12 Terrific Coworking Spaces in Chicago

If the number of coworking spaces in a city is any indication of its entrepreneurial health, Chicago is firing on all cylinders.

Based on a recent survey by Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and Chicago Creative Space there are 41 coworking spaces in the city, covering a staggering 868,124 square feet of space.

With competition for desk tenants fierce, coworking spaces are diversifying and expanding their services. Never mind barista-quality coffee, fast Internet access, and virtual office services – now you can find spaces with perks, such as art galleries, recording studios, indoor rock climbing, fresh produce, and herbs. And most use flexible coworking space software for easy access, booking, and managing the spaces.

The advantages of coworking are numerous.

Besides the financial benefits of sharing space, coworking offers access to networking and communities that can be invaluable to any new or growing business.

And, being part of a group of like-minded, driven people can bring focus and energy you can’t find anywhere else.

With these positives in mind, we’ve gathered together some of Chicago’s most interesting coworking spaces.

TechNexus

20 N Upper Wacker Dr #1200

TechNexus is one of the oldest coworking spaces in Chicago and prides itself on being “the gateway to collaboration for Chicago’s technology leaders.” Since 2007 it’s helped find, fund, and nurture technology companies out of its 65,000-square-foot workspace in downtown’s Lyric Opera building.

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Free Business Startup Kit

Receive six actionable guides, including a how to start a business checklist, detailed comparisons of LLCs, corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships to determine the best fit for your business, plus insights on crafting a compelling pitch deck to attract investors.

  • How to Start a Business Checklist
  • Starting a Corporation Guide
  • Is an LLC Right for You?
  • Starting a Sole Proprietorship
  • Starting Business Partnerships
  • Creating a Powerful Pitch Deck

Free Business Startup Kit

Receive six actionable guides, including a how to start a business checklist, detailed comparisons of LLCs, corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships to determine the best fit for your business, plus insights on crafting a compelling pitch deck to attract investors.

  • How to Start a Business Checklist
  • Starting a Corporation Guide
  • Is an LLC Right for You?
  • Starting a Sole Proprietorship
  • Starting Business Partnerships
  • Creating a Powerful Pitch Deck

1871

224 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza
Suite 1212

This coworking space gets its name from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but not to commemorate it. The name is a tribute to the innovation and passion that came after the fire, “a remarkable moment when the most brilliant engineers, architects, and inventors came together to build a new city.” Located in the Merchandise Mart, this incubator and coworking space offers shared and private office space, meeting rooms, and a diverse slate of events. Over the years, 1871 has added coworking software to promote easier and more flexible use of the space.

Assemble

600 W Jackson Blvd
1165 N Clark St
Opening 2017: 1720 Division in Wicker Park

Assemble has two locations (with a third to open in 2017 in Wicker Park) that boast gorgeously designed spaces with lots of natural light and close proximity to transit. They offer month-to-month leases that allow tenants to upgrade as needed, a vibrant and engaged community, and complimentary access to printing, copying, utilities, and conference rooms.

BLUE 1647

2100 S. Canalport Ave.

BLUE 1647 is a coworking space that fosters collaboration, entrepreneurialism, and creativity across many disciplines and businesses. In addition to supporting local tech startups, BLUE 1647 strives to be an education center. Hundreds of Chicago students have learned various technology skills in the space.

Coalition

405 W Superior, Floor 5 & 7
18 South Michigan Avenue, Floor 12

Coalition has six locations, with two in Chicago and others in New York and Boston. Impact’s River North location is dedicated to social innovation and boasts over 14,000 square feet spread over two floors. Energy, their second location, is in the historic Gage building in the heart of Chicago’s Loop and focuses on energy-related endeavors.

 

MakeOffices

1 North State Street #1500
541 N. Fairbanks CT Suite 2200
350 N. Orleans Street Suite #9000N

MakeOffices has three locations in Chicago. Their River North location is a good example of what you’ll get from any of their spaces: a large, well-designed space with a full complement of private offices, open desks, and other amenities. The Fairbanks Court location works primarily with health-tech startups, which is appropriate considering it has leased space from Northwestern Memorial Hospital. No matter which location you choose, you’ll find beautiful offices and vibrant coworking communities.

 

The Shift

4101 North Broadway
3432 W Diversey Ave Floor 2

The Shift has two locations, one located in Uptown on North Broadway and the second (aptly named “Second Shift”) in Logan Square on Diversey Avenue. Both have a neighborhood feel and have made serious efforts to integrate with the communities they are based out of. Besides the traditional coworking space and packages, people can rent the space for community events and gatherings.

Level Office

73 W Monroe St.
420 W Huron St.
318 W Adams St.
211 W Wacker Dr.

Bill Bennett, one of Chicago’s entrepreneur powerhouses, runs Level Office. Bennett believes in small businesses, the self-employed, and entrepreneurs and has created a space perfectly suited for their needs. Offering a modern and professional office space from which you can run your business, Level provides fully furnished, technology equipped, and amenity-rich workspaces at an affordable rate.

 

 

Brooklyn Boulders

100 S Morgan St.

With research continually pushing evidence that physical exercise is linked to improved mental ability, it makes sense to have a co-working space readily accessible from your local gym. With its climbing wall, yoga studio, and sauna, Brooklyn Boulders offers just that – all within feet of your desk. With locations in Chicago, Brooklyn, Queens, and Somerville, Massachusetts, the work-workout trend is catching on. A place where your body, mind, and fledgling startup are all welcome? Hold my phone calls, please; I’m going for a climb.

 

Free Range Office

2141 W. North Ave., 2nd Floor

Free Range Office (FREO) is a coworking and conference space with the lofty goal of promoting productivity, innovation, networking, and work-life balance. They partially achieve this goal by offering members a prime location – a slew of Chicago’s best restaurants and stores are a short walk away. They also carefully designed the 3800sf of space with a feng shui layout offering plenty of natural light, comfortable workspace options, a meeting/conference/seminar room with a 40-person capacity, and a wide array of amenities. How about a fully-equipped chef’s kitchen? Maybe a shower or a peaceful outdoor terrace? If these sound appealing, FREO might be worth checking out.

 

 

Homiey

3455 W North Ave

Picture the best of coworking spaces and your favorite internet cafe, and you get a pretty clear picture of what Homiey offers. Mobile professionals, students, and other independent entrepreneurs can all find a place to focus, collaborate, drink coffee, and ride the caffeine high to productivity. If you need a place for meeting clients, a professional-yet-cozy place for a study group or a change of scenery in your work week, homiey has you covered.

 

Roof Crop

1516 W Carroll Ave

The Roof Crop offers an unusual, idyllic landscape for green-seeking entrepreneurs. With plenty of light and abundant greenery, Roof Crop is an ideal place to collaborate, create, strategize, and spend time with nature at Chicago’s finest urban farm.

A co-working and conference room is available for booking, and a full-service kitchen and rooftop deck to enjoy the farm’s fresh produce on-site. Daily passes are $30, but you can harvest a month’s worth of visits for $310.

Chicago’s bustling with creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, and its amazing array of coworking spaces is proof of that. Got a cool business idea or a creative project? You’re bound to find the perfect coworking spot in the city, complete with easy-to-use coworking management software to make your experience even better.

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