Coworking Spaces Adjusting Their Operations In Wake Of COVID-19

Coworking spaces that are community and collaboration driven are finding new ways to adjust to strict social distancing guidelines.

In Centennial, Colorado, the Village Workspace opened its doors just three-and-a-half weeks before Governor Jared Polis issued a stay-at-home order and is now only allowing members with private offices to access the space.

“We still had people coming in, and they were able to keep social distancing because we’re brand new and we’ve got lots of space,” said Gina Schreck, owner and founder of the Village. Now the coworking space has closed public spaces and credited members who do not have a private office.

Craig Baute, founder of the coworking brand Creative Density and the coworking alliance Denver Coworks, said that the modus operandi of many operators is to allow members to use private office space.

Others have closed their facilities altogether for deep cleaning, such as Galvanize, but have reopened under stricter guidelines like weekend hours during weekdays.

To keep members engaged, Creative Density has started hosting online happy hours and allowing members to checkout and take home office chairs and computer monitors.

Some operators have opted to not charge their members for rent to better support those who are financially struggling during this time.