With more businesses being Internet-based, or entrepreneurs and groups coming from outside Sudbury needing short-term space to work on projects, there is a need to have a place for them to meet and conduct business but keep costs down.
There’s a place in the south end of Sudbury catering to the need for a short-term meeting and office space, available for as little as a few hours or more long-term stays, which includes comforts like a coffee lounge and communal kitchen with a dining room.
High Rise Group Executive Suites and Offices in Sudbury is open to almost any need for short-term spaces, offering everything from small offices, to a conference room that fits around 40 people.
Co-owner Karen Hourtovenko is a nurse practitioner and counsellor who owns the building with her husband. They started High Rise Group during a slow commercial real estate market in the city, which made selling difficult. They decided to market the building as a place for businesses that don’t need as much space to operate.
“They may not have the equipment, or are international and don’t need as much physical space, and those looking to downsize in terms of space, but want to get out of their home and have a space somewhere that looks professional,” she said.
Hourtovenko explained they have a variety of office spaces, from small, one- or two-person offices to executive offices, complete with desks, computers and Internet connection available for rent for a negotiable amount of time – whatever the needs of the client. All of them, she said, have a professional look needed to reflect a business’ image.
She and her husband saw a need for a place where business owners could meet and hold conferences.
“We call it a co-working space, as opposed to a lease, which feels cold and impersonal,” she said. “Co-working space is about bringing people together. Having spaces where they can co-work together, while at the same time having their own spaces.”
Hourtovenko explained this model of sharing space allows people to come rent space for as long as they need, rather than be locked into a lease for months, or years.
The amenities include a reception area, Wi-Fi, complimentary parking, 24-hour access, and scanning and printing.
Another feature is the coffee station upstairs, which people can rent for events, or just have access to to come in and do some work.
Many students come in just to have a quiet area to study, as well as professionals like real estate agents who are looking for private spots to finalize deals with clients.
“When you are dealing with people, you need that sense of confidentiality, and it allows people to have that comfortable space without the ongoing costs of a lease if they choose to come in and use it for that,” Hourtovenko said.
Much of the demand is coming from corporate clients who want to get away from a permanent space, she said. Businesses want to keep meeting with staff, but don’t want to be in the same place all the time; they want to make the meeting feel special. They also have a lot of demand from people coming from outside the city who want privacy and a professional look.
The couple also have catering connections they can access for some events, Hourtovenko said.
“We make it easy for them to come in.”
A concierge service is also available. It includes call answering, a professional mailing address, a website directory listing, client greeting, handling of forms, mail, courier service (with mailing charges), and scanning and printing from reception.
High Rise Group is not just for corporate meetings. They’ve hosted everything from cooking demonstrations and wine tastings. Hourtovenko said as long as it fits their business model, any group or person is welcome to come use their facilities.
