It should come as no surprise that a town like Austin, which is continually voted one of the best places to live, also has some of the best places to work.
Coworking space Impact Hub Austin, the first Impact Hub in Texas, is one of those places. With two Austin locations, including a recently opened one on North Lamar, Impact Hub is giving Austin companies a place to truly evolve.
The goals of this coworking space and community go beyond giving members access to desks, conference rooms, mailboxes, and the other amenities that a freelancer or small business might need from a basic office — although they offer those too, of course. What Impact Hub provides that’s different is opportunities for entrepreneurs, activists, creatives, and professionals to grow their businesses as they continue to grow as individuals.
Amenities include Fair Trade coffee, yerba mate, and weekly yoga and meditation classes. There are community happy hours and networking events, and personal and professional development programs, among many other perks. Perhaps the best benefit, though, is that every member of Impact Hub Austin is connected to a global network of more than 100 Impact Hubs across the globe.
Another uniquely Austin aspect of Impact Hub is its focus on social impact and sustainability. One way the company is bettering the world? Its affordable housing accelerator, a three-month program that focuses on advocacy, innovation, and financing to develop solutions for the housing affordability crisis in Austin. The next social impact accelerator is set to launch in the spring and will focus on workforce development.
All that being said, a coworking space can only be as good as the neighborhood in which it's located. Impact Hub checks that box, too, with a North Lamar location situated right in the middle of the North Austin Business District, making it easy for members to meet with clients or colleagues.
The Monroe location is right off South First Street, which means it’s conveniently within walking distance of such favorite Austin spots as Elizabeth Street Cafe, Fresa's, and Seventh Flag Coffee.
As if that weren’t enough, both spaces are beautifully designed, which never hurts when you’re looking for inspiration or creativity. The Lamar location, which was once the Texas State Troopers Recreation Center, was transformed through a custom design collaboration between Brian Schoenbaum of Vuka Collective, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, Principal Architects, and Chris McCray of McCray & Co. Goods and Services.
The stunning space features 25-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows; a gourmet kitchen; and fun furnishings, including an indoor couch swing (yes, you read that right). The Monroe location includes handmade furniture, light fixtures made from tree branches, and a backyard with a fire pit and disc golf course. It’s hard to imagine a better spot to get work done and make a difference.
Watch the video below to get an inside peek at Impact Hub's Monroe Street community, then go here to see how you can get a complimentary day of coworking.
The Monroe Street location is eclectic and inspiring.
