Brooklyn is home to a large number of coworking spaces that provide affordable communal working environments for everyone from go-alone freelancers to small-scale start-ups.
(Photo: Mindspace)
The famous New York borough has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past few decades – in both appearance and reputation. Once the epitome of the Big Apple’s less salubrious underbelly, the area’s regeneration has today made it a haven for hipsters and young families, all drawn here by the diverse array of restaurants, shops, museums, and public parks. Brooklyn’s age demographic has also brought a renewed entrepreneurial spirit to the borough, with many self-starters and creatives based here – evidenced in its wide choice of coworking spaces. Here are 10 of the best.
Mindspace
Mindspace pride themselves on their prime locations and upscale coworking environments featuring local artists and an aesthetic in keeping with the local culture. The company’s Brooklyn venue certainly lives up to this billing, situated in the heart of Williamsburg in a recently completed landmark building featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of outdoor space, including a communal roof deck, private rooftops and unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. Membership pricing for full-time, 24-7 access to the venue’s shared desks starts at $675 per month, or for less regular use you can also choose from multi-day or single-day passes. On-site amenities include boutique meeting rooms and lounge areas, car and bike parking, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, meditation pods, and a bouldering wall.
25 Kent Avenue / www.mindspace.me
SHARED Brooklyn
Located in a 150-year-old warehouse and offering stunning views of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, SHARED Brooklyn is a green, sustainable coworking space built and fashioned by local craftsmen and artisans by utilising as much of the original building materials as possible. The space hosts a community of creative and freelance professionals hailing from a range of sectors, with a choice of short or long term month-to-month membership deals providing maximum flexibility. Each embership also comes with an allocated number of conference room hours per month and other services and amenities include fast WiFi, printing and scanning, unlimited coffee, tea and snacks, a phone booth, a well-equipped kitchenette, and access to regular networking events. Membership packages start at $250 for a Community Seat (10 days a month access) and rise to $435 for a small dedicated desk (or $550 for a large desk). There are also day passes priced at $30 per day.
185 Van Dyke Street / www.sharedbrooklyn.com
(Photo: SHARED Brooklyn)
Kongo
Housed in a cool loft space in the hip Brooklyn neighbourhood of Dumbo, surrounded by parks, galleries and boutiques, Kongo is a coworking space for professional but easy going media creatives and other artsy types. Billed as providing all the perks of a creative agency, with none of the politics, from its open space desks to its conference rooms, all of the venue’s work areas were specifically designed to maximise focus, with high speed WiFi, printer and landline helping facilitate efficiency and high productivity. For screen respite, there’s also a ping pong, bar table, Nespresso, fridge, microwave, kitchen and common areas. Membership packages are designed with utmost flexibility in mind, inviting you to extend or reduce your use of the space with ease as your needs change. Pricing starts at $450 per month, including 24/7 access and all utilities. The venue also hosts regular networking and social events, such as ping-pong and beer nights, film screenings and parties, as well as participating in the annual Dumbo Arts Festival.
68 Jay Street suite 503 / www.kongo.nyc
(Photo: Kongo)
Prosper Gowork
This renowned coworking space has two Brooklyn locations, both enjoying quaint neighbourhood settings with an array of amenities and attractions nearby. Designed to give remote professionals a place to do their best work in a quiet environment, the venues currently offer dedicated desks and private offices, as well as “zoom” memberships for conference room use only. Other amenities include super-fast WiFi, printing services, phone booths, a kitchenette, free coffee, and picturesque outdoor areas. Membership rates start at $150 per month for Zoom membership, and dedicated desks are $250 per month, with al packages coming with no joining fees and all-inclusive monthly payments.
Bushwick & Crown Heights #8 / www.prospergowork.com
(Photo: Prosper Gowork)
The Compound Cowork
Created with the vision of moving away from the mainstream concept of what an office should look like, The Compound Cowork is ideally located, just a few minutes’ walk from Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and with plenty of public transport options nearby. Home to a diverse group of entrepreneurs, remote professionals and artists, the space boasts high ceilings, an abundance of natural light, and a wide array of desk and seating options. State of the art tech services including high-speed WiFi, printing and copying, and soundproof headphones help with productive working, while a kitchenette stocked with free tea and coffee, and a cozy lounge with oversized beanbag, hammock and chalkboard, add to the relaxed, convivial atmosphere. A variety of memberships are available, starting at $250 per month for Open membership and rising to $400 for a dedicated desk. There are also Night Owl memberships for $200 for those who prefer to burn the midnight oil. Day passes are priced at $25 per day.
1120 Washington Avenue #2 / www.thecompoundcowork.com
(Photo: The Compound Cowork)
Regus
Regus have four venues in Brooklyn, each offering a choice of hot desks, permanent desks and private offices. Membership includes access to facilities such as printers, scanners and photocopiers, plus invites to networking and social events. Contracts are available on a monthly rolling basis, or you can ease your payments by locking into a long-term contract. Coworking prices vary by location, but start at $319 per month for full-time access to their Pearl Street venue, characterised by its impressive architecture and prime location within eyeshot of the Brooklyn Bridge. Five or ten-day-a-month packages are also available for cheaper rates.
Venues across Brooklyn / www.regus.com
Bat Haus
Providing a quiet, productive environment, Bat Haus welcomes members from a variety of different disciplines to share resources, space and respect. Open from 9am to 7pm on Mondays to Fridays, the venue offers super-fast WiFi, a print-and-scan station, a kitchen and lounge, two conference rooms, and a backyard area. Membership packages start at $99 for access five days a month, including use of all amenities, and rise to $225 per month for full-time access. All members also get to join weekly social hours featuring booze, snacks and the chance to meet and socialise with your fellow workers. Day passes are also available for $25 per day.
279 Starr Street / www.bathaus.com
(Photo: Bat Haus)
The Yard
Spread across three Brooklyn locations, The Yard opened in 2011 with the aim of finding a balance between work and play, where members can congregate to get things done, meet other people and also hang out and enjoy themselves. Each space is designed with a refined contemporary, classic aesthetic with industrial flourishes. Flexible, month-to-month membership packages are priced specific to each location, starting at around $300 per month for hot desks. Day passes are not available. The Yard also provides educational and networking programs and there’s also an Art Program which sees a constant rotation of art works by local and internationally renowned artists being showcased within the venue.
Williamsburg Bridge, Williamsburg & Gowanus / www.theyard.com
(Photo: The Yard)
BrooklynWorks at 159
Situated in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Greenwood Heights, well served by transport links, BrooklynWorks at 159 offers a spacious open office where freelancers, small businesses and start-ups can collaborate and grow. Open 24/7, services and amenities include unlimited printing and scanning, conference rooms, common spaces and phone booths, comfy couches, unlimited tea/coffee, a dedicated reception area, shared kitchens, and more. Hot desks are available from $100 per week and drop ins for $15 per day. The space also plays host to regular community events and happy hours, as well as a complimentary breakfast and lunch once a week.
159 20th Street #1b / www.brooklynworks159.com
(Photo: BrooklynWorks at 159)
The Bakery
Home to artists and creatives, The Bakery is an old kosher eatery converted into a dedicated coworking space-cum-gallery in South Williamsburg. Spread across six studios, about a dozen desk spaces, and a communal room that can be used for meetings, photo shoots, and project planning, the venue also serves as a venue for monthly social clubs and other regular events. It also serves as a gallery space for artworks by local artists, including some Bakery members themselves. Membership starts at $500 per month for a 6-foot desk in a room with 6 other coworkers, or $950 per month for a private office. Day pass prices are $30.
325 Rutledge Street / www.thebakerybrooklyn.com
(Photo: The Bakery)