Loosecubes, Friday, February 3, 2012

This is our first company office with co-working spots, versus a pure co-working space.  Quite a different dynamic.  The co-workers are put in an area to the side, while the company works in the main space.  3 out of the 5 co-working desks are used all of te time, so there’s really only 2 guest spots.  On Feb 3, we were the guests.

Pros:

• Monitors available at the co-working spots
• Nicer chairs (though not enough. one of us almost had to work on a stool
• There’s a tent for a conference room!
• Bright space
• Bike parking
• Fast internet (Download 41.91, upload 54.25 pr speakeasy.net, what!)
• Nice views, we’re on a high floor so you can see over the buildings
• Not as close to the bridge (a huge concern in DUMBO because the subway is loud)
• It’s only $5 a day.  Dude!
• Decent bars nearby

Minuses

• Because it’s a company, they aren’t as welcoming and inclusive in the co-working experience.  They set us up pleasantly enough, but it’s not the same energy of “omg, yes, be part of our community please!”  like other places. It’s also not the point to the space either.  Although, since they’re focused on co-working for their business, we were surprised at the insularity.
• Sitting with a company can be loud.  They have a lot of meetings.
• Not terribly quiet, any confidential conversations can be heard by everyone
• Not too many cheap lunch options

Highlights:

• The tent.  It’s cool.
• Having a documentary film maker come in and ask us if we wanted to talk about butts.  yes, like the one you are sitting on.  Apparently they’re doing some documentary about anal sex or something.  We all had a good laugh about that.  Definitely office wide bonding moment.

This is a great space to try for a day but not necessarily to settle into for good.  There are 3 folks who work here on an on-going basis, but they pretty much keep to themselves.  The split between office and co-workers is clear.

It is however a great space to overhear others talking about the concept of co-working.  Very cool on that!  We had hoped for more of that though.  They really sounded like any other tech startup talking about resumes and wireframes.