A new space. Take two.

Last week Dave Winer said he liked my post about the need for a new type of space in Berkeley. I thought I’d write an update to keep track of where my idea on this has been going.

We need a free, collaborative, publicly accessible space in Berkeley to host meetups. The problem is this is a new culture, a new way of organizing, a new way of interacting when together, and we don’t have spaces really designed to support it yet.

For instance, I heard about nerdnite last week.  This is something Berkeley should be able to do and do well but I don’t know where we should make it happen.  I got some suggestions from friends online but none of them seemed to really fit.  This event needs beer, but it needs classroom type functionality as well.  A friend on twitter suggested the Albatross which might be the pre-internet version of this kind of place. It sustains small to medium sized groups of people hanging out, playing games, drinking and having fun.  If I designed the Albatross today it would sustain larger groups and the type of “fun” would switch to something revolving more around the internet (darts, pool tables, games, and quiz night will never loose their place btw).

Important Elements for a New Space

1. Size of groups - want the ability to host medium or large groups
2. Collaboration functionality - want wireless, outlets, projector, printer, whiteboard, online community, backchannels etc.
3. Cost - want cost of bar or cafe (but with no purchase necessary for reservations)
4. Public access - want bar or cafe type access not coworking/conference rentals
5. Fun Factor - can’t all be stale office space or classroom
6. Is work possible - can’t all be noisy bar cafe 
7. Hours - want cafe hours

So to me this becomes a space that is open long hours like coffee shops. Has a large malleable or permeable space that can switch easily between small, medium and large groups while giving some groups privacy when necessary.  It is financially supported like a cafe or bar so it is open to all.  It is more social than an office or classroom but is not entirely a loud bar or cafe.  It might allow other food in.  It might list suggested donations for large groups or accept tips in exchange for space (instead of purchases). It will have wireless, outlets, projectors, printer, whiteboard, online networks, a calendar for public use, 1 to many communications, and many to many communications available in the space.

I would like to actually start working on making something like this happen for Berkeley. If you have any ideas or suggestions please leave a comment.

Below are some of my notes.

Pros and cons of present spaces

Bars

• Pros
  • Social
  • Big Groups
  • Fun
  • Good hours
• Cons
  • No internet
  • No whiteboard
  • No projector
  • Have to buy food and drinks

Cafe

• Pros
  • Cheap Wireless
  • Lots of people - kinda social
  • Work gets done
  • Good hours
• Cons
  • Kinda social
  • Solo or very small groups
  • Have to drink coffee, buy snacks
  • No larger collaboration
  • No projector

Classroom

• Pros
  • Collaborative
  • Big Groups
  • Projector
  • Internet & Power
  • Office type utilities
• Cons
  • Private, not just open to public
  • No fun
  • No food or drinks available
  • Short hours

Conference Spaces

• Pros
  • Collaborative
  • Big groups
• Cons
  • Costs money
  • Not just open to public
  • No food or drinks available

Offices

• Pros
  • Collaborative
  • Medium Size Groups
• Cons
  • Not just open to public
  • No food or drinks available
  • Not really fun
  • Short hours

Coworking Space

• Pros
  • Collaborative
  • Work gets done
  • Good setting
• Cons
  • Cost money
  • Not just open to public
  • Short hours

Comments (View)

By jamesmunn  •  Friday, August 14, 2009  • nerdnite,  coworking  cafes  meetup  berkeley  albatross 

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