Future, prospective tenants, curious onlookers tour new Norwich shared workspace facility
Norwich — Most of the dozen people who attended a tour and informational session Friday were seeing the new Foundry 66 shared workspace facility in the former Norwich Bulletin building for the first time.
But Stephanie Fielding brought a car full of boxes to move into the office she already has rented in the building that won't open until Oct. 3.
“I think it's a great idea,” Fielding said of Foundry 66, which is run by the Norwich Community Development Corp. “I'm looking forward to it being filled up. My office isn't ready yet, so I'll take the front room for now.”
Fielding will retire next month as a member of the Mohegan Tribe's Council of Elders and will use her new office to work on publishing five bilingual children's books in English and Mohegan language.
Fielding won't have to wait long to see Foundry 66 at 66 Franklin St. filled up. All but one of the available six formal offices already are rented, said NCDC Marketing Director Miria Toth, who led tours of the facility Friday.
About 30 to 40 “flex space” seats will be available for daily or monthly rentals in the spacious front lobby or at several cubical desks or “phone cubes” for private calls.
Members will have use of the copy center, Wi-Fi, coffee and tea, use of a kitchenette, office services and lockers.
Two front conference rooms also could be rented by businesses for one-time use. Each will be equipped with video screens. Large dry-erasable white boards will be set up in the flex space areas.
Rent for the formal offices range from $250 to $400 per month. The last available small office is $250 per month, Toth said.
Annual and monthly members will have 24-hour access to the facility, while those paying $20 for a day would have access during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with assistance from office manager Vanessa Robinson.
NCDC will move into the large office behind Robinson's receptionist desk. NCDC staff will offer business planning and technical advice to shared workspace tenants.
In addition to Fielding, tenants include a Thai massage therapist, who plans to offer massages in the office and the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition, Toth said.
She could not yet identify two tenants who still need to sign contracts.
At Friday's informational session, Devin Schleidt, a business consultant assisting NCDC with designing the space, asked for input from those attending the tour.
Norwich videographer Brian Kobylarz suggested equipping conference rooms or private space with two-way video capability for tele-conferences and recording equipment for depositions or presentations.
Ellen Gunther, a website, advertising and marketing designer, said tables in the flex space would be too small for designing poster- or mural-sized layouts.
She suggested adding a large drafting table and easels to mount large paper design pads or poster boards.
Bonnie Hong, a retired medical business manager and current candidate for the 46th District House of Representatives, joined Friday's tour.
She said she hopes the new facility wakens the slumbering Franklin Street area, attracting additional businesses.
If you go
Tour and informational meeting at new Foundry 66 shared workspace.
When: Noon on Monday, Sept. 19
Where: 66 Franklin St., Norwich.
Admittance: Free
Call Norwich Community Development Corp. at (860) 887-6964 to register for lunch planning purposes.
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