As Pilsen-based tech hub Blue1647 rapidly grew their programs and resources over the last four years, things started to get a little cramped at their 1647 S. Blue Island Ave space. Founder Emile Cambry remembers coworking members conducting business meetings just feet away from kids jumping around on beanbag chairs after a coding camp.
That certainly won't be a problem at their new headquarters, which now takes up 250,000-square-feet of space over four floors at Lacuna Artists Lofts in Pilsen.
This week Blue1647 unveiled Blue Lacuna, the new headquarters for all things Blue in Chicago. Blue1647, which focuses on underserved communities in tech and startups, has only built out "phase one" said Cambry, which is about a floor-and-a-half of space. They'll start build out on phase two later this year he said, and the design and purpose of the expanded space will be based on community feedback.
But "phase one" is already a major upgrade from their first space, Cambry said. A second-floor space features four classrooms and six conference rooms, plus over a dozen private workspaces and various spaces for coworking. There will also be a Google Innovation Center, a room designed with Google's colorful branding and playful office touches, as part of a $500,000 grant that Blue1647 recently received from Google.org. The Remix Project, an arts and entrepreneurship nonprofit, also takes up a corner. The first floor has a lounge with couches, televisions, and a golf simulator, just across the hallway from a newly-opened cafe.
Two floors of space and separated rooms allow for simultaneous events, classes and coworking. That means additional revenue streams, Cambry noted, which will be key for keeping costs accessible (their coworking memberships start at $25 per month).
"We just wanted flexibility in the space," he said.
Blue1647's various tech and entrepreneurship programs, accelerators and workshops will take place at Blue Lacuna, starting next month. It will also host Blue1647's expanding workforce development efforts, such as their new partnership with data analytics startup Uptake, who will provide data science training and workshops.
"We need companies that will physically work with you to make it happen and not just give me another award and say 'We support diversity and inclusion,'" he said. "Somebody's got to hire somebody at the end of the day. Until that happens on a regular basis, that's where the energy needs to go."
The decor combines Lacuna Artist Loft's signature artistic details--wall-sized murals and neon signs--with funky Blue1647 touches, such as reclaimed accordion handles on sliding conference room doors, a CTA door repurposed as a desk top, a coworking space outfitted with massive bean bag chairs, and and Blue logos carved by CNC machines.
Take a look inside Blue Lacuna:
