Industrious offers affordable co-working space in River North. Studies show collaborative workspaces can boost creativity.

Co-working space isn’t just a ton of fun. The numbers are in: Sharing workspace with those in other industries can give businesses a huge edge over those in traditional corporate offices.

Industrious co-founder Justin Stewart.

Their first tenants started moving into the third floor of the vintage Adlake Building at 320 W. Ohio St. in August.  The 17,000 square-foot “hive office” balances privacy and community to cultivate inspiration, Stewart said. Industrious features 72 glass-enclosed offices that can be reserved on a month-to-month basis. Office rates start at just $400 a month – and that includes free Wi-Fi, electricity, storage and conference rooms. They all share a common area with wooden tables, brick columns and light bulbs dangling from a high ceiling – as well as a full-service coffee bar where CIW Co-op member Blue Sky Bakery & Café sells pastries.

“I wanted it to be the opposite of an office building,” Stewart said. “I wanted it to be exposed bricks, high ceilings, large windows.”

When he worked in real estate in New York, he said the stale office environment was detrimental to his productivity – which motivated him to design Industrious to foster creativity.

Kristen Baumgarten, a sales account manager for the app analytics company Flurry, just moved in Aug. 28 and said she is already feeling stimulating vibes.

“You feel like you can dress and be who you are normally, versus the stifling white walls and bright lights of a corporate office,” she said.

Her team of three fits comfortably in the northwest end of Industrious, where she said they have plenty of natural light and can take in part of the skyline. Because Flurry is based in San Francisco, Baumgarten said her branch misses out on regular interactions with the rest of the company. But because they’re in a workspace like Industrious, they can socialize with similar companies for that same social inspiration.

Private phone booths minimize distractions.

The space itself also minimizes distraction. Instead of pinball machines and foosball tables, it offers private phone booths and glass partitions that preserve the privacy of the office while creating a sense of community.

“It’s like a psychological thing almost, where you see other people out of your door,” Stewart said. “You see them working, and it inspires you.”

Some tenants have already taken advantage of the open design. Ryan Dawidjan, vice president of partnerships at the men’s custom clothing company Blank Label, said he has brainstormed with technology and branding companies also located in the space.

“It’s been nice, serendipitously bumping into people and networking within the space,” said the 21-year-old, whose area sports a 1970s barber’s chair for businessmen to relax in with a drink while waiting for their suits. “Industrious hits home with creativity, inspiration and showcasing.”

But Industrious is much more than just an office space. 

Stewart said he’s building a community among the 40 tenants, who include lawyers, accountants, architects and fashion designers. Outside of office hours, networking events and other affairs will be held in the space to highlight its tenants.

In the long run, Stewart said he hopes to build another location in Chicago and expand to other cities like Atlanta, Detroit and Boston. But he said the company will stay true to its name. And with about 150 companies applying for a slot the first month of Chicago’s lease signing, Stewart said he’ll continue to be selective in choosing tenants who will bring positive energy and motivation to the community.

And his vision will stay the same.

“I want to look at it as if I’m opening an art gallery,” he said. “I want them to be productive. I want them to be inspiring.”

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Written by: Jia You and Sophia Coleman

Photography by: Jia You