Thanks to technology, many people canโand doโwork remotely. As a result, coworking spaces are flourishing. Responding to the demand, ACE Coworking opened its doors in January in downtown Oakville and the company is already attracting a diverse group of members who work out of the shared space.
Central to ACE Coworkingโs philosophy is creating a vibrant community. โWeโre much more than just a place to work,โ says Founder and Community Director, Nancy Fornasiero. โACE Coworking is a place to collaborate, network and be inspired by other entrepreneurs and business owners.โ
The open concept workspace features large wooden desks, a quiet zone to work in peace, a relaxed and stylish lounge area, exposed brick walls, and colourful artwork by local artists. The space also boasts a rooftop patio for informal meetings or to catch some sun during lunch.
Members have access to a 12-person boardroom and smaller meeting rooms. ACE Coworking meeting rooms can be rented to non-members from $30 per hour. The workspace also offers a variety of professional development seminars, a book club, weekly yoga and regular social events.
Katie Pringle of Marigold PR is a member and says ACE Coworking offered the right culture for her companyโs growing team. โThe downtown location was also a selling point,โ says Pringle. โNancy believes in innovation and collaboration. She has curated an incredible collection of companies.โ
โWe happened to be looking for a new space when Ace Coworking was under construction, and as designers we could see Nancyโs vision,โ says member, Roger Brenninkmeyer of Riverstone Branding. โBeing in a space with people who have the same mindset is important.โ
Setting up camp at your local coffee shop can be a good cure for the work-at-home blues, but itโs not a long-term solution. It can be difficult to meet new people and build your professional network. โOur members span many fields, from creatives to the tech space to financial services,โ says Fornasiero. โThe cross-pollination of industries makes for a richer community.โ
Unlike your local cafe, ACE Coworkingโs facility is available to members 24/7. Fornasiero says sheโs happy for anyone interested in coworking to drop by for a tour and take advantage of a free day pass.
ACE Coworking offers day passes for $25 a day, a flexible month-to-month โhot deskโ membership, or community membership. Community members can make use of ACE Coworkingโs business mailing address, receive membership rates on conference rooms, and attend ACE events. Members receive free Wi-Fi, complimentary coffee and tea, as well as printing and photocopying access for monthly members.
ACE Coworking also offers reciprocal memberships with coworking spaces in other major centres. ACE Coworking is an official partner of Haltech, Haltonโs Regional Innovation Centre.
For more information, visit acecoworking.caย or drop by their space at 295 Robinson Street in Downtown Oakville.