vancouverMost people pick a coworking space the way they pick a gym: closest one, cheapest plan, done. That works if all you need is a desk and Wi-Fi. But if you work alone, the space you pick is also your office social life. It decides who you say good morning to, who you eat lunch with, and who you complain about the coffee with.
I think that part matters more than the chair. So this guide is about choosing a Vancouver coworking space for the people in it. Every space below comes from the directory's coworking page.
First, decide what you want from it
Before you tour anything, be honest about why you want a space. There are roughly three answers:
- You want focus. You need a quiet place that is not your kitchen. Community is a bonus.
- You want colleagues. You miss having people around. You want familiar faces and someone to eat lunch with.
- You want your people. You want a room full of folks who do work like yours, so you can trade advice, referrals and gossip.
The first answer can live almost anywhere. The second and third depend much more on the space.
The kinds of coworking spaces in Vancouver
Spaces built around a shared mission
The HiVE is coworking for the social impact sector. It has 150+ people and a cafe-like studio culture. If you work at a nonprofit, a social enterprise or anything near it, this is the closest thing to a ready-made peer group. Your desk neighbour might already know your funder.
Small, boutique spaces
L'Atelier Vancouver is a boutique space in Gastown. The listing calls it stylish, collaborative and affordable. Small spaces are where you learn everyone's name fast, which is the whole point if you want colleagues.
Neighbourhood spaces
Suite Genius Kitsilano is at 1965 West 4th Ave. It has shared workspace, private offices and event space. If you live in Kits, a space you can walk to is a space you will actually use. Use is what turns strangers into regulars.
Coworking Vancouver (Design & Construction) is in East Vancouver, near breweries and creative businesses. If your work is hands-on or creative, the neighbourhood around a space counts too. After-work plans are easier when the brewery is down the street.
Practical spaces
Vancubers has meeting rooms and a virtual office, and it is set up for creativity and collaboration. This is a good fit if you need a business address and a room to meet clients.
Big networks
WeWork Vancouver has multiple locations and runs networking events. The feel is professional. A big network gives you flexibility. The trade-off is that bigger rooms can feel anonymous unless you show up to the events.
Try a day pass before you commit
Do not sign a monthly plan off a tour. A tour shows you the space at its best, usually mid-morning with the light coming in. Ask if the space has a day pass or a trial day. Then work there on a normal weekday, ideally twice.
While you are there, notice a few things:
- Do people talk to each other, or does everyone wear headphones all day?
- Is there a kitchen or common table where people actually eat together?
- Are there regular events, and do members go to them?
- Who is the community manager, and do they introduce you to anyone?
On a tour, ask what kind of work most members do. Ask what the last member event was. If nobody can remember, that tells you something.
How to actually meet people at a coworking space
Paying for a desk does not make friends. Showing up does. These are the habits that work:
- Pick fixed days. Go Tuesday and Thursday every week. The same people tend to come on the same days, so you will start to see the same faces.
- Sit in the open. A closed office is great for focus and terrible for meeting anyone. Work from the shared tables at least some of the time.
- Eat lunch in the kitchen. It is the easiest place to start a conversation that is not about work.
- Go to the events, even the awkward ones. Event nights are where members who never talk at their desks finally do.
- Ask one person one question. "What are you working on?" is enough. Most people at coworking spaces are a bit lonely too.
This is the same rule I use for making friends in Vancouver in general. Friendship comes from repetition. Go three times before you judge a place. The first day you are the new person. By the third week someone will save you a seat.
If the space is quiet, bring your own people
Some spaces are great desks but quiet rooms. That is fine. You can pair a calm space with a group that meets in the evening. Vancouver has a lot of tech meetups, founder circles and dev meetups, and they are a good way to meet people who work like you do.
Not sure where to start? Browse all coworking spaces, look through the tech and startup groups, or add a coworking community I've missed.
Part of the Vancouver Community Directory — a free, community-built list of 250+ groups, clubs, and meetups across the city.