Renowned for its striking architecture, characterised by eye-catching skyscrapers matched only by Manhattan, Chicago is one of the jewels of the American Midwest. Numerous world class museums, including the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago, provide plenty of cultural interest while a buzzing bar scene offers no-end of nocturnal action.
A view of the north end of Chicago’s Central Business District (Photo: David B. Gleason via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Chicago is also home to a wide number of co-working spaces offering communal desks and private offices for hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or annual use, both for individuals and small businesses. These venues are dotted across the city, from its central business district to its hip and happening neighourboods. If you’re planning to visit Chicago and would like access to a co-working space during your stay in the city, we’ve picked out 7 of the best.
Room to Grow
Located in the sprawling neighbourhood of Lakeview on the north side of Chicago, and with excellent transport links nearby, Room to Grow is professionally managed by fellow entrepreneurs and offers flexible co-working options. Day passes are priced at $20, or there are two membership levels: Flex at $180 per month, allowing up to 12 visits (9am-5pm) a month, and a Dedicated desk at $360 per month. Amenities for day-pass users include tea & coffee, soft drinks & snacks, printing, high-speed internet, phone booth access, and a bathroom with a shower. A conference room is available for meetings/workshops for up to 6 people. There’s also a dedicated events space where ‘lunch-and-learns’, happy hours and special events are held.
LOCATION 1628 West Irving Park Road Suite 1W WEBSITE www.togrow.co
(Photo: Room to Grow)
Second Shift
Situated on Chicago’s North Side, Second Shift offers a bright, comfortable and noise-controlled open workspace with a friendly, comfortable, and collaborative vibe. Workers can choose from individual desks, group tables, or quiet seating, and enjoy productivity-boosting amenities like gourmet coffee, tea, snacks, standing tables, a board game collection, gadgets and more. There are Lite Coworking memberships entitling you to 2 days per month access for $45 per month, or if you’re seeking more regular visits you can pay $165 per month for unlimited use. Memberships are all month to month, billed every month with no contracts, so they can be as short or as long as you like. Discounts are also offered for payment in advance. Second Shift is also part of the Deskpass scheme which allows day access to coworking spaces across the city and beyond for a set price per month, with the first month thrown in free.
LOCATION 3432 W Diversey Ave Floor 2 WEBSITE www.secondshiftchicago.com
Industrious Office
With venues across the city, Industrious Office’s River North location is their original coworking space in Chicago. Bordering the upscale Magnificent Mile, it is at the heart of the city’s creative and entertainment scenes. The space itself is housed within a large 1950’s conversion spanning multiple floors. Membership starts at $420, while private office spaces vary depending by team size. Amenities include ultra-fast internet, unlimited free printing, phone booths, wellness rooms, and lounge areas. There are also regular member events, including curated speaker panels and team offsites, as well as lively parties.
LOCATION 320 West Ohio Street WEBSITE www.industriousoffice.com
(Photo: Industrious Office)
Make Offices
Hosting everyone from freelancers to Fortune 500s, Make Offices have three Chicago venues, each promising flexibility, professionalism, top notch service, and great value for money. Their River North location offers flexible, month-to-month membership packages starting at $300 per month for an open desk, as well day passes priced at $35. The space is open 24/7 for maximum convenience. Amenities include conference rooms, a game room, mail collection, fast WiFi, premium coffee & tea, relaxation rooms with massage chairs, craft beer on tap, and monthly networking events.
LOCATION 350 N Orleans Street WEBSITE www.makeoffices.com
Coalition Space
Coalition Space were early pioneers in the coworking sector and have gone from strength to strength. Their South Michigan Avenue venue opened in the heart of Downtown in 2014 as a green energy hub and has since expanded its membership options for solo workers, large enterprises, and everything in between. Day passes are available for $35 and conference room rentals for $50 per hour. There are also options to sign up for short term memberships. Normal opening hours are 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. The space benefits from vast amounts of natural light thanks to its skylights and large windows, and it also offers stunning views of nearby Lake Michigan and Millennium Park.
LOCATION 12th Floor, 18 South Michigan Avenue WEBSITE www.coalitionspace.com
(Photo: Coalition Space)
Serendipity Labs
Located within Chicago’s Financial District, just a block away from the city’s major train hubs and close to great restaurants and entertainment, Serendipity Labs offers a vibrant, sleek workplace with coworking desks, office spaces, and conference rooms. Memberships include full-time and part-time coworking, dedicated offices, and team rooms. Pricing starts at $49 for one visit per month, while the cheapest membership offering unlimited access is $499 per month. There are also short-term swing space and corporate memberships with central billing and reporting included.
LOCATION 1 S Wacker Dr #200 WEBSITE serendipitylabs.com
(Photo: Serendipity Labs)
Free Range Office
A coworking, meeting and event space situated minutes from Downtown Chicago in the fashionable Bucktown-Wicker Park neighbourhood, Free Range Office allows workers to enjoy productive days in a prime location. Designed to offer concierge-style hospitality, the space features comfortable workspace options including open desks, private offices, and a meeting room that can hold up to 40 people. Day passes are available for $20, or monthly membership for $385. There’s also a chef’s kitchen, outdoor terrace, bike storage, complimentary coffee & tea, and free street parking directly outside.
LOCATION 2141 W North Avenue WEBSITE www.freerangeoffice.com
