Oakland has in recent years benefited from the arrival of San Francisco’s youthful diaspora, lured here by the cheaper cost of living – and also the proliferation of coworking spaces across the city.
(Pboto: Temescal Works)
Slowly but surely, Oakland has been escaping its rough and ready reputation and is now a popular place to live for large numbers of Californians attracted by the city’s relative affordability compared with neighbouring San Francisco. And it is also doing its best to attract freelancers, self-starters and entrepreneurs by opening several coworking spaces across the city. Here are five of the best.
Looking for flexibilty? At Croissant you can buy a pass that allows 10, 40 or 120 hours’ access at various coworking spaces across Oakland. For more info, please check: https://www.getcroissant.com
Temescal Works
Situated in a beautifully renovated industrial warehouse in the eponymous district of Temescal, home to eclectic eateries, craft breweries, and a thriving arts scene, this coworking space was founded by local residents with deep roots in the neighbourhood’s community. Featuring all the modern amenities a small business or freelancer might require but with a local purpose and personality, the venue is made distinctive by multiple skylights, exposed brick and timber, and a large atrium. Hot desking rates start at $325 per month, and there are also day passes for $30 per day. Services and facilities include fast internet, onsite staff, meeting rooms, privacy pods, kitchen, cleaning services and 24/7 access if you need it.
490 43rd Street / www.temescal Works
East Bay Community Space
An affordable workspace catering for artists, activists, writers, entrepreneurs, and telecommuters looking for a comfortable and inclusive place to work, meet and collaborate, East Bay Community Space offers a wide range of access options as well as a busy programme of events. Pricing ranges from $40 to $120 for 5 all-day passes and $120 to $360 for unlimited access. There are also passes that can be bought by the hour, starting at $5 for 3 hour’s access. The venue also has several spaces for both professional and recreational events, including a large workshop, a meeting room, a craft & hobby area, a dance hall, a sauna, and a café. Regular activities include movie screenings, yoga and meditation classes and night-time parties.
5447 Telegraph Avenue / www.eastbaycommunityspace.org
Regus
Regus have four Oakland venues, all featuring dedicated business lounges that help them attract business travellers requiring somewhere to host on-site meetings. They also offer a choice of open-plan spaces or shared offices. Rates vary by location, but start at $119 per month for a hotdesking package or $50 per day for on-demand day working. All memberships include access to facilities including printers, scanners and photocopiers, plus invites to networking and community events. Contracts are available on a monthly rolling basis, or you can ease your monthly payments by locking into a long-term contract of up to 24 months.
Venues across Oakland / www.regus.com
BIG
A coworking space specifically for those working in the architecture, engineering and construction industries, BIG is offers access to hands-on equipment and amenities such as drafting stations, a model-making room, layout space, plotter service, and a design library staffed by a professional librarian. Featuring a mix of drop-in spaces and dedicated desks, pricing starts at $150 per month for 5-day passes and rises to $350 per month for unlimited weekday access.
1423 Broadway / www.bigoakland.space
The Port Workspaces
(Photo: The Port Workspaces)
With three venues dotted across the city, The Port Workspaces offer flexible workspaces for individuals and teams. Whether you’re a start-up, non-profit, established business, solopreneur or remote employee, The Port Workspaces provides creative spaces to help you thrive. Flexible month-to-month, membership packages start at $195 per month for hot-desking which provides access to all three Oakland spaces, as well as use of the outdoor terrace, quiet room or a standing desk. Day passes are priced at $25. Add-ons available for any membership include evening and weekend access, lockers/storage and bike parking.
Venues across Oakland / www.portworkspaces.com
Oakstop
A social enterprise focused on community empowerment, Oaktstop offers a workspace, meeting/event space, and creative space for artists, start-ups, non-profits, freelancers and entrepreneurs. Coworking membership grants access to all of the venue’s common areas and includes WiFi, printing, coffee and tea. Flexible pricing structures start as low as $50 per month for 2 days a week hotdesking, rising up to $175 per month for 24/7 access. There are also drop-in day passes priced at $15 per day. The space also demonstrates its commitment to local creatives by displaying rotating art exhibits by emerging artists from the Oakland area across its walls.
1721 Broadway / www.oakstop.com