The sharing economy: Juneau’s first co-working space open for business

Juneau’s first co-working space recently opened its doors downtown. It’s called The Boardroom but the modern decor and open layout feel far from corporate.

Inside the shared work space, 20 chairs are configured into different formations. Some are clustered around white tables. Others are rolled under stand-alone desks. It kind of looks like the office in an Ikea catalog.

The Boardroom has enough work stations for 20 people. (photo by Elizabeth Jenkins/KTOO)
The Boardroom has enough work stations for 20 people. (photo by Elizabeth Jenkins/KTOO)

“We’re going for that sleek modern yet fun look so we have green glass mason jars, green chairs, blue chairs,” Ray Friedlander says, the community manager at The Boardroom.

Since its soft launch this month, she says the company has had three people show interest: a civil engineer, a PR contractor, and an ice cream shop owner.

“I guess the space brings together lines of work that you don’t see in the mainstream or you don’t think about when saying, ‘what do I want to be when I grow up?’ because you’re getting to meet people who think outside of the office box,” she says.

A day pass to the Board Room is $25. Full membership costs $300 a month. Computers aren’t provided but there’s Wi-Fi access, printers and fax machines—even a Keurig coffee maker.

The company is targeting clientele from various backgrounds. Entrepreneurs and cruise ship travelers to busy stay-at-home moms. Pretty much anyone who wants to get away from their regular work environment or doesn’t want to commit to an office lease.

“I would want to work here. If I was tired of sitting in really uncomfortable, wooden wobbly coffee shop chairs or the couch in my living room. Coming here would be a total upgrade,” she says.

The company started in Anchorage about two years ago and was founded by Brit Szymoniak and a business partner.

“We were watching a lot of our bright friends leave Alaska to head out to large cities. And we wanted to do something that would help keep them local and attract young talent and we starting looking at different options and one of the things we came across was this big boom in co-working,” Szymoniak says.

Since its launch, the Anchorage branch has gained about 100 members. Szymoniak says last year 7,000 people came through its door. She’s hoping to find some of the same momentum among professionals here.

“Juneau also has this great energy. It’s really in the process of growing and building. There’s a lot of new young, businesses popping up downtown and young people moving back into the community,” she says.

Brian Holst agrees. He’s the executive director for the Juneau Economic Development Council. He says the addition of co-workspace is meeting a need in the community. It’s part of the trend towards a sharing economy.

“It is people moving away from owning everything for themselves and sharing resources,” he says.

For example, the vacation rental company Airbnb has 38 listings in Juneau which are usually spare rooms.

Ray Friedlander sends an email at her desk at The Boardroom. (photo by Elizabeth Jenkins/KTOO)
Ray Friedlander sends an email at her desk at The Boardroom. (photo by Elizabeth Jenkins/KTOO)

“We do know that’s a national trend and there’s no reason to believe that it’s not happening to some degree here in Juneau,” he says.

Holst says Zipcar has also expressed an interest in coming to Juneau. It’s become a popular option for people who don’t want the full-time burden of owning a vehicle.

Back at The Boardroom, Ray Friedlander is the only person in the office. But she hopes with word-of-mouth more people will join soon. An open house is planned for early next month.

“I’ve been told Juneau has a flier culture. I came from Sitka. So fliers are another way in a small Alaskan town to get the word out,” she says.

The Boardroom says it’s interested in spreading to other cities in Alaska, like Sitka and Bethel.

Editor’s note: The Boardroom is located on the third floor of the Senate Mall building. 

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