Innovation in Office Space

Tuesday Jan 31, 2012 by Tyler Magnin - Marketing Consultant, Intrepid Labs

The view from the fourth floor of the American Twine building is impressive—not so much that there are sweeping skyline views, but more so that it puts things in perspective. On one side towers technology giants Microsoft and Genzyme, while to the other lay the homes of East Cambridge.  American Twine spans centuries, founded first as a factory producing twine. It’s warm here, with worn wood reaching over-head and bright colors highlighting conference rooms laden with brick. But it’s been vacant for nearly a year.

Once home to the Dogpatch Labs, the bright space is filling up with startups again. This time, residents are venture-backed startups of five to twenty five, looking for a home to grow. Founded by Mark Kasdorf, Intrepid Labs is elastic. All leases are month to month, and tenants can add and subtract desks as quickly as they need to. “Startups are constantly growing and contracting…it makes no sense to sign a three year traditional lease,” says Kasdorf over coffee in the cafe at Labs. Having experienced such difficulty with his own startup, Intrepid Pursuits, he’s determined to offer Labs as a solution to companies in similar situations. Last year Intrepid Pursuits grew from 4 full timers to 17.

“We want to help you take your startup to the next level.” Kasdorf says. And with the space filling at a steady rate and a plethora of future events in the works, Labs is on track to do just that for a number of companies in Boston. Upon signing the lease, Kasdorf hired his brother, Chris, to run the office. Commonly called “The Mayor,” Chris helps startups hit the ground running, keeping the kitchen stocked and the internet fast.

Building on the growing popularity in share spaces, Labs believes collaboration will materialize into growth. As Mitch Surette, its PR Officer says, “it’s the aggregation of everyone’s ideas and input that makes co-working successful.” The space itself contributes to the cultivation of a community; Labs consists of common spaces surrounding a gaping open work area. It includes eight conference rooms, a sky deck, lounge and a fully stocked kitchen and café. These shared areas ask for relaxation; a compliment to the hard working residents.

Labs is innovating in a market that hasn’t seen change in decades. They seek to take the manageable quality of the co-working wave one step further by tweaking the model for larger teams; introducing an office manager, emphasizing the community, and providing a fantastic place for groups to grow. In the red-hot center of the startup community, such qualities are certainly appealing. Labs invites you to be a part of their community and attend their kick-off event presented by the After Hours Coalition on February 1^st. For more information, visit: http://intrepid-labs.eventbrite.com

Tyler Magnin is a Marketing Consultant of Intrepid Labs.  You can check out the Intrepid Labs website by clicking here or you can follow them on Twitter (@intpdlabs) by clicking here.

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