Take a tour of Spark KC coworking facility
Spark Kansas City isn't a run-of-the-mill office space.
For starters, the two-level coworking facility's entrance sits at the bottom of the Two Light luxury apartment high-rise at 1475 Walnut St. in Downtown.
And its modern and funky vibe incorporates nods to Kansas City, including a two-story mural by local artist JT Daniels that depicts seven innovators. Most have local ties, including Tech N9ne, Walt Disney and Clara Stover, co-founder of chocolate maker Russell Stover. Also featured is jazz pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams.
The facility wanted to feature innovators from all walks for life, said Shervonne Cherry, director of community and partnerships for Spark Coworking, which also has a location in Baltimore.
The 15,000-square-foot space features dedicated and nondedicated desks, 36 private offices for one to five people and three suites for 10 to 15 people. Spark also offers $15 day passes. It can accommodate as many as 144 members and has commitments for 30% of its space.
Some of the coworking perks include concierge mail service, unlimited printing and shredding, nitro coffee on tap from Messenger Coffee Co. and access to amenity partnerships, such as corporate rates for Southwest Airlines.
Spark also is pet friendly, and one of its amenity partners takes member dogs on field trips once a month to Kansas City-based Bar K, a spacious dog park that also includes a restaurant/bar and event space.
The conference rooms exude a creative flair and feature large windows overlooking Downtown. The company wanted the spaces to be collaborative and engaging – not boring, Cherry said.
A variety of seating is available throughout the facility, including stadium seating for hosting events, such as movie nights and demo days. On the second level, one area houses booths surrounded by records tied to Kansas City musicians.
Spark has seen an uptick in interest from corporations seeking office space, which Cherry credited to changes amid the pandemic. Instead of getting locked into long-term leases, the companies are looking for spaces that offer more flexibility, and Spark leases month-to-month. Other corporations view coworking space as an employee perk and a retention and recruiting tool, she said.
Spark's mission is to foster entrepreneurship and technical innovation. In addition to hosting events, it focuses on forging partnerships with area organizations to advance entrepreneurship.
"Our focus is, what can we do that will best support our membership?" she said.
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