The new year is here, people! Time to ring in 2017 with resolutions to make this your best year yet. Hoping to be more productive this year? Looking to find more time to finish creative projects or collaborate with friends outside of the office? Do you work from home but want an office-like community? Then look no further: we’ve complied a list of great co-working spaces in your own neighborhood to help make 2017 your most productive year to date.
“Not to be overshadowed by Manhattan, Queens is a center of innovation,” said Sharon Bajwa, the area manager of Spaces in Long Island City. Co-working spaces are gaining more and more attention internationally as people are constantly looking for new environments where they can work and collaborate outside of their home, especially in urban areas.
“There has been a macro shift toward a new way of work,” explained a spokesperson from WeWork in Astoria. “More people want to work on the projects they’re passionate about in an energetic environment where others are also working hard to bring their ideas to life.”
These spaces provide great resources for entrepreneurs, artists and freelance writers to experience an office-like environment. Most provide meeting rooms and event spaces available to rent out, as well as a common area replete with essentials to keep you going – like coffee! Who knows; the people you meet here may quickly become your own “co-workers” and future collaborators.
“Joining a co-working space is about investing in yourself while working alongside a diverse community of creatives, professionals, students and everyone in between,” said Argentina Flores, founder of QNS Collective in western Queens.
For affordable memberships – usually at a monthly rate – you, too, can experience the energetic environment of co-working spaces to make your ideas come to life this year.
If you’re looking for an open space to collaborate in a productive environment, QNS Collective is the place for you. Operating since 2013, they are our veteran co-working unit – the first to start a co-working environment in Queens. Flores started QNS Collective after experiencing first-hand the loneliness of freelancing and struggling to find decent places to meet clients.
QNS Collective offers a large, open workspace built around the principle of strong collaboration. Their space is modern in style and comfortable, including communal long tables, desks, as well as private “suites,” dedicated to suiting each guest’s needs. You can also book spaces for company events, as well as attend one of their many workshops offered.
Members enjoy perks such as printing, conference room access, storage, mail services, private desks and more. There are a variety of affordable package options to best suit your personal needs: “Hot Desk” for $195/month, “Co-Working” for $285/month, “Desk” for $355/month or “Office” for $550/month. A list of specific amenities offered for each option can be found on their website.
Location: 36-27 36th St., Astoria
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Contact: 718-280-5122,
hello@qnscollective.com
WeWork’s mission is to “create a world where people work to make a life, not just a living.”
A renowned company with locations spanning the globe, WeWork in Queens lives right above Studio Square. Their contemporary, light space fosters creativity and a sense of community, complete with bright artwork on the walls. WeWork is continually filled with creative types, willing to collaborate and bounce ideas off one another. The workspaces offered span from communal rooms (there’s even an outdoor terrace for those warmer months), to focus-oriented private offices.
Members of WeWork enjoy fast internet access, printing and conference rooms, as well as a café where they can refuel. Staff members are on site to troubleshoot should you need it, and bonus: the space is dog friendly! There is a wide variety of member options, such as a hot desk for $300/month, a shared office desk for $530/month, and private offices for one person for $650/month, all the way up to eight people for $3700-$3850/month (for more than eight, you have to call for a price).
Location: 3537 36th St., Astoria
Contact: 877-796-2434
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Are you more artistically inclined? Are you a writer looking for a creatively stimulating space? Then The Oracle Club was made for you. Tailored for artists and writers, the club offers multiple spaces for different purposes. There is an ornate library with a vintage feel for working, with a long table in the center and individual desk spaces. The exposed brick and stacks of books create the perfect inspirational atmosphere to kick that writer’s block to the curb. Then there’s a salon that transports you to a different time, with a record player and piano amidst comfortable chairs — the perfect entertaining space (because let’s be honest, it’s way fancier and bigger than your apartment living room).
It is a bit more exclusive to become a “Writer Member” of The Oracle Club; you must apply through their website with a brief blurb about yourself and some writing samples if applicable. The cost is $150 per month, and you’ll be given your very own key with access to the library and salon.
Location: 10-41 47th Ave., LIC
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Contact: 917-519-2594
Another international company, Spaces was born in Amsterdam, and the Long Island City location was its first in the U.S. The mission of the company is centered on success and helping members become the best entrepreneurs they can be.
“Spaces brings together the area’s most interesting people and helps them accelerate their business in a productive and creative environment,” Bajwa said. “The dynamic energy in the space comes directly from the people here who want to connect, collaborate and socialize.”
The décor feels European and has a very modern-comfy look to it. There are multiple working spaces to accommodate all work ethics: 284 office desks, five meeting rooms and one large event space. (You can even take a 360-degree virtual tour of the space.)
Membership at Spaces gives you access to multiple workspaces, high-speed internet, lockers, access to community events and, of course, coffee. You can book a meeting room for larger gatherings, or a dedicated desk starting at $540/month. Memberships start at $225/month, but you can also try it out with a free one-day trial. To learn more and get a tailored price point, visit their website or give them a call.
Location: 31-00 47th Ave., 3rd floor, LIC
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (dedicated desks can be accessed 24/7)
Contact: 844-677-2237, reception.longislandcity@spacesworks.com
Brooklyn Boulders Queensbridge
You can work hard and play hard at Brooklyn Boulders.
If you’re someone who needs an exercise break in the middle of a long work day to restart, this place has your back. It’s a rock climbing facility as well as a co-working community space.
“People tend to find that punctuating their work day with climbing and a quick workout increases productivity overall and reduces stress,” said marketing manager Joe Caravaglia.
Brooklyn Boulders boasts 25,000 square feet of rock wall for all levels from beginner to advanced. If rock climbing isn’t your thing, they also offer yoga classes and personal training as well as cardio machines and a weight room. Oh, and a sauna (what better way to de-stress?).
As a member of Brooklyn Boulders, you get to enjoy all of the above amenities, as well as free Wi-Fi, printing and Apple TV in the workspaces, plus access to exclusive events. You can even enjoy complimentary breakfasts on Wednesday and Thursday mornings!
You can purchase day passes (one day pass for $32, or a pack of 10 for $289), or become a member for $135/month (with a $100 initiation fee), or $1485/year.
Location: 23-10 41st Ave., LIC
Hours: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to midnight
Contact: 718-482-7078
