Multifunctional spaces are key to supporting a coworking environment, so Impact Hub Seattle worked with Herman Miller to create a landscape that’s functional enough to support coworking for a variety of members, and flexible enough to host events.

According to Lindsey Engh, Impact Hub Seattle’s Marketing, Communications, and Member Care Director, space has been an integral part of the value the organization delivers for its members.

What draws members to Impact Hub Seattle?

Engh: The story that we hear from members most often starts like this: I have been working from home for a long time, and I really just need to have somewhere to get dressed and come…

That’s how it starts.  Members join Impact Hub because they need a functional workspace. The reason they stay is the community. They find people here they connect with, who can help them grow their businesses.

How does your space help you build that sense of community?

Engh:  I used to think that community-building sounded kind of cheesy. I thought that people who were trying to start a business needed money or infrastructure or capacity more than community. But what I have come to understand is that everything is built on relationships—getting a job, building a business, your whole personal and professional life. It’s all based upon relationships. And the idea of helping to facilitate those kinds of meaningful relationships is central to the whole coworking model.

So to answer your question, how does our space build a sense of community? There’s a lot of stuff in the works, and there are also things that we’re already doing. A large part of community-building is making it easy for other members to know who is in the space. Our Member Wall is a big part of that. On it, we post pictures of every member, along with some basic information and areas of interest, so you can put a name to a face.