FutureSpace: 7 Characteristics of Great Co-Working Spaces

It’s estimated that more than 1 million people now work in 14 thousand co-working spaces around the globe and the trend is becoming increasingly popular.

Linda Trim, Director at FutureSpace, a co-working joint venture between Investec Property and workplace specialists Giant Leap with two offices in Sandton, said: “The co-working phenomenon is driven by a combination of the freedom the Internet affords workers and full offices facilities at a much lower cost than traditional space.”

But what makes a winning co-working space?

Price

Most companies don’t need an entire building or even the whole floor. “Co-working is a chance to reduce operational costs by finding a co-working place that offers all the facilities of an office for much less than an office.” In South Africa, co-working offices cost 30 to 50% less than traditional offices.

Location

A very important decision driver is location. You don’t want to spend too much time commuting, while it’s also good to have a position close to potential clients and major business hubs. Being close to shops is also useful.

Atmosphere

You can’t fully understand the nature of a coworking space until you spend some time there, but you can get a feel of the ambience immediately. Said Trim:”Try to choose a place where you and your colleagues can feel at home.” Most people feel more relaxed in coworking spaces due to the general atmosphere of well-being and stress-free environment.

Community

A great atmosphere often comes as the result of a coherent community. Some of the best co-working places attract likeminded people that establish good relationships. Many co-working spaces hold learning and social events which helps build a sense of community.

All the equipment

A co-working space must have every piece of equipment you need in everyday work such as printers and copy machines. Of course, stable and high-speed Internet connection is mandatory, as well as landline telephones.

Conference rooms

Most of the time, clients and business associates won’t mind having a meeting at co-working places. However, sometimes it is necessary to provide them with a more peaceful room and hold an appointment without external disturbances. Said Trim: “For this reason, a good co-working space must have several conference rooms. They are also useful for established companies that want to hold offsite meetings.”

Food and coffee station

Everyone needs a break in the workplace. “A thoughtful co-working space should offer not only great coffee and food but also a to relaxing place to really enjoy the pause and forget about professional duties for a while,” said Trim.