Page 23 - Harnett Life Spring 2021

Cedeno. He developed the concept six or seven years ago, in spots. Terms choices are by the day, week, month and even
Garcia explained, as an employee benefit. The first property year. The area can be for one person, a team of people or an
in Durham offered REALTORS® and agents a place to relax, entire business looking for an alternative to the conventional
meet up, socialize and work remotely. From that early suc- office building, or as of late, the home workplace.
cess, the company realized the potential to create a networking
environment for its agents. The concept then expanded to the Coworking Insights analysts point out that smaller businesses,
public-at-large. startups and independent professionals often find that cowork-
ing provides affordable office options. The shared supplies and
While The Chill Place is designed for professions that go hand savings in overhead can be a price point consideration. Using
in hand with real estate, giving them an easy way to find one market trend analysis for 2021, the online resource group con-
another, connect and do business together, coworking is a good cluded other positive coworking trends.
option for any and everyone — at least for those with the flex-
ibility to work away from the office, such as independent con- ● Demand is rising among enterprises for low-risk, scal-
tractors, entrepreneurs and professionals who travel or cover a able flex workspace.
region for their work. The Chill Place has a sampling of them ● With corporates turning to coworking, landlords see
all, said Garcia. new investment opportunities.
● Expansion in Grade A vacancies and predominantly
What is coworking anyway? Coworking is short for collab- residential markets will continue.
orative working. According to the online resource Coworking ● After facing a drop in 2020, occupancy rates will sta-
Insights, it is an emerging style of working in an innovative en- bilize and gradually increase.
vironment, usually a shared workspace, that is more flexible in ● Operators will prioritize wellness offerings to meet the
its approach than traditional office environments. Coworking demand among professionals for safe, health-first work envi-
offers sharing of equipment, resources, ideas and experiences ronments.
among professionals. Thousands of these shared office spac- ● Operators will prioritize wellness offerings to meet the
es, known as coworking spaces, operating worldwide. While demand among professionals for safe, health-first work envi-
working independently or remotely from their home office, ronments.
co-workers find opportunities for socializing and networking ● Open-style office layouts will become increasingly
among like-minded individuals. outmoded while more private, enclosed offices with adequate
space and touch-free fixtures are prioritized.
The coworking trend has seen an uptick during the pandemic,
Garcia said. “Many companies are operating virtually, but not ● More hospitality brands such as leading hotel brands
successfully. People are looking for a place to go to work, and will look to coworking for new partnerships and hotel-based
many companies provide stipends for individuals to rent a co- workspaces.
working space.”
These trends are coming to pass, particularly for many of to-
Garcia’s observations are confirmed by Coworking Insights, day’s professionals in real estate and other careers, Garcia said,
the leading source for data, advice, and trends in the flexible who are not as pigeonholed anymore and can work from any-
office industry. The online resource notes that coworking, if where they want.
feasible, is valuable all the time, not just during the COVID
crisis. “People have more flexibility today, but they still need a space
where they can focus and separate home and work. Coworking
Recent surveys and research suggest people are more produc- offers this. It is on the rise and super popular. Also, data have
tive and creative when working from a coworking space. With shown that a coworking space can help a town grow by attract-
reduced distractions, a collective mindset and attractive ame- ing new homebuyers. A good example of this is the town of
nities contributing to a collaborative workspace, workers can Wendell Falls. Coworking spaces are a great way to keep the
typically perform better and enjoy their work more in a co- small-town feel but offer bigger city amenities.”
working environment than other traditional arrangements.
Amenities such as high-speed internet, printers, meeting and The Chill Place is located in a downtown Dunn’s historic com-
conference rooms, community areas, televisions, screens for mercial building with parking options, high visibility, a vintage,
PowerPoint presentations, coffee, drinks and snacks, refrigera- older building atmosphere complete with original brick walls
tors, comfortable and varied seating are the norm in coworking and high ceilings. A corner building, the site is a short distance
spaces. Of these offerings, The Chill Place does not disappoint. from many desirable spots in the eclectic, walkable downtown.
Additionally, the company plans events and socials for mem- The Chill Place owners have completed some renovations and
bers and features member videos on social media. The use of interior decorating to create a cool, welcoming place to work
space for members to host events is also available, Garcia said. and relax. Find out more at https://www.thechillplace.com/ or
Those who rent space at The Chill Place become members. connect with the new Harnett County locale on Facebook @
Space, priced by the square foot, is leased and varies from pri- the chill place-dunn.
vate business incubators and micro spaces to individuals’ drop-

Harnett Life ~ Spring 2021 Page 23