Community and collaboration : new shared workplaces for evolving work practices

Abstract

The 'collaborative community workplace' is a growing type of shared, flexible workplace that has emerged in recent years in response to a growing need for productive workspaces for mobile, distributed, and independent workers and small businesses. The way work is accomplished is transforming as the economy of the United States continues to shift toward knowledge work. As corporate structures have been streamlined and an increasing amount of work outsourced, the mobile and independent workforce has grown. This trend has been complemented by a shift in work environments, which aim to better serve the needs of modern workers. Although telecommuting from home offices and 'telework' centers appeared in the 1980s, it was the wireless Internetconnected laptop and cellular telephone that truly enabled work to be accomplished anywhere, from the daily train commute to the local coffee shop. New shared workplace typologies are broadening the spectrum of alternative workplaces and offer footloose workers a professional home base and network. Collaborative community workplaces fall into several typologies that embody unique approaches. They typically emphasize community and collaboration among independent workers and small firms, and each offers a different package of physical space, location, amenities, programming, and specialized services and equipment. As a result, these workplaces can provide a host of benefits, including enhanced productivity, efficiencies of scale, networking opportunities, social identity, and face-to-face interaction. Using data gathered through 25 site visits and over 40 interviews with space operators and tenants in three U.S. cities, this thesis characterizes these workplaces and identifies the needs they fulfill. It also develops a set of guidelines for future shared workplaces, exploring the creation of a larger, urban-scale shared workplace district, or cluster.