Flexing into Waco's Office Space

by Mecca Shannon, Community Manager, 25N Coworking

By 2030, flexible workspace is expected to make up 30% of the office market. The world of work is changing, and coworking is a key player in ushering in this change. Gone are the days of long commute times, inflexible office leases, and the overhead hum of fluorescent lighting over all-beige cubicles. Here to stay is a “work-from-anywhere” culture and all the benefits and distractions that come along with it.

So, where does 25N Coworking come in? 25N Coworking is more than beautifully designed workspace and meeting rooms offered with a high level of flexibility. 25N prides itself in being a hub for those looking for more than just a place to sit and do your work. We build communities using principles of economic development. Naturally, this means we work best as close collaborators with excellence-driving groups like the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

Our regular networking, professional development, and business-building events breed useful connections and long-term opportunities to directly impact our members’ businesses for the better. People are able to be more successful using our coworking spaces, and they know it.

In turn, economic health connects individuals with their passions, and these passions nurture a sense of community and connection.

In alignment with this, we make hospitality our number one priority. We strive to provide second-to-none service and hospitality for a seamless workday. This could take the form of meeting room concierge, brewing coffee, or simply an early morning “hello.” Regardless, when someone enters our space, they know right away that they can count on our full-time, on-site Community Managers to make their workday better.

Some of the benefits of our coworking environment include the basics you expect from a flexible coworking space with thoughtful details to surprise and delight. We offer Flexible Workspace like first-come-first-served desk seating and open common areas; Dedicated Desks that provide a dedicated workspace and storage within an open flexible space; Private Offices for members who need fully-furnished private space for themselves or for a team, plus access to shared amenities; Flexible Meeting Rooms and event spaces that are different sizes, types, and configurations; and other services like Virtual Mail, Communications Technology, Trinet HR / Healthcare benefits, and Virtual Assistants. One of the challenges of this environment is that it takes a little time adjusting to if you’re used to working by yourself or from home. Get accustomed to making more time in your calendar for that Lunch & Learn on Tuesday or the Whiskey Club after-hours.

2 Trends to Highlight

First, employees are looking for a hybrid work environment. They want the ability to work at home when they’d prefer to keep their sweatpants on and do breakfast with the kiddos, but they also need to have a quiet, inspiring, productive space to escape to. As a result, employers are looking for a new workplace solution for themselves and their teams.

Second—and connected—employers have realized they don’t need the amount of space they once used. Instead of spending money to build out a large space for their team that will only be used a few times a week, having a team office with access to shared space and meeting rooms, as needed, is proving to be a more cost-effective option and a better use of space in general.

Unlike traditional office space, coworking spaces are meant for a wide range of businesses—from freelancers to startups to corporate business entities. Coworking spaces act as an alternative and a more collaborative environment for workers to perform at a higher level with increased rates of employee satisfaction.

Whatever you or your team is looking for right now in this transition—no matter how small or big your team is—coworking is a phenomenal option. We have members who have called Waco home for years, and others who are moving to Waco on a new journey. Some members are deciding to start or move their headquarters here, and others have teams that decided to go completely remote and Waco is where they want to raise their families and build their businesses. Many Austin, Dallas, or Houston based organizations are deciding to expand into Waco and 25N has become their newest business home. From students and professors to C-suite executives and startups, our community is filled with people getting creative with workspace and making a change that allows them the flexibility they are searching for.

We have been in, what feels like, constant change for the last two and a half years and a large portion of that change has been seen in the workplace. Companies were forced to figure out working from home and while it was an easy transition for some, a majority found it incredibly challenging both professionally and personally.

While many people love the ability to work from home, we also have realized the need for human connection and interaction; which is why the hybrid model of workspace is so brilliant! 25N has intentionally designed each of our locations for increased focus with opportunities for meaningful interactions – if and when you want them. The spaces are built in a way that members can work independently, take calls, and have meetings without disruption. When you need a chance to connect with other humans, we host member events each month—always creating opportunities for our members to network, get to know other members, and grow your business.

Simply put, we are confident that 25N will be a hub for business growth in downtown Waco.