No matter your work style, one thing remains true: location, location, location. Alternately: Where you plug in every day matters.
In Rhode Island, companies and coworking spots across the state have recognized this, developing offices with cool amenities, beautiful spaces and quiet corners for entrepreneurs and workers of all stripes. At Rhode Island Inno, we've covered some of these spots — from Hasbro to area coworking giant Sprout. You can read some of those profiles here and here.
And today, we're taking a look at some more reader-sourced entities that we've never covered before. Try to temper your — well, envy — as we take a digital tour of each.
New England Medical Innovation Center
Located in Providence's innovation district within the previous Providence Phoenix space, The New England Medical Innovation Center's coworking spot boasts 2,500 square feet that currently serves 20 members. It includes a central lounge area (pictured above), private offices, meeting rooms and a kitchen. "[It's] an open and energetic layout that excites our coworkers and incites teamwork and productivity," a representative for NEMIC told us.
CoLab
Coworkers of Cranston rejoice: renowned photographer Heidi Hope's former studio is now a 2,800-sq.-ft. space for freelancers, founders and workers of all types to meet and create. Dubbed CoLab, the location currently has 50 members utilizing its dedicated offices, an event space with a waterfront view, snacks and drinks, and more. A new startup library is also in development.
The "bright and airy" space was "especially tailored for people looking to get out of their house and have a beautiful inspiring environment that also provides the comfort of working in the presence of others within a collaborative space," CoLab told us. "Members aren’t just gaining entrance to the physical space when they join. They are gaining entrance into a community, as well as tapping into a wellspring of resources to help them improve themselves and their business. The open layout and light atmosphere reflects this vision, with optional privacy with the conference room."
What Cheer Writers Club
Need a podcasting studio? A quiet place to write your opus? What Cheer Writer's Club is the place for you. The Providence-based space is 2,700 square feet of resources and cozy corners to get stuff done. It includes a library, both sit and stand desks and a sound-proofed phone room. Users can also expect fresh flowers and coffee.
Developed by architect Charlotte Handy of Providence, the space also uses art in a way to inspire its members. Its library contains around 1,000 books penned by local writers and pieces on the wall — as well as a large mural of Providence — were created by area artists.
"Our community [is] people who work quietly alone and are often introverts," the club told Rhode Island Inno. "So, the office has lots of private spots, and we use white noise machines, sound dampening ceiling tiles and insulation to keep it quiet. We also keep the lights low, so you feel safe and warm in a way you don't in most offices. Lastly, even the bathrooms have typewriter wallpaper to inspire people to write."
Fuzion
The designers of Pawtucket's sprawling Fuzion Design office had one goal in mind: to "create an environment that people look forward to going to," representatives told Rhody Inno. "We work and play hard and have a cool place to do it."
The space is within a 1890-built renovated mill, with conference tables built from the building's original exterior doors saved from destruction during renovation.
In addition to the history, the space boasts a courtyard with a grill. There's even a 16 foot bar, "perfect for informal meetings, lunch and ruminating on Thirsty Thursdays."
The warm space has also fostered an environment of fun and closeness, "where employees stay late into the night to put 2,000 piece puzzles together," the Fuzion team added. "It's rare to have a new visitor that does not compliment us on what a beautiful studio we have, and I think the employees are proud to work here because of it."
Editor's Note: Want your office featured in a forthcoming Office Envy? Drop us a line.
