The history of labor shows that technology does not usually drive social change. On the contrary, social change is typically driven by decisions we make about how to organize our world. Only later does technology swoop in, accelerating and consolidating those changes.
While most coworking spaces are designed with millennial tech workers in mind, ATLAS Workbase in Seattle appeals to individuals who are looking for spaces to conduct business. Inspired by high-end executive airport lounges, ATLAS boasts concierge services, pay-for-usage plans, and an array of spaces with attention to acoustics, ergonomics, and choice. The non-member lounge area also doubles as a showroom for Steelcase. Through partnerships like FedEx Office and Konvene Coffee, ATLAS offers members on-site amenities, while bringing these businesses to the neighborhood. “The best cowork spaces go beyond their walls,” says Gensler’s Susana Covarrubias. “ATLAS brings the Seattle community into their space.”
Community building is an integral part of the business model for coworking operator MakeOffices, which enlisted Gensler to help elevate its budget savvy design to sell its spaces. Each location has a shared social hub with its own aesthetic that allows MakeOffices to host community events within its spaces. “The hub space became the attractor, with a personality that connects to the neighborhood,” says Gensler’s John McKinney. For example, DC’s Glover Park location hired a local muralist to capture Georgetown’s cityscape and reflect on the adjacent US Master Clock and Naval Observatory.
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(via Rob Pritchard on Twitter)
The concept for the Good Night Lamp was created circa 2012.