Society of Work, Chattanooga’s first coworking space, is expanding to a second downtown location in early 2018. Society of Work, which first started in the First Tennessee building in 2013, is no stranger to expansion, having recently tripled in size and office space in The Edney Building.
This 14 office expansion will be at 800 Market Street on the second floor of the Loveman’s Building.
The 5,600-square foot space has been home to several growing businesses, serving as Lamp Post Group’s headquarters since 2010 and more recently, headquarters to Dynamo. Lamp Post Group has used the space to incubate startups, but as the startups grew, many required dedicated offices of their own. In 2015, Lamp Post Group invested in Lamp Post Properties to serve this growing need, and today Lamp Post Properties’ portfolio includes six buildings in the Chattanooga Innovation District that are all geared toward the small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Enter Society of Work, a company that provides office and workspace to growing businesses. Home to over 70 different companies, Kelly Fitzgerald, owner and founder of Society, said, “We’ve seen the businesses at Society grow quickly and we’re now able to continue supporting their growth with larger office space.”
While the two companies could be deemed as competitors, both providing office space in downtown Chattanooga, founders Kelly Fitzgerald and Tiffanie Robinson see value in working together to help grow businesses in Chattanooga.
“Lamp Post Properties is excited to be a partner in this expansion. Society of Work’s coworking space is so critical to growing businesses in Chattanooga, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about this partnership as it aligns with our mission to serve Chattanooga’s startup and small business community ” said Tiffanie Robinson, president of Lamp Post Properties.
“This space means a lot to us, and we couldn’t be more confident that it’s in good hands,” said Ted Alling, one of three original founders of Lamp Post Group.
Society of Work member Kevin Christopher, founder of Christopher Intellectual Property, has an office with Society at The Edney Building but his growing team needs more space. He said “As an IP lawyer, I spend a lot of time immersed in case files and technical plans. One of the things I love most about having an office with the SOW is the ability to immediately/proximately/presently engage with creative entrepreneurs and visionaries that, like me, are pursuing the work they love. I'm fortunate to have a partner in SOW that can offer larger office space within the entrepreneur-sharpens-entrepreneur model of co-locating as my practice grows.”
Society of Work’s Loveman’s space is due to open Jan. 1, 2018. For more information, email hello@societyofwork.com or call 423 449-9112.