Oficio, Co-Working Office Space in Boston
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs
As I recently moved from Florida to Massachusetts, I am on the prowl for a great marketing position. I treat my job search like a full-time job, working from either the library or Starbucks from morning until early evening. When a college friend, Nima, heard about my routine, he suggested I work out of Oficio. I decided, why not? A change of scenery is always nice, and who wouldn’t want to work on Newbury Street?
I hopped on the T and exited at Copley. I headed to 30 Newbury Street, while I enjoyed the beautiful architecture Boston is known for. When I arrived, I checked in at the reception desk.
Nima showed me around and told me about Oficio. He pointed out the gourmet coffee machine and chocolates, phone booths for private calls, copy machine and printers, conference room, and bathrooms.
I asked him about the colorful, trendy art on the walls, and he explained the concept of rotating art. He informed me Oficio supports local artists by allowing them to display their art on the walls for six months. Oficio also holds art events at their buildings and promotes featured artists’ work through social media. I thought this was such a cool way to give back to the community.
We then checked out 129 Newbury Street, where Oficio’s other office is located. Here, each office and desk is a dedicated space. However, members have access to co-working areas.
I asked Nima how he and his business partner, Charlie, had thought of the concept for Oficio. He explained what he missed when he worked from home were the people and the intellectual exchange of ideas. Additionally, Nima had experienced major hassles and spent exorbitant amounts of money when he opened his architecture practice. Charlie had spent many hours at coffee shops, and realistically, how many lattes can one person order in a day? Not to mention, a coffee shop can be distracting. That’s how they came up with the idea of a co-working office space where entrepreneurs can mix and mingle or work quietly and independently, while creating the next big idea.
I went back to the first building where I could sit at any open space. I chose a quiet spot by the window with a beautiful view of Newbury Street. Courtney, the receptionist, set me up with WiFi, and I began plugging away at my job search. I also signed up for the Oficio’s newsletter so I can stay up-to-date on upcoming networking events.
I enjoyed the energy of Oficio. The office was bright, with a spectacular view of one of Boston’s prettiest streets. The co-working space allowed for members to remain focused on their work, and the quiet conversations around me were goal-oriented and intellectual.
Today, I am back, and I chose a more central desk space. Although I am shy, I wanted to be more integrated with the vibe of the other folks. After all, one of the benefits of a co-working space is being around people.
Are you a professional who works on his or her own? Have you tried Oficio? If so, share your story in the comments section below.
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