet, which will include many more offices (Since we didn’t build out we would be open to customizing an office) and a space to host private and corporate events.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
I personally think coworking just started in Brooklyn. The office market is underdeveloped and the people who are moving to Brooklyn are forward thinking people who fit right in to the coworking scene. I predict we will see many more coworking spaces (some filling very specific niches) in the near future.
THE YARD, Williamsburg
The Yard is a pioneer in Brooklyn coworking spaces. In 2010, they saw the need for a better alternative to the office. The Yard wanted a hassle-free creative space, and sought to build it. They opened their first space in Greenpoint in 2011.
What was your vision for the space?
A mix of existing architecture and new finishings with beautiful art to inspire creativity.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
We try our best to curate authentic events that members want to attend and be a part of. This includes business and legal workshops, Friday happy hours and birthday parties for our members and staff. The Yard has maintained our offerings and provides a space that allows our members to focus on their businesses without the distractions that we saw at some of our competitors. i.e. foosball, ping pong, and beer on tap during the work day.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
Rates begin at $250 per month for open space co-working, and $475 for a single-person private office.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
We are very excited to continue growing in Brooklyn. We have our eyes on a couple of very promising new locations that we can’t talk about yet. We are also constantly refreshing our original locations with newer amenities and furnishings. Last year we upgraded our Internet and Wifi to stay ahead of growing bandwidth needs. This year we reinforced the offices to minimize excess noise. Our next step is to take our community online. We’re currently beta testing a new, proprietary software system that will take the friction out of some areas of coworking and allow our members to communicate better with the space and with each other. Growing and staying dedicated to our brand and our values is one of the most exciting parts of our day-to-day responsibilities.
COWORKRS, Gowanus
CEO of Coworkrs Shlomo Silber had worked in construction and real estate and, he said, saw what was happening in the coworking industry in New York City. He visited one space and was inspired. At that moment, he decided to open his own because he always loved and wanted dot be a part of a community. Coworkrs opened in 2013 with a spot in Flatiron and the Gowanus space officially opened in January 2016.
What was your vision for the space?
To create a place with high design and comfort without a pretentious feel, where like-minded individuals could all come and work together and collaborate in a place that they could call home away from home. Hence, our motto: at home at work.
What are some of your favorite amenities?
Events and spaces outside of your office where you can just come sit on a couch, kick off your shoes, and work comfortably.
What are your day/month rates, and what is your capacity?
Daily coworking rates start at $45/day, monthly at $350/ month, and private offices start at $800/ mth.
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
I see the future of coworking expanding into all densely populated neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn, where there is a need for creative people to have a space near home that they can work and be productive at. In fact, we have a lease signed in Bushwick, and are currently under construction with an opening planned for early 2017. That being said, we will definitely be opening in other neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn (and the rest of the country).
Brooklyn Desks, Bushwick
Brooklyn Desks founders felt that coworking could change the way business is conducted—that it would give people the opportunity to work on their own time with cooperation of other companies and that both networking and growth would result. Brooklyn Desks opened in 2014, and has a capacity of around 300.
What was your vision for the space?
Our vision was to create an easygoing environment that would fit the needs of diverse types of companies and freelancers. We also wanted it to reflect the artistic and creative culture of our Bushwick neighborhood!
What are some of your favorite amenities?
Our favorite amenities would probably be the happy hours and rooftop access. Also, what makes Brooklyn Desks unique is that it’s a 24/7 space. With growing businesses it’s important to provide as much flexibility and freedom as possible.
What are your day/month rates?
Our monthly memberships span from $179 use of our open space to $2400 8 desk private offices, with a lot of options in between. We offer day passes too!
What is the future of coworking in Brooklyn?
One of the best parts of coworking is that it’s never stagnant; it changes along with the companies that it consists of. Because Brooklyn is so diverse, spaces will develop to reflect the needs of these individualized communities. We hope to see coworking continue to expand and are excited to see where it’ll go!
Photos by Sasha Turrentine