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At the corner of Ohio and State streets in downtown Chicago, a short walk from the famous Magnificent Mile, a cozy Starbucks store beckons. People sit at tables enjoying Americanos, wireless access, and all the accoutrements of what social scientists call a
“third place,” a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg.

Separate from our first place (home) and second place (office), such coffee shops, libraries, pubs, parks and other “great good places” are informal, safe, public places where people gather to soak in the atmosphere and mingle with others. But this Starbucks, like any third place, has problems as a workplace. The coffee’s great and the ambiance is a refreshing break from the office, but this is no place for serious work. There’s little privacy for information on flat screens or in printed material. Holding a conversation is a public event, and the amount of space to work in is limited, at best. There’s a reason it’s a third place, after all.

A better place for work, with its own welcoming ambiance, sits less than a hundred yards away at 12 East Ohio. It’s called Workspring, and it’s specifically designed for knowledge work away from the office. With different workspaces for one or two workers or as many as 25, it offers all the tools and support we expect from a well-considered, thoughtful office, plus many of the comforts of home.