Brick Interior Walls? What Gives???
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Toni Hogan
Apr 26, 2012, 8:14:19 PM4/26/12
to Coworking
So, my curiosity has finally gotten the best of me. Is it just a
coincidence that most of the coworking spaces I am checking out on the
web have brick interior walls. Or, is this a faux feature that was
added? I'm feeling left out. :-)
coincidence that most of the coworking spaces I am checking out on the
web have brick interior walls. Or, is this a faux feature that was
added? I'm feeling left out. :-)
Alex Hillman
Apr 26, 2012, 8:43:51 PM4/26/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
Toni,
Many coworking spaces were created by people who were interested in office-format functionality but had been turned off by "office-like" conditions of corporate offerings. Sterile white walls, carpeted or tiled floors, fluorescent lights, etc.
Many of the "loft" or "industrial" textures found in coworking spaces are attractive alternatives to those people. You'll find hardwood floors or polished concrete, exposed bricks, exposed ventilation, etc to be very common for these reasons. Also common are large windows to provide a lot of natural sunlight.
The "rough edges" of many of these textures often inspire creativity, since unfinished space tends to feel designed for creating.
Don't feel like you need those features to be successful just because other coworking spaces have them, though. The key is that the features are attractive to YOUR members, not ours. Talk to your members, show them pictures of other workspaces, and find out what they're drawn to.
-Alex
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Toni Hogan
Apr 26, 2012, 9:01:46 PM4/26/12
to Coworking
:-) Thanks Alex. For us to adapt those physical features it would cost
a lot of money. We're working with what we have. I just thought it was
becoming less of a coincidence that I was noticing these features.
We did get one pleasant surprise though. I guess the first time when
went to see our space it was raining. In fact, I remember it was
because I was looking for leaks. Well, when we got the keys the other
day we noticed that each of the side quads have huge skylights for
plenty of natural light. Totally awesome!
Oh, we also have 8 showers and 2 bathtubs. LOL
TH
On Apr 26, 7:43 pm, Alex Hillman <dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Toni,
>
> Many coworking spaces were created by people who were interested in office-format functionality but had been turned off by "office-like" conditions of corporate offerings. Sterile white walls, carpeted or tiled floors, fluorescent lights, etc.
>
> Many of the "loft" or "industrial" textures found in coworking spaces are attractive alternatives to those people. You'll find hardwood floors or polished concrete, exposed bricks, exposed ventilation, etc to be very common for these reasons. Also common are large windows to provide a lot of natural sunlight.
>
> The "rough edges" of many of these textures often inspire creativity, since unfinished space tends to feel designed for creating.
>
> Don't feel like you need those features to be successful just because other coworking spaces have them, though. The key is that the features are attractive to YOUR members, not ours. Talk to your members, show them pictures of other workspaces, and find out what they're drawn to.
>
> -Alex
>
> --
> /ah
> indyhall.org
> coworking in philadelphia
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 8:14 PM, Toni Hogan wrote:
> > So, my curiosity has finally gotten the best of me. Is it just a
> > coincidence that most of the coworking spaces I am checking out on the
> > web have brick interior walls. Or, is this a faux feature that was
> > added? I'm feeling left out. :-)
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to cowo...@googlegroups.com (mailto:cowo...@googlegroups.com).
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com (mailto:coworking+...@googlegroups.com).
a lot of money. We're working with what we have. I just thought it was
becoming less of a coincidence that I was noticing these features.
We did get one pleasant surprise though. I guess the first time when
went to see our space it was raining. In fact, I remember it was
because I was looking for leaks. Well, when we got the keys the other
day we noticed that each of the side quads have huge skylights for
plenty of natural light. Totally awesome!
Oh, we also have 8 showers and 2 bathtubs. LOL
TH
On Apr 26, 7:43 pm, Alex Hillman <dangerouslyawes...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Toni,
>
> Many coworking spaces were created by people who were interested in office-format functionality but had been turned off by "office-like" conditions of corporate offerings. Sterile white walls, carpeted or tiled floors, fluorescent lights, etc.
>
> Many of the "loft" or "industrial" textures found in coworking spaces are attractive alternatives to those people. You'll find hardwood floors or polished concrete, exposed bricks, exposed ventilation, etc to be very common for these reasons. Also common are large windows to provide a lot of natural sunlight.
>
> The "rough edges" of many of these textures often inspire creativity, since unfinished space tends to feel designed for creating.
>
> Don't feel like you need those features to be successful just because other coworking spaces have them, though. The key is that the features are attractive to YOUR members, not ours. Talk to your members, show them pictures of other workspaces, and find out what they're drawn to.
>
> -Alex
>
> --
> /ah
> indyhall.org
> coworking in philadelphia
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 8:14 PM, Toni Hogan wrote:
> > So, my curiosity has finally gotten the best of me. Is it just a
> > coincidence that most of the coworking spaces I am checking out on the
> > web have brick interior walls. Or, is this a faux feature that was
> > added? I'm feeling left out. :-)
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com (mailto:coworking+...@googlegroups.com).
Don Morrison
Apr 26, 2012, 8:16:12 PM4/26/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
Toni,
We're all drywall at Reno Collective. :-)
--
Don Morrison
@elskwid
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Chris Ritchie
Apr 27, 2012, 1:15:35 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
There are also a lot of ways to dress a place up without resorting to installing brick walls and ventilation pipes. Natural light is good, creative gathering spaces are excellent. Local artist galleries are a great way of giving your space a creative feel. I actually thought up an idea for doing a weekend "art studio" day, where folks would come down and use paint and canvases I provided to create art to be displayed. Team building + community building all in one.
Toni Hogan
Apr 27, 2012, 1:56:49 PM4/27/12
to Coworking
Chris, my husband is working on "gathering" youth and adult artists so
he would love the idea of a weekend "art studio." He and our 15 year
old son are the co-founders of YoungMAC (Young Minds are Creative) so
our space will be their lab/studio. Our 13 year old daughter is an
artist with talent in pencil, chalks, digital and photography. She's
getting into paints so a weekend studio would be awesome for her to be
around other more experienced artists. hmmmm, Art Connexion....
Out of curiosity I search for faux brick and it actually exists. LOL!
But, we won't go there. I am actually sitting in the space alone now
getting a "feel" for it. :-)
Toni
he would love the idea of a weekend "art studio." He and our 15 year
old son are the co-founders of YoungMAC (Young Minds are Creative) so
our space will be their lab/studio. Our 13 year old daughter is an
artist with talent in pencil, chalks, digital and photography. She's
getting into paints so a weekend studio would be awesome for her to be
around other more experienced artists. hmmmm, Art Connexion....
Out of curiosity I search for faux brick and it actually exists. LOL!
But, we won't go there. I am actually sitting in the space alone now
getting a "feel" for it. :-)
Toni
Tony Bacigalupo
Apr 27, 2012, 2:19:33 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
FWIW our brick was hiding behind drywall when we moved in. The first thing we did after signing the lease was tear down the walls :-)
We wouldn't have known the brick was there if not for the fact that we visited an upstairs space that was undergoing construction.
Echoing what others have said, a lot can be done with different kinds of spaces. Lighting is probably one of the most critical things, as well as use of color.
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Aliza Torok Schlabach
Apr 27, 2012, 4:19:50 PM4/27/12
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Tony,
I am fairly confident that there is a lot of brick hiding behind drywall or sheetrock in what will hopefully be our future space. May I ask how much effort, time, and cost was involved in exposing your brick? The two architects I've had walk through the space said that it could be very messy/costly to expose it... but I LOVE the look of that exposed brick.
Thanks!
Aliza Schlabach
Founder, Coworking for Parents
Chad Ballantyne
Apr 27, 2012, 4:25:21 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
We are in an 1800's building - where all the brink is covered with stucco. Yes - heard it's really messy to take off and make nice. (chip off, sand blast, clean up) We'd love to release the brick though!
Chad
Tony Bacigalupo
Apr 27, 2012, 4:33:26 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
It wasn't cheap. Pulling off the drywall and treating the bricks cost us something in the neighborhood of $10,000. We only spent as much as we did on buildout because we got a good deal on rent, so we could justify amortizing the cost of some upfront construction over the life of the lease.
If we had any cash to spare at all, we would have sandblasted the bricks to bring out their color even more.
Randall G. Arnold
Apr 27, 2012, 4:35:22 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
IF it's just sheetrock (aka drywall), then removal doesn't have to be costly and the mess would be minimal (some chalk dust alog with pieces to be carted off). But if there is other structure involved, such as studs, etc, then the cost would certainly go up. Sheetrock isn't typically attached directly to brick; there are usually wodden standoffs or firr out involved. Maybe even a chase (if there is a chase and it's used for utilities, THAT could be an issue).
Stucco... well... removing THAT can get VERY costly and messy...
Randy
On April 27, 2012 at 4:19 PM Aliza Torok Schlabach <aschl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Tony,
>
> I am fairly confident that there is a lot of brick hiding behind drywall or
> sheetrock in what will hopefully be our future space. May I ask how much
> effort, time, and cost was involved in exposing your brick? The two
> architects I've had walk through the space said that it could be very
> messy/costly to expose it... but I LOVE the look of that exposed brick.
>
> Thanks!
>
> *Aliza Schlabach*
> Founder, Coworking for Parents
> www.CoworkingForParents.com <http://www.coworkingforparents.com/>
> <aschl...@gmail.com>
> 215.858.4658
> Sign up for our email newsletter <http://www.coworkingforparents.com/> | Join
> our Meetup group <http://www.meetup.com/CoworkingForparents/> | Like us on
> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/CoworkingForParents>
> Founder, Coworking for Parents
> www.CoworkingForParents.com <http://www.coworkingforparents.com/>
> <aschl...@gmail.com>
> 215.858.4658
> Sign up for our email newsletter <http://www.coworkingforparents.com/> | Join
> our Meetup group <http://www.meetup.com/CoworkingForparents/> | Like us on
> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/CoworkingForParents>
Tom Brandt
Apr 27, 2012, 4:55:39 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
The previous owner of Workantile removed the drywall and plaster covering the interior brick walls of our 1890s building. The wals looks great now, but it was a hell of a lot of work for Mike to do it.
Randall G. Arnold
Apr 27, 2012, 5:07:58 PM4/27/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
Right, I was saying IF it's just sheetrock, no big deal really. I've done quite a bit of remodeling and tearing down sheetrock walls can stir up a lot of dust but there's really not much to it.
Otherwise, if plaster, stucco or similar materials are involved, it CAN be a big deal. Sorry if that was unclear.
Randy
On April 27, 2012 at 4:55 PM Tom Brandt <twbr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The previous owner of Workantile removed the drywall and plaster covering
> the interior brick walls of our 1890s building. The wals looks great now,
> but it was a hell of a lot of work for Mike to do it.
>
> On Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 4:35 PM, Randall G. Arnold <
> randall...@texrat.net> wrote:
>
> > **
Angel Kwiatkowski
Apr 28, 2012, 10:20:15 AM4/28/12
to cowo...@googlegroups.com
Who doesn't love some good exposed brick!? Cohere's entire brand was based off of the exposed brick in our last building ( I don't recommend that approach). The background of our site is an actual photo of the brick too seen at
http://coherecommunity.com/ so you can imagine my panic when we were looking at new spaces. Thankfully the members picked a brick building and our area has a large brick fireplace so I was able to keep going with that theme. The rest of our space is plain old drywall which is why I had to add hot pink desks and turquoise desks of course. :) To answer your question more directly, I think creative types who are drawn to coworking just dig the rough edges as Alex said whereas other people like the more seamless look of drywall. Now we have both-- so yay!
Toni Hogan
Apr 28, 2012, 11:07:03 AM4/28/12
to Coworking
Ha! Angel, my husband said if I added faux brick next I'd want a faux
fireplace. So, I am leaving well enough alone. :-)
Toni
On Apr 28, 9:20 am, Angel Kwiatkowski <fccowork...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Who doesn't love some good exposed brick!? Cohere's entire brand was based
> off of the exposed brick in our last building ( I don't recommend that
> approach). The background of our site is an actual photo of the brick too
> seen at http://coherecommunity.com/so you can imagine my panic when we
fireplace. So, I am leaving well enough alone. :-)
Toni
On Apr 28, 9:20 am, Angel Kwiatkowski <fccowork...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Who doesn't love some good exposed brick!? Cohere's entire brand was based
> off of the exposed brick in our last building ( I don't recommend that
> approach). The background of our site is an actual photo of the brick too
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