At Workpoint, a new co-working space in Stamford, the yacht club vibe and waterfront views could get professionals comfortable with a new way of working, said Lea Ann Miller, the event and marketing director.
Miller said Workpoint”™s location on Shippan Landing and its production studio, available to both members and non-members, are the “hooks” to make it stand out from other co-working spaces.
The 15,000-square-foot, two-floor space located in the former Time Warner Cable building at 290 Harbor Drive is designed for small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs, Miller said. Construction started in the beginning of the year. Although the marketing push will begin next month, members have already started to sign leases, Miller said.
Miller and husband Jeffrey Kay, a television director, are consultants for Workpoint, a project owned and backed by private investors in New York City. The couple looked at many co-working spaces in Manhattan, but Miller said Workpoint was designed specifically for Stamford.
Unlike Manhattan spaces, Workpoint is not technology-focused, she said. People spanning all industries, from media to medical fields, are welcome. Some members might be new companies not ready to commit to renting an office long-term, a firm with employees often traveling or professionals in the process of reinvention.
“It”™s going to be very interesting to watch it take shape,” Miller said.
Miller, who owns her own events company, said there are a lot of people like herself who work in a home office and could benefit from leaving the house to boost creativity and productivity. She and Kay used to work from home themselves, sitting across the table from each other on their laptops.
“One day we looked at each other and said this is not working,” Miller said.
She said she is more efficient at Workpoint and can relax more while she is at home. Compared to a home office, restaurant or coffee shop, Workpoint is also a better location to meet with clients in an armchair by the windows or in a conference room, Miller said.
Members can choose to work at one of about 60 open stations for $450 per month, at one of 40 assigned desks for $600 per month or in one of 15 private offices seating one to four people at $1,800 to $3,150 per month.
Workpoint”™s other services include use of the conference rooms, event space and the television/media studio and edit room.
Kay said the 1,000-square-foot production studio takes advantage of today”™s technology. It is a good size for doing satellite media tours, corporate videos or live shots for the news, he said.
“The way Stamford is put together is on the corporate side, it”™s developing a huge appetite for communications technology,” Kay said. “People more than ever understand video is a key component to any corporate communication.”
A private room with a bathroom is adjacent to the media room for talent to do hair and makeup or to wait. Kay said he could see a banker come in to broadcast on a live television show, then go back to work in downtown Stamford.
A studio manager will be on site full time.
For larger production needs, Kay said he can connect companies with a crew.
Cooking demonstrations can be shot in the kitchen, which was designed to function for member-use and for television.
Another perk is its tap that dispenses free beer after 4 p.m.
Some other Workpoint amenities include mail and package handling, a weekday shuttle to the Stamford Transportation Center and free admission to events. Miller said she will bring events like book signings and networking parties.
There is gutted space available next door when Workpoint is ready to expand, but first, Miller wants to bring energy into the space she has.
“We”™re trying to catch this trend,” she said. “This is a new way of working. It”™s not fading.”
