The former headquarters of MotoRefi, an Arlington-based auto loan refinance startup, could fit a maximum of 25 people. And 25 people were in it.
So in June, the company moved into spacious new digs at 1010 N. Glebe Road.
MotoRefi CEO Kevin Bennett said the Ballston neighborhood worked well for his fast-growing team, especially those looking to avoid the congestion of D.C. proper. CoveHQ, part of D.C.-based coworking company Cove, built out the office and designed the space.
Its desk clusters and cubicles are separated throughout the office by function, with loan processors in one place and engineers in another, though not far enough away that they can't collaborate. Bennett calls it the "perfect balance of open and closed spaces."
The office also features two soundproofed phone booths that allow for noise-free and eavesdrop-free calls, or just a quiet moment alone. T-shirts – each unique to MotoRefi's semiannual hackathons – are framed and hung around its walls.
"We have all the things folks expect, and people expect great culture at startups," he said. "It's a great asset to hire people."
Cove hosts weekly and monthly events in a shared space – Cove Commons – on the same floor as MotoRefi, which it's allowed to use and reserve for a set amount of hours each month.
"They basically handle events and also the day-to-day services like cleaning," Bennett said. "So there's no need for a separate office manager."
The CoveHQ arrangement also offers growth flexibility for MotoRefi, which doubled in size this year to 55 employees. With the Commons space, the ability to change its office layout and access to other Cove locations, Bennett said he doesn't have to stress every year about accommodating a larger headcount.
