New year, new work community? Maybe you’re a remote worker who has been a little *too* alone so far this year. Or you’re an independent business owner who is looking for a space to call home. If that sounds like you, Gravitate has a community, a desk, and free coffee with your name on it.
Written by Giovanna Zavell, DSMG Contributor
Coworking spaces are alive and well in the Des Moines area, and Gravitate Coworking is proof – going beyond just a space to work, but building community as well. Gravitate Coworking was created out of a desire for collaboration amongst individuals, all working for different companies, to work side by side. The proximity allows members of each company to form relationships and collaborate with members of the other companies nearby.
“Everyone wanted a similar environment where they could continue to collaborate and see their friends daily,” says Abby Rowling, Director of Operations. “Geoff Wood (Gravitate founder and owner) came in and said ‘guys, that’s basically a coworking space.’ Then next thing we know the first Gravitate location is opening in the building that is now the Surety Hotel.” That was back in September of 2014. Since then, three more locations have opened.
Wifi & Coffee & People & Space
“The whole purpose of Gravitate’s existence is to have a place to work where you aren’t working by yourself,” Abby says. It’s one of the reasons Abby went from client to a member of the Gravitate team.
Gravitate launched their flagship location at 500 Locust Street in the summer of 2019 after Abby and the team designed the space from scratch. A majority of features in the new location came from feedback from current members. “We asked members what they liked about the old space and what was missing,” Abby says. “We took all the suggestions and were able to design a layout that offered different functions.”
With growing membership numbers, it was obvious there was a need for coworking space in Des Moines, even pre-pandemic when the world wasn’t so familiar with remote work. So, the second Gravitate location (lovingly referred to as Midtown) opened in Windsor Heights in October of 2020.
Gravitate Team & “Stairitorium”, Photos by Oli Rowling, 2023
When the pandemic hit, there were a lot of conversations about if they would survive. The world was telling everyone to work from their homes, the exact opposite of Gravitate’s business model. But Abby stayed optimistic, even during the scary moments.
“I kept saying we were going to come out ahead, even when there was so much uncertainty,” Abby says. “Industries started closing down traditional work spaces, forcing employees to work from home or find new spaces to work from. It took a little while, but we started seeing our clients return, and a lot of new faces.” The team opened two more locations.
Gravitate opened its third location in Jefferson, Iowa (northwest of Des Moines) in January 2021–their debut in rural Iowa and an exciting chapter in introducing coworking in new spaces across Iowa. And it didn’t stop there. In February 2022, Gravitate opened its fourth location in the East Village, just above RAYGUN.
“I think we will open at least one more location this year,” Abby says. “We are sort of bursting at the seams when it comes to space, and we have a lot of members looking for private suites. It will just be a matter of the right space becoming available at the right time.”
The Perks of Working Independently, Together
“Gravitate is a space for freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers and startup team members who work independently but don’t want to work alone,” Abby says. “It’s our mission statement, and something that sets us apart because we focus so heavily on the community aspect of our space.”
For many professionals who don’t work in a typical office setting, they miss the social aspect of being in a place with other people. This became especially true with the pandemic making remote work more common and office spaces closing their doors. The lack of social interaction caused negative effects on mental health across the world. For many, joining a coworking space was the answer to finding the right social outlet.
“It’s an upgraded community space where the relationships made are on a much deeper level,” Abby says. “There are lawyers, architects, accounts, all sorts of professionals. It’s very diverse and because everyone is under one roof, from all different backgrounds, the social outlet is built in.”
From Downtown to the Jefferson locations, Gravitate members can enjoy some major perks with their membership–reliable internet, unlimited 24/7 access, printing and copying, private phone booths, assorted beverages and snacks on site, and flexibility.
Even better? Gravitate offers a number of internal events and programs for its members. One popular monthly event is “Pretzel Day,” where members from across the community share their unique interests/passions over snacks. It’s just one more way members get to know each other on a deeper level, outside of what they do professionally.
Photo by Lauren Matysik Photo, 2023
This is Abby’s favorite part of her job—seeing relationships form between people who may have never crossed paths in life if not for working at Gravitate.
“I see clients become friends all the time,” Abby says. “It starts off slow, but then next thing you know they are going out for lunch together, bringing in peaches from their garden to share, and even babysitting each others’ kids. There is a special bond between these people who work in different fields and find a community at Gravitate.”
Ready to Join?
“Our focus will always be on community, which is why we keep our membership prices affordable for every type of professional,” Abby says. “As solo professionals, they are paying out of pocket for their memberships, so we want to be sure the prices stay approachable.”
Gravitate puts an emphasis on offering a number of flexible membership packages to accommodate every type of professional. Monthly memberships can include a dedicated space, space in the community desk area or a private office.
“The unique thing about our memberships is that there is no long-term contract,” Abby says. “People can use the space as they need, when they need. Members have ultimate flexibility when it comes to Gravitate.”
Mention DSMG (or Des Moines Girl) for $100 off your first purchase of a membership!
Scared of too much commitment? Try out the a la carte options, including a day pass or punch card (that never expire!) or a meeting space rental. Be sure to visit the membership page to see which location and package works best for your work style.
Want more?
Want more behind the scenes of cool people and businesses in Des Moines. Check out our “Meet” category at the link below.
