Coworking Community Building: A Blueprint for Professional Collaboration and Networking in 2024

Unveiling Innovative Strategies for Nurturing Dynamic Workplace Communities

There is a reason that coworking spaces continue to focus more and more on the community element. Community is in many ways, vital to the success of a workplace space. There are many ways in which this has been shown, where individuals contributing to a work task not only thrive within the company as a whole but also within their own goals. Here are some of the most obvious benefits:

Networking Opportunities: Coworking spaces bring different professionals together, all of whom are a small portion of diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and industries. These spaces allow people to meet others with different interests and skills, thus expanding the potential for professional relationships. They can also connect with others who can provide assistance and advice. Learning from each other is a key benefit to operating within a community-driven space.
Support Systems: Everyone needs a support system to encourage them through tough times, and that includes within the professional realm. Support systems within coworking spaces can create a sense of belonging, especially with like-minded people who are pursuing similar goals.
Community Events: Often hosting community events that enhance networking opportunities. These events help freelance and independent professionals connect, learn, and grow from others who are similar or even dissimilar from themselves. Social events create a sense of belonging and are good for those who are used to working alone, curating a fun, enjoyable environment.
Collaboration: There is a plethora of opportunities for collaboration, whether it be formally, or informally collaboration leads to new ideas and even newer possible business opportunities. Various fields can combine their differing skills and create fresh ideas that may not have existed outside the coworking community zone.
Flexibility: Coworking spaces, compared to traditional office spaces, allow much more flexibility concerning when, how, and where individuals work. Flexibility is beneficial for those working a non-traditional job or schedule. This makes for an appealing option for growing businesses or small teams.

Based on historical data from 2018 through 2022, the total number of coworking spaces is set to reach nearly 42,000 worldwide by the end of 2024. The coworking industry is flourishing, but the ones that stick around place a sense of community at the top of their list.

Innovative Strategies: Workshops, Networking Events, and Collaborative Projects

There are many ways that a member company can begin growing its individualized sense of community within a flexible shared workspace. But you might not know exactly where to start, outside finding a space that is intuitively collaborative, so here are some tips:

Introduce New Members: Send out welcoming packets, plan introductory coffee sessions, create a buddy system with a seasoned member for a week, or create a community wall where new members’ photos and a short bio are displayed. Remember, some people take a bit to open up, while some are outgoing from the get-go. Be patient, and offer a multitude of welcoming gestures that make each individual feel uniquely appreciated and comfortable.
Organize Events: Planning events like workshops, yoga sessions, and Friday night music jams is an additional step in drawing members together. Flexible Workspaces often offer to manage several of these events for member companies and you can also host your own events within the space dedicated to your team privately. Best of all the space can usually help you manage your own private events so ask!
Share Brand Stories: Every brand has a unique origin story—share yours with both your new staff and your extended workspace member community, inviting them into your world. Tactical examples include hosting brand-themed storytelling events becoming the community host, or initiating the building of an interactive visual narrative for all members on a dedicated wall in the space.
Connect People: Match together people who you think can create magic together tapping into the broader talent pool from other member companies. Use coffee breaks, lunches, or even during a networking event to introduce an individual who you think could benefit from the introduction. Of course, this is also a benefit you can personally enjoy. Use access to the member directly to full advantage in order to discover natural alliances, sales opportunities, partnerships or friendships.
Balance Needs and Expectations: People are inherently different. Companies are figuring out that key differences between workers mean that the management style and approach toward maintaining a healthy work environment is going to differ from person to person. That is what makes coworking spaces so valuable; their flexibility with environment, amenities, recreation, lighting, climate control, and ergonomic comfort. For your own company also stay flexible and avoid applying a one-size-fits-all approach to leverage the space to your company’s advantage.

Future Trends: Predictions for Coworking Communities

The future of coworking looks exceedingly bright. Here are a few predictions for 2024 and beyond, according to workplace solutions:

Go Green, Stay Green: Sustainability isn’t just a trend anymore; it is the way of the future, as is the addition of wellness initiatives. Mediation rooms, fitness corners, and access to nearby parks will become the norm, along with composting facilities, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting.
Hospitality Hubs: Providing up-to-date amenities has already proven to enhance worker satisfaction, and premium coworking spaces are going to continue to innovate, leading the industry. Gourmet coffee and tea, artisanal snacks, onsite gyms with fitness classes, childcare, and even pet-friendly zones are becoming more common.
AI Presence, but not Takeover: Technology will continue to advance, with automated booking systems and AI-powered meeting assistants that take notes while humans brainstorm. That being said a human, genuine connection continues to be wanted and needed.
No More Niche: A one-size-fits-all approach is gone. Coworking spaces are more than willing to tailor to specific industries, like fashion designers who need on-site garment racks, or music producers who need soundproof recording studios.
Creativity Soars: Vibrant coworking spaces are now being curated to aid in enhancing creativity. This means capturing client’s attention and imagination – think in-house chefs, pop-up art galleries, and rooftop yoga!
Flexibility First: As we have seen, flexibility is the way of the future when it comes to shared workspace. The pandemic was the catylist and we work is forever changed. Flexible design for a modern hybrid workforce will only continue to thrive.
Tech Up: Spaces continue to invest in cutting-edge, like temperature sensors that adjust automatically, noise-canceling booths for those who need more focus, and even AR/VR waiting rooms to entertain members and their guests. Holograms are no longer science-fiction and have become science-fact.

The Professional Centre’s Approach: Tailoring Community-Building to Professionals

Unlike a traditional office space, which was often closed off with limited interaction between workers, The Professional Centre is designed with a mix of sophisticated private and open layouts for maximum customization and access to a suite of amenities. Sophisticated suites with natural sunlight and varying options in workspaces. A summary of the spaces we offer, as well as the amenities that contribute to the sense of community, are as follows:

Private Offices: While prioritizing privacy, access to private offices for solo work also includes tastefully sleek and designed meeting rooms and collaboration zones.
Meeting Rooms: Inspiring meeting rooms that range in various sizes, all with a dynamic setup designed with collaboration and relationship building in mind. Sleek and modernly ergonomic furniture creates a soft and welcoming ambiance that accommodates working styles.
Enterprise Offices: Entire offices can be booked and tailored to specific company needs, all with community and collaboration in mind. Pick from three separate options that blend private offices with transparent dividers, coworking spaces, executer window offices, and optimally open meeting rooms.
On-Demand Offices: On-demand offices at TPC offer the flexibility previously mentioned that enhances the notion of community and collaboration. Pay-as-you-need offices release the stress of permanent office maintenance, whether it is required for a day, a week, or even a month.
Community Amenities & Concierge Support: From a fully stocked up and snacked-out kitchen, to quiet meditation or prayer spaces, to spacious lounges, to an experienced technical and administrative team, TPC acts as a muse for businesses looking to enhance their sense of community.

Here are a few success stories and testimonials from companies who have found The Professional Centre’s community coworking space to be conducive to their company mandate:

“It’s a complete turnkey solution. The Professional Centre provides everything that we need to run our office and also gives us access to the kind of equipment that we could never afford to have on our own.”
Stephen Griggs, Executive Director – Canadian Coalition for Good Governance

“Whether it is the phone answering service that creates the presence of Iomega as a credible entity to its customers; the professional administrative support that is provided on an ongoing basis, or the tastefully designed and well-provisioned boardrooms, which have been instrumental in cementing contracts and relationships — all contribute to a truly professional atmosphere and pleasurable working environment.” Wally Schmidt, Manager – Canada Iomega

“Nikki and the team at The Professional Centre have been incredible in helping us get our Toronto team started. The tenure of her support team and their expertise has helped us win both clients and hire the best senior individuals. The fact that The Professional Centre also has a very long tenure of tenants/clients shows that the level and quality of service has remained high for many years.”
Sheldon North, Corporate Affairs – BGC Engineering Inc.

Located in the heart of Toronto’s downtown financial district, The Professional Centre (TPC), is committed to aligning with evolving work dynamics with high performance professionals. Take advantage of our location to lower your operational costs while enjoying the vibrancy of a community that thrives on innovation and collaboration.

Explore TPC’s flexibly designed and fully managed workspace solutions here.