It’s been a gut wrenching year for many people, and even harder for those who operate small businesses. It’s been a blessing to be part of the network of current members and alumni as we navigate the challenges of COVID-19. Physical space and services are not the most valuable thing that TPC provides, rather it is the natural camaraderie that blossoms among people striking out on their own, be they working freelance for the first time, starting a business, or transitioning their team from a corporate headquarters to a remote arrangement.

Work has shifted rapidly for many people this year. COVID accelerating trends that have been happening for decades. The reactionary pundits and hot takes that flooded news outlets in March and April, got a lot wrong though. The office is not dead, it just needs to evolve. The underlying reasons we work near others have not gone away. Not only are tens of thousands of years of evolution at play (one could argue we survived as a species because we were able to work together), there are important productivity and psychological benefits provided by in-person work, if the space is designed with its occupants in mind. The office can be better, but it’s not extinct.

For that reason, our team feels good about the long term prospects for coworking and where passionate independent operators like TPC fit into the rapidly changing definition of what it means to go to work. We remain committed to our goal of providing thoughtfully designed spaces for people to do their most important work. Whether that important work is hosting a quarterly offsite or morale event for your newly remote team (when its safe to do so), or using an office as a focus space for team members who need to finish a project on a deadline, TPC is dedicated to providing best in class services and spaces suited for the many forms that work takes throughout your year, week and even within a given day.

In September, we agreed to terms for TPC to become the new operator at 92 Lenora St. in Belltown. This historic building was built in 1907 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. It has also been a large part of the history of independently owned coworking in Seattle. Caitlin Agnew and Lana Morisoli opened The Makers Space, a beautifully designed coworking and events space in 2012. The space was very well received and they built one the earliest and most dynamic coworking communities in Seattle. They expanded in 2014, doubling their footprint and eventually sold to Makers member and entrepreneur, David Letaw in 2018. David and his team took the baton running and grew the Makers community and reputation further, cementing it as a pillar of the downtown Seattle community before closing in 2020.

The Pioneer Collective team is excited to carry on the legacy of what came before us, while implementing our unique approach to design, operations and community building. We believe our Belltown location, located just a block from Pike Place Market, will make the perfect addition to our coworking spaces in Downtown Tacoma and Pioneer Square. We will continue to provide updates here on the blog as well as on Instagram and our website as we move towards opening in January of 2021.

For inquiries, please email seattle@thepioneercollective.com

Thank you for your support over the years and as we take this next step in the TPC journey!