Bisnow Survey: 9 Hot DC Co-Working Spaces (Not In Any Particular Order)
More than 40% of Americans will be independent contractors and entrepreneurs by 2020, according to WAMU. And WeWork's recent $5B valuation is a sign of things to come. Here are some of DC's biggest co-working providers:
1. Regus PLC
Size: 42 locations in the DC metro area
Ideal for: Entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups, large teams; there’s something for everyone.
What you get: It varies by location but to give you an idea, the Connecticut Avenue Business Center has a business lounge, meeting rooms, sandwich and coffee bar, lunch restaurant, gym and fitness room, and showers.
Pricing: Introductory prices are as low as $30/month to drop in and use its business lounges.
2. UberOffices
Locations: More than 100k SF with four locations in Dupont, Rosslyn, Tysons, Bethesda
Ideal for: Tech startups and entrepreneurs
What you get: 24/7 access, seven conference rooms, free broadband Internet, private call rooms, large kitchen and lounge, relaxation room
Pricing: $75 to $4,500/month
3. WeWork
Size: Roughly 100k SF among three locations in Chinatown, Dupont Circle, Wonder Bread Factory. A new residential location should open in Crystal City in late 2015. (Bisnow is located in the Wonder Bread building, so that leaves you with three options where you're not surrounded by raving lunatics.)
Ideal for: Entrepreneurs, startups, large teams
What you get: A private phone booth, recording studio, screening room, conference rooms, on-site garage, café bar, bocce court, arcade, event space, workshops, meditation room, outdoor balcony, micro-roasted coffee, free beer, and deals with Shopify, Uber, Total Access, W.B. Mason, Moo.com, Elance and Zipcar.
Pricing: from $45/month to $550/month with special prices for custom offices
4. The Cove
Size: Seven locations in 14th Street, Capitol Hill, CoHi, Dupont, Georgetown, Old Town and South Dupont
Ideal for: The freelancer who doesn’t want to live at Starbucks
What you get: Flexible monthly and yearly plans; desks; conference rooms and call boxes; cozy environment; near shops, bars and hotspots
Pricing: $32 to $162/month
5. TechShop
Size: 22k SF in Crystal City
Ideal for: The innovative hands-on creator
What you get: This DIY design and fabrication space offers community workshops and classes. It has wood and metal shops with cutting-edge tools and equipment, and an electronics lab boasting computers with design software, like Autodesk Design Suite.
Pricing: $125/month
7. The Hive 2.0
Size: Roughly 6.5k SF between its location at Anacostia and a new location next door on the second floor of the Honfleur Gallery
Ideal for: Graphic designers, artists, creative types
What you get: 24/7 access, free technical assistance, monthly happy hour, workshops and networking events, food, drink and shops upstairs, a black box theater in building, WiFi, flexible terms
Pricing: $100 to $900/month
8. Canvas Co/Work
Size: One 6k SF location on 19th Street
Ideal for: Creative types who don’t mind distractions
What you get: Full Flex offers 24/7 access, a mailing address, seating in community areas, 10 hours of conference room time per month, ping pong tables, background music and Apple TV
Pricing: $30/day to $600/month
6. 1776
Size: A 15k SF location on 15th Street
Note: It is not technically a co-working space—you have to undertake a rigorous application process, and they accept only companies that fit into certain categories. But, if you have what it takes and what they're looking for, you can join their exceptional network and space and suddenly find yourself working alongside other remarkable entrepreneurs.
Ideal for: They're technically an incubator and they're not open to the public, but we thought this space deserved a mention. They focus on small businesses, particularly in the education, energy and sustainability, health, transportation and cities sectors.
What you get: Connection to experts, influencers and investors to mentor and grow small businesses; seed funding; classes and workshops; industry insights
Pricing: $100 to $600-plus/month
(Honorable Mention) Hera Hub
Coming This spring, DC location TBD
Ideal for: Female entrepreneurs
What you get: This San Diego-based workspace for women (Carlsbad, CA location shown above) offers private meeting rooms, spa-inspired workspaces with serene water features and soft music, comfortable working stations for sitting and standing, coffee, tea, snacks, and a strong network of women across many industries.
Pricing: DC prices are TBD, however San Diego monthly membership plans range from $69 to $369.
