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Thinking about throwing a networking event or your company’s launch party? Why not have it at a coworking space? It’s becoming more common to see all kinds of events offered at your local coworking space. Here’s 5 reasons why coworking spaces are great for your next event:

1. Coworking spaces have an established community

 

 

 

You can get instant exposure for your event by working with the community manager at the coworking space. Their job is to know the community so they’ll know all the big players and who would be most interested in your event. They also should have a pretty active social media network that they can blast out about community events. It’s not guaranteed but it’s worth a try to see if they’ll promote your event.

2. Coworking spaces are built for large groups

Although it may not be their first priority in building a space, you can bet that most spaces were built to hold events. It makes logical, business sense that if everyone typically works 9-5, there is a huge vacancy in the evening. This is perfect for those looking to host a panel or Meetup group. You’re not paying crazy costs for venues that rely solely on events as revenue.

3. Coworking spaces has someone working the front door

Rather than trying to bribe your friends to usher people into the right rooms, you’ll automatically have someone assigned to the front door when you host your event at a coworking space. With such a large venue, guests can easily get confused on where to go, finding restrooms or a phone booth. Your day will go so much smoother knowing that someone has that taken care of.

4. Coworking spaces have the right amenities for events

Nothing causes a panic more than finding out the mic doesn’t work or the projector is acting up. Many coworking spaces will have technical equipment that you would otherwise have to rent. You can also rest assured that someone has set it up before and can help troubleshoot if you have problems (even if they’re not there at the event, you can always ask and prep ahead of time). Since coworking spaces were built for business use, you can bet that everything you’ll need such as access to office supplies will save the day when you forget to print something out or create a sign up sheet.

5. Integrate with the community

What better way to connect with your community than to host your event at a coworking space. The mindset of coworking is for individuals and companies to find community in a common space. It promotes diversity in industry, people and thoughts. You’d be surprised to find different types of people interested in your event that you may not have thought to target!

A common question that many of us go through is whether coworking is right for us and/or our team. There’s a lot of factors that play into what makes a successful workplace. Before you sign up for a commercial office space or hole up at home, consider these pros and cons of coworking:

A Great Community

When it’s just you it can be pretty lonely. What better way to instantly create a sense of community by joining a coworking space. Most of these work spaces have an open floor plan. People naturally build friendships and workplace culture germinates when people are put together in one room.

Unfortunately you do tend to get less work done when you start to know everyone. A quick run to the bathroom could mean a 30 minute catchup with a friend. It’s always helped me to be goal oriented each day. That way I keep balance between getting work done and being social. I’ve also found that I tend to get more work done when I’m around other people.

Shared Costs

You can get a much nicer workspace and amenities since all the costs are shared amongst everyone coworking. Just like coops, the more people involved, the lower the overhead costs are. That means you get better equipment, spaces and snacks because it’s being split amongst a ton of people.

No Commitment as You Grow

Coworking allows people to test out spaces and learn what their/their team’s needs are before committing to something much larger. Commercial leases tend to be for up to 10 years unless you’re subletting on someone else’s lease. It doesn’t make sense if it’s early on and your finances aren’t as stable as you’d like. Many people choose commercial office space because they’re looking for a specific type of venue (commercial kitchen, warehouse etc). Nowadays, there’s so many spaces that provide that like Capital Kitchen that it’s easier to just cowork.

Coworking is also great for those who work remotely. When you’re not anchored to one place, it’s great to be able to go anywhere and still find a community. The flexibility to go from one person to up to 10+ people makes coworking worth it. You also get the added benefit of diversity of mindset. It’s easy for people to bounce ideas off each other who may not even be in the same company.

Is Coworking Right For You & Your Team?

One of the benefits of coworking spaces is that they let you test out the space before really committing. You can easily sign up for day passes online or just walk into a space and ask for a tour. Spend the rest of the day deciding if it’s the right place to start off. Lots of places also have flexibility in doing monthly memberships. That way you can give it some time to learn the community and location and see if it’s right for you.

 

 

I first heard about Vuka while attending an event a couple of years ago. Since then it’s grown to a larger organization becoming Vuka Collective which has 3 branches: Impact Hub Austin (coworking), Gather (events) and Awaken (classes/workshops).  You’ll notice that Impact Hub Network is a larger national organization that concentrates on sustainable global goals. Vuka joined up with Impact Hub Network to launch it’s first location in Austin. The coworking branch started with the Monroe location and expanded to a South and North location.

Austin Community

One of the reasons Vuka partnered with Impact Hub is because they knew their values aligned. Impact Hub is the world’s largest network focused on building entrepreneurial communities for impact at scale — home to the innovators, the dreamers and the entrepreneurs who are creating tangible solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.

You can expect to find people who care about the community and align with Impact Hub’s values in social impact. You’ll notice that a lot of the members are people in EdTech or are creatives. Although the coworking space values social impact, you don’t actually have to be a non-profit to join this community. You’ll notice that the crowd is a lot more eclectic and not your typical cubicle goers. They’re also very dog friendly so you can destress with some puppy cuddles or bring fido along with you to work.

What It’s Like Coworking

I spent a little time working out of Impact Hub after taking a tour. It’s refreshing to see a diverse group of teams and people. One of the most important parts of creating a coworking space is creating the culture. Culture stems from the type of people who work there.Impact Hub is interesting in that it’s not just all tech people but rather a mix of different careers and mindsets. The open floor plan makes it easy for people to find pockets to work out of but also easily mingle.

 

You’ll find the big backyard full of people as the heat cools down. People pack under the large oak for shade and soak in a bit of nature. The inside is lit with warm lighting coming off the lamps and ambient light seeping in during the day. There’s definitely an artsy feel to the place as you gaze upwards to their nature themed decor. Once you venture towards the top office you’ll feel like you’re walking through an intricate tree house.

Why Should You Cowork Here?

Every coworking space provides a space to cowork but what makes them memorable is when they do that one thing great. Impact Hub builds a great space that heavily portrays community and arts. The main space is striking and is often used in the evening for events. It makes sense that it attracts both the tech and arts crowd with a space that takes you away from your everyday monotony.

Since the space is nestled in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood, they provide loaner bikes for people to quickly run home. Parking can be a little tricky as residential permits pop up aroundImpact Hub but you’ll still find a few spaces a couple of blocks away.

Are you tired of your monotonous 9 to 5 and searching for your next big thing? Often times finding yourself daydreaming about what you could have done or what you’ll do one day. Galvanize is where you go to explore your next steps. The coworking space currently have 8 campuses with over 3,000 students. Their mission is making education and growth accessible to anyone – especially underrepresented groups in the tech industry.

Mindset of learning

What sets Galvanize apart is their concentration on learning as a way to grow. They have over 200 mentors and hold over 15 workshops a month. This really brings in a lot of resources for entrepreneurs, startups and growing companies. They know that  each stage needs different resources as they grow. The programs include web development and data science. The campuses offer several options such as full time, part-time and online classes. Their immersive course runs for a span of 12 to 13 weeks.

Tech Ecosystem

The great part about Galvanize is that it is an ecosystem of students, entrepreneurs and companies which means that each lend well into the other. As students graduate from their course, they’re able to get a head start and apply for open positions at the companies at Galvanize. Having a common area as a coworking space allows everyone to co-mingle and build relationships between companies and tech talent.

Mentor and community

What I’ve personally found appealing is that Galvanize has quality mentors. They’re relevant and on the ground doing the work that they’re mentoring you for. Many of these people aren’t circulated in every other program and accelerator. Therefore they have a lot more capacity to work with you.

Furthermore the community is collaborative but also tends to keep to themselves. This is wonderful in being able to get work done but also having the comfort of seeing familiar faces.  As you walk into the front entrance, you’ll notice clipboards with every company working out of the space. It’s a great way to get some visibility for your company as well as familiarize yourself with others.

What’s It Like Working Here

When Galvanize first opened up, they had the unfortunate timing of being in a building under construction. With inconveniences such as internet outages and construction noise, they’re now able to reap the benefits of their sought after location. The space is located within walking distance to Trader Joe’s, Austin Central Library and several brand new restaurants like Flower Child.

Outside of location, some of my favorite aspects of Galvanize is their layout. I love large working spaces. They made a wonderful decision by bringing in glass tables and setting up dry erase markers. It keeps me from wasting paper as I brainstorm and creates usable working space in interesting ways. It’s still one of my favorite work setups to this day! Small details like this is what makes each coworking space special.

Furthermore the space is broken up into several floors. The top two floors is for the data science and web development classes. Each floor has a large conference room and the main 1st floor is often used for events during the week. Whether you’re looking to flesh out your idea by talking to mentors or just looking to get some work done, come check out Galvanize and see if it’s right for you.

No matter what city you live in, there’s always those must have amenities that keep you coming back. Austin prides itself in sourcing from local shops, being health conscious and keeping it weird. Therefore it makes sense that many coworking spaces in this city integrates these aspects into their work areas.

1. Organic and Local Snacks

It’s usually a given that coworking spaces will at least provide wifi and coffee. Austin coworking spaces like Capital Factory and Galvanize take it a step further and offer endless local coffee, coldbrew and beer on tap. Work Well East Austin emphasizes health and promotes it’s own companies’ goodies as well as local, healthy snacks. But what about when you’re starving and you don’t just want a healthy bag of popcorn? Local startup, Alpaca Market is now featured at specific sites around town including Impact Hub Austin (Monroe St.) and Capital Factory. They offer farm fresh foods on the fly.

Podcast Studio

With technology today, you’re able to access so much information within seconds. The podcast industry has blown up making it possible for you to curate exactly what you want to hear as you commute, wash the dishes or spend some time relaxing. For this reason the need for podcast studios grows. You’ll find a few unique podcast studios at places like Duo Works and Work Well East Austin. I wouldn’t doubt that more will pop up within the next year!

Gym/Yoga

Balancing our lives and improving our health is often times a difficult task to juggle with our busy schedules. Thus having a full gym or free yoga classes at your workplace can make all the difference. You’ll find a full gym at Patchwork and an around-the-clock fitness center at WeWork University Park. Pop by Impact Hub (Monroe St.) for free yoga sessions (until Oct. 3rd). If you’re a yoga instructor or wellness provider, you can go to Soma Vida to host your classes. No matter how hectic work gets, you’re sure to rebalance yourself if you’re just steps away from a good work out.

Childcare

This is for those working moms and dads out there who are tired of being stuck at home all day. Although it’s not a common amenity, it’s a game changer for many early families. Often times either the mom or dad chooses to stay at home to provide their new child the best child care but also sacrifice their own personal careers. Therefore having the option to get work done with your child close by opens a lot of opportunities. You can check out The Hive which provides coffee, coworking, child supervision and beer and wine. That sounds like a recipe for success to me!

Dog Friendly

To include everyone in the family, it would only make sense to include dog friendly coworking spaces. Austin is already known as an extremely dog friendly place so you can only guess that several places allow you to work with your pup. Your dog will feel at home when they visit Galvanize, Createscape, WeWork, Impact Hub or East Side Collective. You don’t have to worry about rushing home during your lunch breaks or speeding off after work to take your furry friend out anymore.

 

There’s a lot of factors that play into why a person enjoys a space. For instance, when a person eats at a restaurant, they will value different aspects of their experience. The most common reasons tend to be food quality, price, and ambience that determine if a person enjoys the restaurant. I believe the same can be said for work spaces. This is a list of my top 10 spcaes  in Austin that are my go to when it comes to comfort. This means there’s comfortable seating, access to food/drinks and/or it’s an aesthetically inspiring space.

1. Austin Central Library

I remember walking through the public library in NYC and wondered, “when is Austin going to get a library like this?” Then a couple of years later, the largest public library in Austin is built right in the middle of downtown. The library has dedicated floors for different ages for kids and adults to wander about. Throughout each floor you’ll find different styles of seating set up for you to browse through a book or get some serious work in. They have everything from massive tables with booth styled seating to large lounge style armchairs. If you get too cold or need fresh air, you can pop out onto their rooftop garden and balcony that looks down on Town Lake.

There is a large parking garage at the library but you’re still paying hourly like most downtown spots. The building is pretty all inclusive in a comfortable place to work and also a restaurant, Cookbar & Cafe downstairs. You can get everything from breakfast to craft beers, wine and literary-themed cocktails.

2. Bennu – East MLK

Students and entrepreneurs alike are found late night, huddled together in lounge and computer chairs at Bennu. It’s my go to spot when I know I have a late night and need to get several hours knocked out. There isn’t a single day I’ve gone there that it isn’t jam pack with people studying the night away. The the comfortable ambiance, tons of seating, truly affordable pricing (why do you think lots of students and entrepreneurs can be found here?) and late night foods makes it a no brainer as one of Austin’s top comfortable work spaces!

3. Cherrywood Coffeehouse

Another great spot right by campus is Cherrywood Coffeehouse. I’m a true lover of ambient lighting with slight orange glows of tungsten lamps. You can choose to sit in the long rows of tables or a more private table off to the corner. Both provide large areas for you to sprawl out if you need to brainstorm or map out things over a large surface. Like most loved places in Austin, it’s hard to find a spot during the busy hours. If you try heading in mid morning you’ll likely be able to grab a parking spot and table for yourself. You’ll rarely find me at a spot that doesn’t offer food so you can expect that Cherrywood has an extensive menu you can choose from. Again, I love the affordable pricing that comes with a heaping amount of food.

4. Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden

If you’re looking for inspiration, this is the spot! The coffee shop has a large outdoor garden with a gorgeous pond, hanging lights and chickens out back. You can choose from a variety of food trucks, grab some coffee or their cocktail flights inside for added inspiration. There’s plenty seating with a variety of table set ups to choose from. My favorite spot is inside in the back with the lounge chairs and lamp. Cosmic is hidden on a side street off South Congress and right next to Crux Climbing Center. Unless you know the area, it’s easy to drive by and completely miss this spot!

5. Halcyon – Downtown

An oldie but a goodie. Halcyon has stood the test of time as a long standing coffee house by day and lounge by night in Downtown Austin. There’s worn in couches on one side and tables throughout the rest of the place, lending to a cozy feel. The term Halcyon means “Peaceful, Carefree, Untroubled, Prosperous.” They consider themselves a place “where you can always relax and find your own personal ‘halcyon’.” This is one of my favorite places to visit during the colder months as they’re well known for their table top s’more roasting set. Easy place to hole up on a rainy or cold day (or any other day for that matter)!

6. Impact Hub Austin – Monroe St.

If you’re itching for a true coworking space but don’t care for the cubicle like feel, search no more. Impact Hub in South Austin provides a venue that sparks your imagination. With nature themed inspiration, the open work space welcomes all kinds of entrepreneurs and artists. There’s private offices on the sides and upstairs and the main area is broken into large tables and intimate work nooks for whatever mood you’re in. It’s also known as a great venue for events since it’s such a large area. There are several around town but this was my first visit to Impact Hub and it’s left an impression!

7. Thai Fresh

What started out as a small Thai to-go food shop, transformed into a comfortable cafe and restaurant. Fitting to the health conscious neighborhood off Mary Street, Thai Fresh focuses on local, sustainable and seasonal ingredients. My favorite area is in the cafe area where there is a large communal table. You have access to outlets and can camp out as you chug down on their coconut milk Thai tea or munch on gluten-free baked goods. Although their menu may be a sticker shock, take note that they are a no tipping establishment. I love this concept as I always feel guilty for staking out a spot for hours at a cafe when there is a wait staff.

8. WeWork – Congress

WeWork off Congress in Downtown Austin gets my vote when it comes to coworking spaces with comfortable seating and environment. It is a national chain so you can expect most places to look the same but what distinguishes WeWork is that they go to great measures to capture the community feel at each location. Each time, I’m able to walk in with ease and set up in a corner by the window. There’s something wonderful about being able to gaze outside while working indoors. All the locations I’ve been to have had quite impressive views.

9. Work Well Coworking – East Austin

The East Austin location of Work Well Coworking definitely brings in a feel of luxury with their beautiful decor, great glass walls and stained concrete countertops. A lot of thought was put into each detail of this coworking space. Each working space is strategically placed to where teams can work with ease. They have a massive outdoor area and container buildings for private offices and a podcast studio. When it comes to wanting a beautiful spaces, you have to check out Work Well!

10. Wright’s Brothers Brew & Brew

You’ll find many other entrepreneurs, artists and remote workers taking meetings and cranking away at their work here. It’s where I camped out when I first started my company and it’s where you’ll still find me. The cafe by day and bar by night is almost always jammed pack during the day. I love having large working spaces so you’ll often find me at their bar counter. Service is super easy and chill and when the weather is nice, they’ll roll up their garage door entrance. There’s something about the natural light, easy working space and access to lots of caffeine (or beer if it’s later in the day or just that kind of day) that is conducive to longer deep work sessions.

Sometimes working downtown can feel like an episode right out of Silicon Valley. What do you do if you don’t fit that life? According to a study done by MIT, the average age of entrepreneurs is 42 years old. So often we’re swept away with the image of Mark Zuckerberg building Facebook out of his dorm room that we forget that a lot of people don’t fit that stereotype.

Offices for Grown Ups

One of my favorite things about coworking spaces in North Austin is that it tends to be more of a “get things done” mentality. Duo Works is a welcoming space for all different kinds of people at different stages of their company. Several are bootstrapped companies and are serious about getting work done. When you have a family life and are just looking for an established space, driving downtown can be a process and not nearly as efficient. Therefore, you’ll find a variety of people of experienced people working on their 2^nd career and had tried their hand at in the corporate world.

I was able to get a good amount of deep work in while visiting for the day as everyone is respectful of your space. Although it’s less of a social scene as other spaces like Downtown, a lot of collaboration between groups still happen. They consider themselves more of a coop versus a coworking space because of this.

Duo Work’s slogan is “Never work alone,” resonating to entrepreneurs who have worked remotely for several years. Jessica Merrill-Miller, one of Duo Works’ cofounders explains how she didn’t realize she needed the community until then. It’s a place to help you be better in your business without the formal program or stress.

Mom and Pop Run Like a Corporate Business 

While talking with Jessica I was impressed to learn about all the work that it took to set up Duo Works. It’s in the original building of Tech Ranch, which is still in existence and operational. Duo Works specializes only in coworking and leasing office space.

The idea started when Jessica was speaking at a SXSW event for her HR staffing company, Workology. She met her cofounder Linda, who had gone through the Tech Ranch program and officed out of the location previously. Soon after, Jessica was packing up her things and moved from Oklahoma to start up Duo Works. Her whole family pitched in to clean and paint the space. It really does have a mom and pop feel in how it was set up but they run it like a corporate business.

When they launched Duo Works, they were able to retain a lot of the members who continue to drive the growth in the community. When they transitioned to Duo Works, both Linda and Jessica have been very open and transparent with their community which I believe is why the space continues to prosper.

 

Who Should Go?

Duo works caters to people who are serious about getting things done and being efficient about it. For those who want to drive, there is plenty of parking. The interesting part about Duo Works’ location is that they’re situated in an area where it’s short driving distance that you can also commute by biking. Typically, you only get this option Downtown so it’s a perk for those who still like the close commutes but need the comforts of the suburbs. Jessica explains how there isn’t beer on tap as it isn’t something people care for. They set up the space as the best option to suit the community.

Another great differentiator of Duo Works is that they have great training and meeting spaces. Generally, you’ll find open spaces or glass walled conference rooms. Duo Works’ conference and meeting rooms are more traditional and private and are perfect for company events.

 

Written by Kay Dee and originally published in Austin Startups.

My dream has always been to work from home as a graphic designer, but little did I know, it’s not as great as it sounds. It certainly has its perks but what many people don’t realize is the extent to which you are constantlyalone.

When I worked from home, it was hard to differentiate home from work. It all blended together. It killed my productivity, creativity and I was always distracted by dishes, laundry, naps, cats, etc.

Then, I heard about coworking, but I wasn’t sure why I would pay for a desk when the one at home is just fine. Still, I knew I wasn’t completely satisfied. I decided to try it for a month anyway just to say that I tried. After a few days, I absolutely loved it (more on that later)! Once I was plugged into the space not only did my productivity skyrocket, I kept coming up with ideas of how and what I would do if I had my own cowork. I imagined a comfortable yet professional setting, a dash of creativity, an array of sit-to-stand desks, bouncy chairs, free premium coffee (& beer) and super-fast reliableinternet. I was dreaming about how I could organize events for entrepreneurs, masterminds for freelancers, and… well, my ideas just never stopped. 🙂

So, why did I open MELD Coworking?

Community. Location. Benefits. Amenities. Comfort. All of that! But, why would I strive to create my own space, personally? Because I love being around people. It brings me joy to provide tools and services to other entrepreneurs to flourish together, to create relationships through collaboration. The concept of coworking is just amazing — connecting people who work from home, providing office amenities necessary to thrive, and facilitating support from professional resources.

How & why in Central Austin?

With Austin booming, there’s not a lot of available options. Luckily, I found a few properties that sounded promising. As it happened, the very first property I visited is now MELD! At the time, it looked nothing like it does now. I mean, nothing. The house that is now the home to MELD was built residentially in the 1920s, and it was literally falling apart because it was poorly maintained. Despite its outward appearance, I just knew it had amazing potential for the space I dreamed of! It took 1 year and 4 months of renovation and remodeling to officially open as the coworking space you see today. It wasn’t always easy but that’s another story…

Selfishly, I wanted to co-work in Central Austin and to enjoy the convenience of walking to restaurants, bars, and retail shops. Being focused on community not only within our walls but in the neighborhood too, I talked with many local folks and discovered they were highly supportive of the concept too. It all came together. How amazing would it be to work from a place like home, take a lunch break with friends and casually stroll to check out the new eatery next door? Bonus: it has parking too? Done!

What does MELD look like now?

MELD is so Austin! It keeps as much of the original layout as possible and features a variety of rooms and nooks to work from. Some areas are bright with numerous windows, some are more dimly lit, in some you can listen to music and chit chat, other areas are completely quiet (with a hint of white noise) to allow for concentration. We use some rooms for events that are organized at least once a week, others for business meetings, and a few private booths for phone calls. You can choose whatever spot suits you for the day, then change it up the very next day!

The future of MELD

We’re continuing to grow our fantastic community with the plan to feature an expanding variety of entrepreneurs and freelancers who can collaborate, work, and grow together. Example: Are you a coding genius but need a little design help for your new website? Odds are there’s someone across the room from you who would be more than willing to help you out. And vice versa. The people around us offer fresh, outside opinions, ideas and assistance that we might not find in our company’s office, as well as have the potential to turn into future clients or partners. There is also the power of positive reviews. The people around us are aware of our work ethic, quality of work we produce, and could potentially need a service of ours. The close-knit relationships that are bound to form will likely lead to some of our best reviews, references and word-of-mouth marketing.

Those are the exact words that Liz uttered when she proposed that she would quit her job to start Link, one of Austin’s first coworking spaces. As entrepreneurs, we’ve all heard it before. The naysayers, disbelievers, pessimists; they’re the fuel that burns a fire in our belly and pushes us to prove them wrong. And that’s exactly what Liz did. She quit her cushy, corporate job and set out to create one of the first few coworking spaces in Austin.

I met Liz while she was moderating a Girls Get Sh!t Done panel. She spoke candidly of enjoying all aspects of negotiations and I could tell she meant every word of it. Her strong presence and no bullshit attitude demands respect, but what drew me most to her was her entrepreneur story that we all are familiar with. She set out to solve a problem that she saw and dealt with on a daily basis. Progress in technology allows us to work anywhere but common, public spaces had not kept up. Rather than pile into cafes, restaurants and book shops with their many distractions, Liz creates a space meant for work and productivity. She states, “it doesn’t matter what you do, it matters what you need.”

The Grown Up Working Space

 

As we sit talking at a community desk in the middle of Link, Liz jokes about how she takes less offense now about Link being coined as “the grown up working space.” The title fits as the very first thing I noticed when I walked in was that there were people of all different ages, gender and professions. Some spaces concentrate on different communities whether it be tech, arts, or life stages (whether that be the company or person). Link concentrates on efficiency and people with a “get shit done” attitude.

Coworking Made For Productivity

When you walk through the front door, the wisping of the white noise machine greets you. It’s quiet enough to concentrate without the eerily ringing of silence. The whole wall of Link is lined with tall windows opening up to a sprawling green area with mature trees and a nature pond. It’s an open floor plan with sections thoughtfully broken up with different seating and atmosphere. I chose to sit midway down at a large table with head lamps, multiple outlets and ergonomic chairs. I love being able to work on my own without distraction but still be amongst people. On the other far end I see a group of people chatting with light music and a candle in the background. Whether you’re wanting to isolate yourself or chat with others, it’s simple enough to find the right fit all within one open space.

Liz started out like most entrepreneurs with an idea. Sometimes it’s hard to see a founder’s story and relate, as their accomplishments overshadow the hard work involved. She is now leading the largest coworking conference in the world (https://gcuc.co/) and expanded Link into over 25,000 sq ft of coworking space. Take comfort in knowing that everything offered, whether in space or in resources, is thoughtfully planned out from someone who just had an idea and wanted a better solution.

Who Should Join?

Hidden in the Village shopping center off Anderson Lane, Link has the beautiful park-like feel but is just a quick hop over to restaurants and shops. It’s an easy option for people looking for something close by who are in the North Austin area and offers a range of spaces for those who just want a space during work hours, 24/7 access or office space for their team. People often say that every coworking space is different so don’t just try one and strike coworking off your list of what’s for you.

 

Some people work at a place because it’s affordable, others because of the community. Then there are those who look for inspiration amongst their surroundings. East Side Collective is a beautiful warehouse space on East Cesar Chavez that was started by three designers/architects. Jared, Tim and Javier have all shared spaces with each other in the past but always had the space  taken from them in the end. Therefore, they were adamant on finding a warehouse space in Austin for their teams. In their search, they came across an old Pepsi factory. This was 5 years ago when East Austin wasn’t as developed as it is today. They knew that building a concrete warehouse would be costly and too large of a project to take on.  So in 2015, East Side Collective was born.

Creative Hotspot

Every creative has their go to place when they need inspiration. Whether it be a beautiful library in Porto that inspired JK Rowling for Harry Potter or the bustle of Venice Beach for Scott Neustadter that inspired 500 Days of Summers. We all know the frustration of creative block. It can be discouraging and time consuming to wrack at our brains but yet be unproductive. That’s why places like East Side Collective is so essential to Austin’s ecosystem of coworking spaces.

 

The warehouse turned coworking space has a minimalist yet grand feel.  Upon walking in, I quickly noticed the bright white walls, tall ceilings and open floor plan in the two story, loft style office. As you’ll notice in the photos and immediately upon approaching the building, the full front of the office is solid glass; inviting in natural light. How the office is designed, there isn’t too much need for interior lights. The front “lobby” of the space is lined with bookshelves of magazines and books relevant to all things design. You can chill up front and bask in the natural light or climb to the top loft and hole up to get some work done.

Growing East Austin

The building is across the way from Atmosphere Coworking. There’s a friendly community that promotes collaboration amongst the two spaces which I’m always a fan of. East Side Collective is situated in the Holly neighborhood. The area “is an up and coming neighborhood whose residents are trying to dispel the image of east Austin as being rundown and crime-infested” as the Austin Texas Insider explains.  As the city continues to grow, it makes sense that businesses are venturing East of downtown where property costs are lower. East Austin Collective is a nice addition to the area. It’s a beautiful space but yet not intrusive to it’s quickly gentrifying neighborhood.

 

Who Should Join?

Majority of East Austin Collective’s community consists of designers and architects who concentrate more on the structural side of design. Although you can’t pinpoint it exactly, you can immediately tell there’s a difference in environment. Rather than people in hoodies chugging coffee, there’s a calm air with an openness to creativity. Whether you’re looking for a permanent place to bring your team or just a day escape to find that inner creativity, take a day out of your week to try it out. You won’t regret it!