Melissa is trained as an architect (both undergrad and graduate). She learned that art is differentiated from architecture by occupancy. She thinks of architecture is the art and science of occupancy. She’s spent her career transitioning from the technical parts of architecture to the part of the building that impacts the person/human/culture/interactions that are made possible by what’s carved out by architecture.

She consults primarily with corporations and helps them make workplace policy decisions that really impact their workforce. But she considers workspace to be anywhere that people work, from hospitals to schools to traditional office buildings.

Spaces that are highly occupied are serving people’s needs

Underutilization can indicate not that people don’t need space but that that particular space isn’t serving the occupant group

She believes in “fail fast” facilities management - test work environments. If they aren’t used, they aren’t working so swap it out. She sees the coworking industry as participating in this test environment - being very consumer-focused and letting the user “vote with their feet” for what works.

Link to show notes here!

In the episode number, 33 of Everything Coworking Podcast, Jamie Russo and Dawson Williams discuss:

• How listening to operators made a difference while brokers were a negative topic in coworking.

• How a lease is important for your business.

• What are the common mistakes operators make when getting into leasing business.

• How getting general is not always a good idea.

• Why you have to pay attention to details on every lease.

• How having a flexibility to expand and contract is a must have for a coworking business.

• Why factoring in pass-throughs and operating expenses into coworking business models is important.

• How having conversations with your broker for joint adventures is great idea.

• The benefits of using a broker.

• Why Dawson is excited about Data and the information it provides.

• Why is it important to be sensitive and start measuring what kind of people are coming into your space.

• How knowing about the competition can be of great value.

• Why all operators on real estate side need to be conservative about modeling.

• The outlook of coworking over the next three to five years.

Link to show notes here!