Yesterday, we covered a few of the coolest offices in Cincinnati. Today, we take a closer look at CincyTech's new space in the University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub. (which was featured briefly in yesterday's piece).
Peg Rusconi, director of communications at the seed fund, told Cincy Inno in her own words what working in its new space is like. She also highlighted some of the space's unique amenities and features. Enjoy!
Rusconi: One thing that's immediately noticeable in the new space is the amount of natural light, from the east-facing windows lining one wall of the suite and the floor to ceiling glass that makes up the north wall, overlooking the 1819 Innovation Hub's signature atrium. The configuration of the space puts our entire team on one floor in a single space for the first time in a few years. It's convenient for for a team like ours, which is agile, collaborative and collegial. And speaking of agility, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the signature staircase that ascends through the atrium. The 75-step climb to the fourth floor is a nice workout.
Our office has an open feel, but we have access to other types of space, such as huddle rooms and small meeting rooms on the third and fourth floors that are useful if you need to have a conference call, a private phone call or a quieter environment to focus. There's some well-furnished common space which allows a lot of opportunity to get to know our neighbors in the 1819 Hub. We're across the hall from the UC Office of Innovation, the UC Venture Lab pre-accelerator is two flights down.
Companies including Kroger and Procter & Gamble have corporate innovation spaces in the building, and there's a massive maker space on the ground floor. We're exploring different ways to engage with students and faculty and to tap into what the university has to offer.
We're excited about some art we've commissioned from students at UC's acclaimed College of DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art and Planning). We put out a call for submissions on five different themes related to science and technology, and received amazing presentations, from which we chose three. They'll install the pieces toward the end of the summer.
Something that's interesting about being an early tenant in the 1819 Hub is being in a neighborhood that is only beginning to develop. We look out over a vacant lot that will be transformed over the coming years into the UC Digital Futures Building and surrounding development. It's a feeling that aligns with our work as a seed investors — we get involved early when we see a promising glimpse of the future.
