Angie O'Grady: Carr Workplaces Wins GWA’s 2014 ‘Most Innovative’ Award

Washington, D.C.-based Carr Workplaces garnered GWA’s 2014 Most Innovative Award, besting seven other worthy competitors – Abby Executive Suites; American Executive Centers; Cendyn Spaces; Rockefeller Group Business Centers; Select Office Suites; OffiCenters/Virtual OffiCenters; and Workbar.

Angie O’Grady and Meghan Daum accepted the award on behalf of Carr Workplaces.

There has been a rise in overall demand for coworking in the D.C. market. Yet, existing coworking options targeted younger, less formal workers. Carr Workplaces identified a unique need – coworking that embraced a strong sense of community, at a more professional, polished level. Carr developed ‘Coworking for Professionals’ – where startups and small businesses can bring and impress their clients without worrying about people in flip-flops and shorts. Carr targets small businesses and start-ups looking for a professional environment with a mix of formal and casual meeting and workspaces.

The second innovative product Carr unveiled was a new concept, ‘WorkReady Suites’, at the company’s Aon Center in Chicago. There are a growing number of small space opportunities in the Chicago market looking for subleases or small conventional leases. Realizing that some of their clients were outgrowing their center, but were not ready to leave behind the community or business services, Carr identified an opportunity to provide a next step, transitional space concept in 2,200 square feet of shell space directly adjacent to their center. Carr developed ‘WorkReady Suites’ – space ready immediately for small space tenants looking for their own branded, privately accessed suite, as well as flexibility, community and business support services.

Previous winners of the GWA Most Innovative Award were Buffalo-based Innovation Center and Minneapolis-based OffiCenters.

Click here for more

Angie O'Grady

COOxist

Executive Leadership

Washington DC