Describing Epicentral without an understanding of their industry is nearly impossible. At the same time, describing Epicentral after you do have a grasp on their industry does not get much easier, but that will serve as our approach for this edition of the Culture Spotlight. Coworking, a fairly new industry that began to spread in America in 2005, is as much an ideology as it is a business. From a corporate perspective, coworking space provides meeting rooms, business essentials (printing, tech for meetings, etc.), offices, dedicated desks, or just a comfortable place to work next to likeminded individuals in a lobby style setting. Everything we just named are considered excellent amenities that can help drive any business to grow. With that said, you can also find a similar set up in a number of other business structures (executive suites, incubators, etc.) What sets the coworking industry apart from any other is the overriding commitment to building community. Epicentral fulfills this commitment better than any company that we have come across not named Apple. And yes, we mean it.
Your first step into Epicentral is an immediate notification that you have entered an ecosystem, not a business. The energy can best be described as youthful, yet intellectually demanding. The members that make up the Epicentral community range from Lawyers and Chefs, with everyone else from software engineers to education based businesses lengthening the spectrum. It is difficult to walk 20 feet in any given direction without seeing a contribution from a local business, creative, or entrepreneur. Any attempt at a compliment regarding the decor is promptly met with the explanation of who created it, what they do for work, and whether or not they are a current member. The establishment is a constant reminder that the place exists to make your life as a business owner as comfortable as possible. The light-hearted aura that radiates from Epicentral is palpable, but it never leaks into unprofessionalism. There is something about walking past the community keg on your way to a meeting room outfitted with Apple TV and Google Chromecast that screams “don’t forget to enjoy your hard work,” and that is something that everyone can benefit from.
In hopes of getting a better understanding of how Epicentral was able to create an ecosystem that is buzzing with success, we sat down with culture cultivators Frank Frey and Courtney Alberson to dig into the secrets of coworking. Check it out below.