STYLE GUIDE
The Future is Bright for Coworking Spaces BY LINDSEY GETZ
W
hen it comes to commercial offices, the trend is rapidly moving in the direction of coworking spaces. There are an estimated 35,000 flexible work areas in the world today and the global market value of these spaces is estimated at an approximate $26 billion. In New Jersey, there’s no doubt that coworking space has taken a strong foothold and isn’t going anywhere. Jeanne “Lisa” Wolschina, a Realtor® with Keller Williams Realty based in Haddonfield, said the increasing interest in coworking spaces is undoubtedly linked to the fact that more employees are working remotely than ever before.
• Are you looking to network and connect with other people in your specific industry? • Do you make a lot of phone calls and need a private area where your calls are not disruptive to others? “Realtors® can help guide people in finding these spots because the thing we focus on most is our client—not the building itself,” Wolschina said. “We learn what people need and want—and we go find it for them.”
“When employees find it too difficult to concentrate at home, they decide they’d like to work in a separate space,” Wolschina said. “Of course, the local coffee shop isn’t always the best option. Sometimes people need more space to spread out their materials and concentrate. Since commercial rental spaces are expensive, splitting the cost of an office space is a no-brainer.” Wolschina’s social media manager, Rebecca Elmuccio, owner of social media marketing firm Yellow Pear Media, also based in Haddonfield, has worked out of a coworking space herself. Elmuccio said it has created networking opportunities for her that wouldn’t exist when working from home. “Those networking connections have led to a lot of referrals and work over the years for my freelance business,” Elmuccio adds. Elmuccio suggests Realtors® who are helping clients find the ideal coworking space should really help narrow the list of what features are most important. Coworking spaces can differ dramatically. She suggests asking questions such as: • Do you need to look at spaces that offer private offices or are you comfortable working in an open workspace? 8 | NEW JERSEY REALTOR® | September/October 2019
Setting the Bar Among the locations in New Jersey that have served as inspirational models, Bell Works in Holmdel tops the list. The Bell Labs complex functioned for 44 years as a research and development facility before being reimagined as a one-of-akind destination for both business and culture. Currently, 49 different companies call Bell Works home and there are 60 coworking tenants using office space within the building. There are also 154,000 square feet of retail space and 110,000 square feet of public space—demonstrating its truly multi-purpose functionality. Sean Donohue oversees the strategic expansion and growth of coworking operations at Bell Works. He said that no matter who comes through the door, the narrative is almost always the same.
