Building Neighborhood Coworking Spaces with Mitchell From Suite Genius
How to create community hubs that serve the neighborhoods you're in
July 26, 2024
Blog
When Mitchell Purdy started his web design company over a decade ago, he struggled to find a quiet, comfortable space to work out of. Even in the vibrant city of Vancouver, shared workspaces were few and far between.
Frustrated by the lack of availability, Mitchell found a small space in the Kitsilano neighborhood and decided to start his own coworking space. 10 years later, Suite Genius is a Vancouver institution with three locations and 500+ dedicated members across the lower mainland.
We sat down with Mitchell to learn about his journey into coworking, his philosophy on community building, and what it takes to operate a successful network of coworking spaces for over a decade.
Here are five key learnings from Mitchell when it comes to starting and running community-driven neighborhood coworking spaces.
1. Create a space that serves the local community
Mitchell didn’t target a specific demographic, industry, or niche when he started Suite Genius. Instead, he focused on creating a space where people who lived in the nearby area could come and work in a comfortable setting. His vision was to create a place where local residents could come in everyday, see a familiar face, and make new connections.
This approach served him well as the coworking market grew and big name coworking spaces entered the market. Mitchell doubled down on his focus of building genuine community in local neighborhoods, attracting a memberbase who value the same.
This is part of the magic of Suite Genius, a magic they’ve preserved over the years even as the business expanded.
“We really just wanted to make a place where people could come, hang out, and do their work among other like minded people in a comfortable setting…a place where they could feel like they were a part of something.”
2. Foster community – but don’t force it
Community is tossed around a lot in the coworking world (as Mitchell says, “It’s kind of a buzzword”), but it really is essential to success.
Building friendships amongst members not only improves retention, it makes the space more comfortable for everyone to be in. Connection can’t be forced – it has to evolve over time – but there are intentional choices you can make to create an environment where community can thrive.
Everything from the music you play to the events you organize can help set the tone for the kind of community you want to create. The nice thing is, once you go through the hard work of setting up a community, it’s much easier to maintain.
“It's quite interesting because it's tough to just turn community on. But once it's there and it's set up, you don't really have to do anything. You can let the community continue to foster it themselves, which is fun to watch.”
3. Your kitchen can be your greatest asset
Walk into any Suite Genius location and one of the first things you’ll notice are the beautiful kitchens that serve as a central gathering place for the community.
Mitchell intentionally creates big, member-oriented, self-serve kitchens to encourage natural convening and “water cooler” chats throughout the day. Members are encouraged and empowered to use these kitchens however they like, whether to meet a client or host their own happy hour.
It’s a simple way of designing the space that makes it easier to connect with members.
“We have big member-oriented kitchens where members can do whatever they like. If they want to host a little side happy hour for their friends or their customers, go for it. We empower them to use the space like it's their own office or home.”
4. Leverage technology to be more efficient
The economics of running a coworking space can be challenging, especially in a city like Vancouver where the cost of real estate is high. As with any small business, Mitchell encourages operators to do whatever they can to find cost-savings and efficiencies in their day-to-day operations.
Fortunately, there is a host of technology available to help operators do just that. Mitchell relies on Optix and Kisi to help him automate his coworking space. With a robust coworking technology ecosystem in place, he’s able to make his operations more efficient, eliminating the need for manual work and reducing the cognitive load for him and his team.
Not only does technology make his operations more efficient, it creates a better experience for members and thus, is a positive reflection of the Suite Genius brand.
“Community managers can get into Optix, do all of their stuff there, and we're finding now that we're a few months in, they're doing it all more efficiently.”
5. Make it easy for people to be their best selves
When you run a coworking space, you have the unique opportunity to watch people evolve and grow over time. As an operator, Mitchell feels fortunate to be able to pay witness to all of the incredible things members have been able to accomplish, both inside and outside of Suite Genus.
Running a coworking space means listening to people, supporting them, and ultimately encouraging and empowering them to be their best selves.
What Mitchell has created with Suite Genius is a place where people are free to be who they really are.
“We're providing a space for members to just do their thing and hopefully find their success. That never gets old and is absolutely what brings me in every day.”
There’s magic in being a neighborhood coworking space
Some operators have aspirations of building national or global brands. Mitchell’s vision remains firmly rooted in enriching the Vancouver community, and fostering a nurturing environment where individuals gather, exchange knowledge, and evolve together.
So, while “community” may feel like a buzzword in the coworking world, Mitchell has proven that when it’s genuine, it can be the heartbeat of your success.
The value that Mitchell and the rest of the Suite Genius team have given to the community is impossible to measure. Through his dedication and commitment, he has become a cornerstone of coworking in the city, inspiring gratitude and admiration among his members, and becoming a true leader in the industry.
We’re proud to power this local space, and we look forward to continuing to grow alongside Mitchell and his passionate community!
