Columbus is finally joining the hip cities that have coworking spaces. We’re not only getting one coworking space. We’re getting three.
But the subject of this post is sandbox, which is scheduled to open very soon at 853 Pearl Alley in the Short North. Oh, and by the way, sandbox is WordCamp Columbus’ first Platinum Sponsor. w00t!
So what is coworking and why is it a big deal.
Independent professionals and remote employees, while enjoying relative freedom of working without a boss hovering over them, can feel isolated with only their pet dog for company. Coworking solves the isolation. Coworking facilities, such as sandbox, facilitates the social gathering of like minded people who are still working independently, but share values and are interested in the opportunities that can happen from working with other talented people in the same space.
According to a 2007 (that is 2-0-0-7!) Business Week article:
Over the past few years, co-working facilities-both grassroots, co-op-like versions and for-profit models-have started popping up across the country and the world, from Seattle to Copenhagen. A co-working wiki hosts pages for dozens of other cities with co-working initiatives in progress. And while the concept of shared office space is nothing new to entrepreneurs, an increasing number of them are signing on and finding that the community-building and networking benefits outweigh even the virtues of a shared fax machine.
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“When we talk to small-business people about their personal businesses, the biggest complaint we hear is about loneliness and the lack of social networks,” [Steve] King says (see BusinessWeek.com 3/22/00, “Battling Isolation When Working at Home“). Although “virtual offices” can fulfill the physical needs of many free agents by providing a mailing address, phone services, and meeting rooms as needed, co-working facilities help fill the social needs people have as well-either informally, by simply bringing together a group of people with similar interests, or formally, through networking events, holiday parties, and even softball leagues.
Not to be a downer on the economy, but I can see professionals chucking the corporate lifestyle for one of freedom and hopefully greener pastures for them in the long run. But these folks will still need the energy and vibe that an office can provide. And thus steps in sandbox. Sandbox’s large, bright open spaces located at 853 Pearl Alley in the Short North have been carefully designed to inspire creativity and camaraderie. Dedicated workspaces, conference facilities, full kitchen even laundry facilities are just the few of the features at Sandbox Short North.
Check sandbox out. And thank them for sponsoring WordCamp Columbus.
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