Shifting Spaces: Covid Meets Coworking

By Wendy Lyons Sunshine

October, 2020 – During the early months of 2020, a new era of office life dawned. 

Executives and employees began hunkering down at home, rigging out laptops in cozy spots, and converting dining rooms into Zoom studios. This tidal wave of work-from-home provoked employers into rethinking office space needs. Companies began right-sizing. Reconfiguring. Downsizing.

The coworking industry, which provides turnkey access to communal office spaces, has also felt the squeeze. I spoke to three Sarasota area cowork executives to ask how they’re weathering the Covid-19 storm.

Safety

“Our model is a shared workspace,” says Tom Frascone, a founder of BOLD Cowork on Fruitville Road. “And right now, we’re in a time when people don’t want to share workspace.”

Frascone saw occupancy drop by about half in March. To help clients feel more comfortable, his venue now requires face masks in all common areas and provides hand sanitizer at entrances, elevators, and workstations. Seating capacity has been reduced and physical dividers were installed. 

For added protection, Frascone loosened access to private, enclosed office spaces and installed higher MERV rated air filters in the building’s HVAC systems. Common areas such as hallways, elevators, kitchens, worktables, and bathrooms get more frequent deep cleaning.

Creativity

Coworking venues typically feature seating and desk choices, high-speed online connectivity, conference rooms, and refreshment areas. Some sites encourage networking between members and provide professional development events. 

In the past, BOLD Cowork has hosted angel investors for Shark Tank style pitches. This year they launched a “community empowerment program” that offers coworking accommodations on a scholarship basis to qualified, budding entrepreneurs.

We’ve been able to attract people who aren’t just looking for a workspace solution, but people who are looking for a home base.

Tom Frascone, BOLD

“What really sets us apart,” says Frascone, “is we also have this apartment building now. And the two buildings are literally next door.” He and his family became BOLD Lofts’ first tenants at the beginning of the year and he loves the convenience of walking next door to his office. Lofts residents get a free cowork membership; coworking customers can pay an add-on fee to use the pool and gym next door. “We’ve been able to attract people who aren’t just looking for a workspace solution, but people who are looking for a home base,” he says. 

Boutique-sized Cowork LWR in downtown Lakewood Ranch has its own unique offering: a private and quiet studio complete with professional microphones and audio mixers, making it easy to conduct podcasts, webinars, and video trainings. “We’ve had it since opening in 2016. And we’re proud of it, because we’ve had big name podcasts come through here and record sessions,” says CEO Keith Pandeloglou. One member’s podcast was ultimately acquired by Spotify. Another show wound up on NBC Sports Radio. 

For road warriors, coworking space in downtown Sarasota hosted by Regus International Workplace Group (IWG) offers a perk: access to a vast network of coworking locations across the state and beyond. In addition to downtown Sarasota, the network has nearby locations in Fort Myers, Naples, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.

Rebound

Over the past few months, local cowork sites have seen an uptick in demand. Prior users have begun to venture out again. And perhaps not surprisingly, venues are fielding new inquiries from frustrated work-at-home employees who crave a quiet place to concentrate. “We have displaced workers showing up and saying, ‘I can’t work with the kids at home and the dogs around,’” says Frascone.

Pandeloglou has seen this too. “People are probably getting tired of being home with their kids all the time and looking for different four walls.” His location encompasses a compact 1,300 square feet, and occupancy has been reduced for social distancing. Potential new on-site clients are being wait listed. With growth constrained by pandemic occupancy limits, Pandeloglou has chosen to expand through virtual office plans.  

Still the pandemic remains, and long-term commitments remain elusive. “People are really uncertain about time,” says Karen Symos, Team Lead and Sales Manager of the IWG Sarasota branch. “They want to do a shorter term, and nothing long term, because no one seems to know how long this is going to go on. So we try and offer a lot of flexible options for them.”