There’s no doubt that COVID-19 has changed the physical layout of many workspaces. And with some companies reconsidering their need for large offices or permanently moving to work from wherever models, it could have a long-lasting impact on what the workplace looks like.
Dallas-based coworking company is betting on an increased use of hybrid working models – flexible crosses between offices and remote work – and is rolling out a new concept called WorkTanks to capture the market.
“We believe that it is crucial to not just work, but to work your best, and that where you work really makes a difference,” said WorkSuites CEO Flip Howard.
Although a planned launch in June was put on hold to make pandemic safety changes, WorkSuites is launching the first WorkTank concept near Mockingbird Station in Dallas.
The first change one might notice entering a WorkTank is that unlike traditional WorkSuites spaces, it's located on the ground level. And unlike open desks and dedicated spaces that one finds in most coworking spaces, WorkTank focuses on part-time use of private offices, as well as one-person-per-day desk rentals. And with the current weather, an added bonus is it also features outdoor working space.
And though the setup has added safety features — like hand sanitizer stations, self-cleaning door handles and Plexiglas dividers — WorkTanks provides some of the coworking staples many expect, such as phone booths, a coffee bar and office equipment. The Mockingbird Station digs also have a podcast studio for rental.
“We never saw any demand for hybrid or part-time offices before COVID, but now it is roughly a third of our inquiries,” Howard said.
The move is one of a number WorkSuites has been making during the pandemic. The company’s newest locations have been built to focus on more private office spaces, rather than the larger common areas many coworking spaces are centered around. In addition, WorkSuites has rolled out a concept called Zoom Rooms, where students of WorkSuites members can get support for online learning or just have a space to hang out in a monitored environment.
Other coworking companies in the region have also made pandemic pivots. In March, Dallas-based coworking company Common Desk began offering WFH memberships, which the company said in addition to the benefits of business connections, the WFH membership gives members a human connection, including weekly digital happy hours.
And while some companies like Venture X and WorkSuites have been expanding in the North Texas region and adapting to the changes in office space, others have seen more negative consequences. In June, Seattle-based co-working firm The Riveter permanently closed its coworking doors across the country, including its Dallas location.
“Our motto is, ‘Work is good, where you do it matters.’ For some people it is about focus, for others it’s about inspiring creativity, for others it’s about safe social interaction,” Howard said. “Some people live too far from a corporate office and some people have home situations that are not conducive to productivity. Some simply need changes of scenery and like to work from different places on different days.”
Take a look inside the new WorkTank concept in the gallery below.
