While Covid-19 has slowed progress, Utah-based coworking company Kiln is preparing to open its first out-of-state expansion in Boulder this fall.
The company, which was founded in Salt Lake City in 2017, has had its eyes on a Boulder expansion for the last year and a half. Now, construction at the site is approaching completion and Kiln plans to open the Pearl Street coworking space in September.
The 22,000 square foot space is located at the corner of 21st and Pearl in Boulder and combines seven retail structures to create the coworking hub.
While Covid-19 caused a month delay for Kiln in preparing the space, Head of Sales and Marketing Brighton Youd told Colorado Inno that the company is preparing for a Sept. 1 opening date.
He said that Boulder was the perfect spot for Kiln to grow, as it expands outside of Utah where it has two location, for the first time. With a thriving tech ecosystem and an outdoor-oriented community, Boulder mirrored Kiln's other communities.
"We’re really targeting the Mountain West and West Coast for our expansion," he said. "The Boulder community in particular is very tech heavy and historically we try to support the tech community."
While it offers flexible work solutions like most coworking companies, Kiln prides itself on enabling both personal and professional growth. In addition to supporting professional growth, Kiln offers a series of amenities targeted at personal growth, from mindfulness programs to yoga classes.
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Kiln offers a variety of membership options, from private offices for companies up to 50 employees, to flexible shared desk rentals starting at $345 per month. Kiln’s first two locations in Salt Lake City and Lehi, Utah currently serve more than 250 companies and 1000 professionals.
As Covid-19 hit, Youd said Kiln saw direct impacts to its cash flow as it worked with members to determine the best way forward. Now, the company is starting to see growth back to pre-Covid levels, adding 50 new members in the last month at its Lehi location.
As the company prepares to open its Boulder location, Youd said this pandemic has shown that flexible coworking spaces may make more sense than traditional offices for area tech companies.
"The previous way of doing office space, and most of real estate, is going to evolve and adapt," he said.
