Detroit's co-working scene keeps growing and growing

Junction 440, Detroit's newest co-working space, has opened. Located in TechTown, Junction 440 will take part in the week-long Co-Lab Detroit event beginning Jan. 20 at downtown's Bamboo Detroit. Junction 440 will host an open house on Jan. 21 with food, drink, and a staff ready to answer questions about services offered and the Tech One facility itself.

Junction 440 is a membership-based co-working space, offering relative rates for day passes, 10-pass punch cards, monthly memberships, and dedicated desks and locking file cabinets. Conference space, day lockers, bike storage, and a printing station highlight some of the amenities offered. A galley kitchen is available for local food entrepreneurs.

The co-working space is on the first floor of the Tech One building, a former General Motors design facility. Leslie Smith, President and CEO of TechTown, wanted to re-design the first floor in a way that returned the space to its urban roots, she says, and restore a sense of creativity to the building where the Corvette was designed. Walls and offices were torn down to favor an open floor plan with exposed columns.

"My problem was that while there was always creativity before, you couldn't see it," says Leslie. "Our goal was to extrovert the work and make the creativity more exposed."

The space has opened in time to participate in Co-Lab Detroit. The event highlights Detroit's growing co-working scene with many of the city's different facilities offering open houses and events Jan. 20 through Jan. 24. Located in various parts of the city, the spaces participating include Bamboo Detroit, An Office in Detroit, Bizdom, Practice Space, Grand Circus, and Junction 440. OmniCorpDetroit will host the after party. On the last day of the event, Jan. 24, each space will offer a free day of co-working to the public.

Source: Leslie Smith, President and CEO of TechTown
Writer: MJ Galbraith