There are a number of different features to keep an eye out for when choosing a coworking space, with the variety of amenities on offer being a big one. While some coworking spaces only provide the very basics, others go above and beyond, ensuring that your coworking experience is not only as productive as possible but also genuinely enjoyable.
If you want to ensure that your coworking space is the best match for your needs, keep reading as Circle Hub shares 12 must-have amenities to seek out.
1) Stable, High-Speed WiFi
Let’s start with the most important amenity that every coworking space should have: stable, high-speed WiFi. While you may think that this is a no-brainer, and sure, every coworking space will offer WiFi, the stable and high-speed aspect of it isn’t necessarily a given.
Needless to say, however, it’s essential. A slow internet speed will quickly be a big hinderance. Whether you need to do some research, download a document, send an important file, or do anything else online-related, a slow internet connection will only cause you to waste precious time.
How can you tell how good a coworking space’s WiFi really is? Either by taking a tour of that space and testing it out for yourself or by speaking to other members to find out what they think of the WiFi speed and quality.
2) Comfortable Workspaces
If you want to do your best work, then you need to be physically comfortable. This is something that a good coworking space will take into account. They won’t cheap out when it comes to office furniture, and will instead splurge on items that are designed with ergonomics in mind.
At Circle Hub, we try to ensure the comfort of our members as much as possible. All of our workspaces feature top-of-the-line furnishings that make life feel a little more bearable when you need to put in long hours. You won’t have to worry about ending the day with an aching back or cramped legs here!
3) Printing Facilities
While you likely won’t need printing facilities every day, a printer is essential in certain situations. Sure, you could buy your own printer or pay to use external printing facilities, but a good coworking space will take care of this for you by offering printing amenities of their own. Whether this is included in your membership fee or is an added extra, having the option of using an on-site printer is extremely convenient.
This is why, at Circle Hub, we have printing facilities that our members can use. They’re fast, produce high-quality printouts, and are very reliable – exactly what a modern-day professional needs!
4) Meeting Rooms
A shared workspace can be great when you’re working on your own, but what happens when you need to meet with a prospective client or do some brainstorming with a few teammates? A communal workspace wouldn’t be appropriate for either, for a number of reasons.
This is why a good coworking space will have on-site meeting rooms that members can use as and when needed, which is exactly what we offer here at Circle Hub. Our conference rooms vary in size – the smallest holds four people, while the largest holds 12. This makes them suitable for both intimate meetings and larger gatherings. They also happen to be kitted out with a few amenities of their own. Each fully-enclosed space is equipped with a whiteboard and a flat-screen TV, which caters to just about every type of meeting.
5) Private Offices
In addition to offering a private space where you can meet other people, a good coworking space will also give you the option of working in seclusion when needed. While this may be the opposite of what a coworking space is all about, there’s no getting away from the fact that, sometimes, your tasks for the day may require privacy.
This is why Circle Hub has private office suites for members to use. Just like our conference rooms, they vary in size. Book a single-person office for a few hours when you need to work on something confidential or go for a five-desk office for a few days if you need your entire team to collaborate for a while.
Again, this may be an amenity that you might not end up using, but it’s good to have the option!
6) A Kitchen Area
Did you know that feeling hungry can have a significant impact on your productivity? It affects cognitive function, concentration, energy levels, patience, mood, and more. Needless to say, none of this is going to be cohesive with the work that you’re doing, which is why having an on-site kitchen at a coworking space is a huge bonus.
This is exactly what you’ll find at Circle Hub. Even better, you’ll be able to enjoy complimentary beverages here – free coffee is a big perk on those long days! Not only is this convenient, but it will also save you time and money since you won’t need to keep heading out to one of the nearby coffee shops for your next caffeine fix.
7) Relaxing Common Areas
Regular breaks are an essential part of being as productive as possible. However, at some coworking spaces, taking a break can be quite a hassle. You’ll need to pack up all of your things, leave the premises for your downtime, and then find a new desk to set up at once you’re back.
This is why a good coworking space will have several common areas that members can use whenever they want. At Circle Hub, you’ll have a few to choose from. Each area is designed to be relaxing yet inspiring – perfect for when you need to quickly refresh your mind! These areas are popular with our members, making them great spots for meeting other people and doing some networking too.
8) Recreational Amenities
Hate sitting around doing nothing while you’re taking a break? This is why more and more coworking spaces are trying to offer their members a few recreational amenities too.
An on-site gym, for example, can be a very useful feature. Research shows that physical activity can improve cognitive function and work performance. Whether you want to start your day with a quick workout or put your lunch break to good use, the well-equipped gym at Circle Hub makes this easy.
If you aren’t a fan of getting sweaty during working hours, our gaming room gives you a way to relax while still engaging your mind. Again, studies show that this is something else that can help with productivity, especially if you play a collaborative game. This can be a good way to bond with other members too, enabling you to strengthen your social and professional networks.
9) Content Production Areas
If your job involves producing content, then it goes without saying that you’ll want to seek out a coworking space that gives you access to content production areas. Many people aren’t aware that this is an amenity offered by some coworking spaces because it’s still relatively rare, but search hard enough and you’ll find it!
At Circle Hub, we have both indoor and outdoor content production spaces. Both make use of natural lighting and are styled in a unique yet eye-catching way. They can easily be adapted to whatever project you’re working on, and the best part is that they’re very affordable to hire for the hours you need!
10) Member Events
One of the big benefits of a coworking space is that networking becomes so much easier. You’ll be surrounded by professionals from all walks of life, meaning that you’ll quickly make some excellent new contacts.
While you can get lots of networking done in a coworking space’s common areas, a good coworking space will encourage this further by hosting events for their members to attend. Again, this is something that we regularly do at Circle Hub. From free breakfasts and juice bars to yoga sessions, our events are informal and laid-back, which makes the often arduous task of networking much more enjoyable!
11) Mail Handling
If you plan to use your coworking space as the base for your business, a mail-handling service can be a very useful touch. Since you won’t have a professional address of your own, a coworking space that allows you to use their address as the mailing address for your business before receiving and sorting your mail for you will help with the professionalism of your company while also saving you some tedious admin work!
At Circle Hub, this is known as our Virtual Office service. We’ll receive your mail, which you can then collect at your convenience. Alternatively, we can also forward it to you digitally. Either way, this saves you from having to use your own personal address on your business correspondence, which is something that could potentially come with security concerns.
12) A Carpark
Another perk of working from a coworking space is that you won’t need to waste time on a long commute. With so many coworking spaces out there to choose from, you’ll hopefully be able to find one that’s within a short distance of your home.
Of course, this isn’t much use if you then need to spend an hour driving around in circles trying to find somewhere to park your car. Therefore, if you plan on driving to your coworking space, look for one that either has its own car park or offers street parking within close proximity. Again, this is a given if you choose to sign up to one of the Circle Hub coworking spaces!
Finding the Perfect Coworking Space
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a coworking space, especially once you start comparing amenities between the different spaces out there. Ideally, make a list of the amenities that are most important to you and the work that you do before looking for a coworking space that’s able to meet your needs as closely as possible.
Want to know more about the amenities and other services available at Circle Hub? Click here to contact us today!