Coffee, the chairs in the meeting room or, after all, the atmosphere inside a building. What do people really find important when looking for a new workplace? In the 3.5 years I have been working at StartDock, I have come across many different people, all with their own requirements. Some of them are looking for a casual workplace, others an office for a team of six people. Yet, they all come to StartDock for the same reason: a nice workplace where they can meet other people and grow their business successfully. These are the pillars StartDock has been committed to from the start. When looking for the right workplace, what exactly do you look for? Here are the most common and important considerations that I have come across in recent years and can recommend to keep in mind when looking for a (new) workplace:

1. Phone Booths

Because of the Corona pandemic, many people are switching from offline meetings to online meetings, making phone booths an essential part of coworking spaces. These are soundproof rooms where you can quietly do your call or have a meeting. The phone booths are most of the time equipped with a table, chair and socket to ensure that you can stay in touch with your appointments without having to leave the building or disturbing other people.

2. Ergonomic workstations 

During tours at StartDock, I am often asked if the workplace can be tested. How does the desk chair sit and are the desks height adjustable? Surely the advantage of many coworking spaces versus cafés and restaurants is the adjustable desk chair, even in a flex spot. Would you prefer a place where you can also work standing up? Sit-stand desks and desk converters are indispensable nowadays and ensure that you can work all day in comfort.

3. Coffee and tea

Coffee, coffee and a little bit of tea (when you’re over coffee). Whereas people sometimes struggle to drink enough water, this is usually not the case with coffee. Bags of Lot61's coffee beans are used each day to meet the demands of our locations. On average people drink about four or five cups a day. For this reason, the quality of the coffee is an important issue and we try to use the right beans for our community. We also notice that people alternate between espresso, cappuccino (with the different types of milk) and regular black coffee. Still a bigger fan of tea? Several fresh varieties can be found at our locations. Best of all? Coffee and tea are included in the price at most coworking spaces, but it's always good to check! 

4. Meeting rooms

Even though more and more things are happening online, it is still good to meet people physically. Therefore, when looking for your new workplace, it is important to check the meeting rooms and their facilities. How big are the rooms? Are there ways to present your powerpoint ? Are the meeting rooms included in your package and can you perhaps use other locations or do you need to book certain things in addition? It can sometimes save a lot of money if you have this clear when comparing different coworking spaces.

5. Community

Last but not least: the people and the atmosphere. What kind of tenants are there, how are you welcomed at the reception and what is the atmosphere in the building? If you are looking for an informal setting, you are more likely to feel at home in a place where people are friendly, open for a chat, don't walk around much in suits and tend to be more start-ups and freelancers. Looking for something like this and want to know how tenants really experience it? Ask tenants how they experience their coworking space during a tour! The way people respond to your question usually gives a good idea of what the tenants are like. 

Are you curious to know what all the essentials are like at StartDock and whether we have the perfect workspace for you that meets your needs? Feel free to contact us and we will be happy to show it all to you over a cup of coffee or tea.