Green Spaces

Green Spaces is pretty much the perfect place to focus and hone my creativity.
This is the second month of my being a member, and I can’t think of a better place to work. Whether it’s developing on a new business concept, writing, or just studying, Green Spaces allows you to work in a non-​corporate, relaxed, friendly environment. The collaborative climate also means you can bounce ideas off other professionals of all types, but if you’re a person who just likes to come in, do some business solo, and take off, Green Spaces is perfect for that as well.
You will also be part of a positive, eco-​conscious, environmentally friendly, and ever-​expanding community, which means you will have no problem getting your business certified green.
Bottom line: if you’re a freelance writer, a developer, an entrepreneur, an eco-​preneur, a real estate developer, an artist, a human being, or simply someone who needs a place to get away from the suits and the politics and the attitudes, I can’t think of a perfect place for you.
The only negative is that my dog likes to introduce himself to everyone that comes through the door. Every. One. Not so much a negative for you, because he is super friendly and small, but it’s very distracting for me and maybe I’m just jealous he gets other people’s attention.

I spent only 4 months in Green Spaces (GS) as we quickly outgrew the space, but the environment is great. My favorite things: the feel and plants in the space; the ability to collaborate with people of all disciplines, this really helped my business. When Jennie expands her space we intend to return, if there is even space!

Green Spaces is a co-​working space for mobile workers, entrepreneurs, social enterprises, or freelancers looking for an office away from the home office. Personally I work for a small non-​profit that operates in a mobile environment, making Green Spaces the ideal place to come down and get some work done. Beyond the conducive work environment, it is a place to meet and collaborate with highly motivated and like-​minded individuals. The space offers a full kitchen (minus the stove) and organic coffee (included in the membership) to keep you perked up for work. The space does a great job of reusing old materials and making them useful again. This provides a very unique work environment. You can look at the old door on filing cabinets as a unique use of previously-​unwanted materials as odd, or as a smart use of materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill. It’s called «Green» spaces for a reason.
I have been in and out of Denver for the last few years which has given me a chance to see the space grow. An grow it has. Everything from the lighting to the kitchen space has dramatically improved and is continuously improving. Jennie, the founder and owner, is constantly working on the space to optimize its aesthetic and functional utility for all members and prospective members. It has also been a real pleasure to see the neighborhood grow around GreenSpaces, with new bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and small businesses coming in every day. This area used to be avoided by many business and people and considered dangerous. You now see a thriving community turning a bad neighborhood into a great place to work, live, and hang out. It’s community development at work!
Now, what inspired this review is my lament for Lamont’s review. What a terrible use of clearly strong writing skills. To tear apart a space that is trying to provide a very useful service to a community increasingly connected by fiberoptic cables is just a shame. Yes, there are some quirks, but as stated in the previous paragraph there is a continuous effort to make the space better and better — and this is contributing to making the community better and better. But it is not just Jennie working on the space, all of the members contribute in one way or another to make this communal workspace a community. Lamont’s awful review was not only harmful to Green Spaces, it was harmful to everyone who contributes to this great space and the community that surrounds it. If you’re reading this, I hope you take the time to come down and see the incredible work that has gone into turing and old warehouse space into a collaborative community of motivated individuals.

My experience at Green Spaces has and continues to exceed expectations as a coworking community. I say community because Green Spaces is so much more than simply a shared office — it is a hub for bright entrepreneurs and conscious professionals who know how to collaborate and work hard, but also play hard. We come together for informational lunches, happy hours, kickball, yoga, etc., and embrace opportunities to get to know each other and share knowledge in order to help each of our businesses advance. The space itself has undergone beautiful upgrades in the past year — the restrooms and kitchen all have gorgeous recycled granite, and there is also reused wood, «living walls» — planters with healthy plants, and lots of natural light that shines through to give the space an awesome ambience. The entire vibe of Green Spaces is full of positive energy — everyone who is there, WANTS to be there. This is not a place for people who will dread going to work no matter what. It is a place for people to contribute to a community and make the most out of their days. There are several membership levels depending on everyone’s individual office needs, including free day-​passes and cheap trial memberships — so there is no reason for anyone to jump into a commitment without knowing with full confidence that they do/​will enjoy the atmosphere. If you’re looking for a stuffy/​sterile, corporate feel, then this is probably not the place for you. Green Spaces is unique, welcoming & innovative. I love bringing friends and out-​of-​towners in to check out the space — they are always envious of my work space and always inspired to learn about all the different eco-​friendly initiatives and businesses that fill the space.

Update:
I received an e-​mail comment on my original review from Jennie, representing herself as an employee of Green Spaces in Denver, essentially saying that since I write negative reviews about negative experiences and events that therefore this review is not valid.
This is called «paralogia» or «skip logic.» Since I do not choose to write about positive experiences therefore my negatives reviews are not valid. Maybe negative experiences compel me more to complain, perhaps, and try to let others know? To say that since most other reviews are negative and hence invalid, is trying to deflect attention away from legitimate complaints and critiques.
Oh well, I guess that’s part of the reason the experience was negative. Was parking addressed? Were all the dead plants removed? Are «office spaces» still doors thrown atop trash cans? Are the prices still the same as renting an apartment? Even the five star positive review from Sara F. says she couldn’t find the space due to lack of signage.

I have been a happy member of Green Spaces Colorado for over two years. The office is a collaborative work space where entrepreneurs and small businesses are able to work separately, and together, under one roof. Although the space is casual, there are 40+ companies that have a vested interest in the environment + sustainability. It is also a great way to connect and network with all industries — there are many events and networking opportunities each month.
If you are looking for an office space in central Denver, Green Spaces is a fabulous place to check out and consider. The space also offers a free trial day to test it out!

I had a free day pass so I thought I’d pay a visit to get some work done. It is a «green» space, so the décor is mostly up-​cycled and recycled materials. My desk was a glass door mounted on supports. The chairs are hodgepodge; some are upholstered and would look decent in a living room, others have more of an office feel. If you need ergonomically correct seating, bring your own chair. And bring headphones or earplugs if you want to tune out the ambient noise. Today, for some reason, the power went out for a long stretch. I asked a regular and they said that hadn’t happened before. And if you’re looking for air conditioned comfort, this might not be the place for you. I sat near the portable swamp cooler and enjoyed the breeze, but it didn’t reach the entire room. I like the idea of this place, and applaud their green efforts, but aesthetically and infrastructure-​wise it’s a bit of a mess.

If you work from home and wish you could have a hip work environment with smart/​great people, consider a co-​op office share at Green Spaces (GS). Mary goes to Green Spaces 2 – 3 times a week and her time there is what makes telecommuting tolerable. She has found a community of friends, who just after a short time here in Denver, we now call friends. Monthly happy hours at GS and special events are incredible!
Stop in and say hi to Jennie, try out the space for a few hours, and you’ll be hooked.

I’m a freelance writer. Predominantly, I work from home or wherever I can find reliable wifi. On occasion, I crave being around other working professionals in the same boat as me. When that happens, I am a card (er, key) carrying member of Green Spaces Co-​Working facility.
This place is great for small one-​three person startups or freelance writers, graphic designers or developers. The seating at the desks is first come, first served, but you can almost always find a spot.
A lot of the times I come here, I need to use the printer or scanner or both, which comes with the membership. The wifi is secure and highly reliable. Jenny and Rebecca (the managers) are awesome and they work really hard to make sure Green Spaces isn’t just a co-​working office, but a community as well.
The name Green Spaces comes from the fact that nearly all of the businesses in the spaces have some sort of eco-​friendly angle and it’s awesome. The space is furnished with second hand material and they do their best to save resources, reuse or reduce whenever they can in the space.
My one problem with this place is that it needs more outlets. I know it’s a large, old warehouse, so they’re limited to where they can be installed, but it can be frustrating to not have the ability to plug in your laptop when juice is running low.
For anyone striking out on their own startup, I recommend this space. The vibe is great and the people are incredibly friendly.
Oh, and it’s dog-​friendly.

If I lived farther away, this might be where I’d work when I was downtown. As such, it’s a great place if you don’t live downtown. i went to the twestival held there and the space has much improved from my first visit closer to when they opened. Looks like a great place to go get some work done.