Why We’re Betting on Coworking

October 13, 2020

From the Desk of the COO

As we continue to navigate this pandemic, it has become unmistakably clear that we need to adapt and evolve. Professionally speaking, that means we have to do everything in our power to ensure the physical and mental health of our customers and staff. It also means that we have to get creative in how we approach workplace safety, standards, and scheduling.

A few weeks back I wrote about the The Future of Offices, outlining some of my thoughts on how office space will be utilized both during and after this health crisis. A point that kept coming up was that of flexibility. While I do very much recognize that incorporating work from home days, satellite offices, and other remote working options is very important, particularly with short-term safety in mind, I also strongly believe that the physical workplace is crucial to collaboration, execution, and long-term mental health.

With that in mind, we went to work trying to figure out the very best way to help bring safe, innovative in-person working options not only to our own company, but to other businesses in the community. After much discussion and reflection, we kept coming back to the idea of coworking. Giving people spaces to conduct their business that are already set up with all the bells and whistles of a traditional office all for a straightforward, manageable price is a very appealing offer.

Companies looking to scale down their offices can utilize coworking spaces for remote work without compromising on things like high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and quiet, distraction-free environments that help boost productivity. This also proves helpful to professionals on both sides of the gig economy. Freelancers as well as the businesses working with them can utilize flexible coworking spaces as a shared, collaborative atmosphere to work on projects together.

So, having said all that, I’m extremely excited to be welcoming Launch Workplaces, a community-driven coworking concept, to two of our properties here in Northeast Ohio. Crocker Park in Westlake and Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere will both be opening the doors to Launch Workplaces‘ safe, innovative, and flexible offerings starting in 2021. These new coworking spaces will be invaluable as we continue to adapt to the new professional landscape in the interim while also affording us the flexibility to evolve for the future.

 

Sincerely,
Ezra Stark, Chief Operating Officer