Across the U.S., the workplace looks vastly different in 2022 than it did only two years ago. 

COVID-19 has altered nearly every facet of daily life, one of the most drastic being where employees work and collaborate in formerly office-bound cities, like Fort Wayne. As reliance on technology increases and some companies realize the benefits of remote work, the future of the workplace is in flux.

Many local employees now find themselves with the freedom to work anywhere, so where are these so-called "third places" emerging where they might want to be?

Jesse Crammer works at one of the tables at Utopian Coffee.

From quirky coffee shops to under-the-radar office spaces, there are a variety of options to suit different styles and needs. 

Here are nine interesting places to work remotely in Fort Wayne.
 

1. Utopian Coffee + Kitchen/Paper Mill Workspace 

With its prime location on The Landing and classic coffee shop appeal, Utopian is a popular choice downtown. In addition to the main cafe space, there’s a private room in the back that seats 10-12 people and can be rented out by the hour.   
 
What many may not realize is that Utopian also offers more traditional, rentable office space above the coffee shop called the Paper Mill Workspace.

From left: Linda Valley, Debbie Lemmon, and Jeff Hartman with Master Consultants co work together in one of the offices at Paper Mill Workspace on the 4th floor above Utopian Coffee.
 
“It’s a bit of a hybrid between traditional office and coworking, offering shorter leases and fun workspace while still having all of the professional feel and resources,” says Brendon Maxwell, Owner of Utopian Coffee and Paper Mill Workspace. “It’s a really fantastic space with modern features inside of the renovated industrial building.”

The co working space at Paper Mill Workspace is light and airy and features many different size offices as well as a conference room on the 4th floor above Utopian Coffee.
 
The space includes conference rooms, small, medium, and large offices, a shower, ping pong and pool tables, and more. 
 
“Our desire is to create spaces where people can be productive and enjoy the time and the people around them,” says Maxwell.

The communal pool table at Paper Mill Workspace on the 4th floor above Utopian Coffee.
 

2. ACPL’s Main Library 

The Allen County Public Library offers physical and digital resources on mental health and wellbeing.

The downtown library is full of nooks and crannies for independent or collaborative work. Study and silent reading rooms can be reserved several times a week for individuals and small groups. 
 
Venture upstairs to the Business Science & Technology section, and you’ll find an open workspace surrounded by windows and natural light. Rows of desks come complete with outlets and comfortable chairs in this quiet section, perfect for hours of uninterrupted work. 
 
A lap around the library will show you a variety of work areas, making it one of the most accessible and inclusive places to work remotely in Fort Wayne.
 

3. West Central Coffee/Davey’s Delicious Bagels

This relative newcomer to the Fort Wayne cafe scene is a great choice for those who prefer somewhere fun and funky to get to work. The coffee and bagel shop has three large rooms with plenty of seating, a colorful variety of artwork on the walls, and upbeat music to set the tone. Space can also be reserved after hours for meetings and gatherings.

The game room offers additional seating at Davey's Delicious Bagels.
 
“Each room has its own motif, if you will, that has drawn many people to come and work, study, or hold meetings throughout the week,” says Davey Heritier, owner of Davey’s Delicious Bagels. “One of my goals when opening this location was to create a creative space for people to come in and enjoy.”

Davey's Delicious Bagels features many tables and natural light in their main room.
 

4. The Atrium

The Atrium is a coworking space by Start Fort Wayne located Downtown. Start Fort Wayne is a community-oriented nonprofit initiative created with the startup entrepreneur in mind.

Start Fort Wayne and its coworking space Atrium are located at 111 W. Berry St., Suite 211.
 
The usual perks you would expect from a coworking space, like coffee and WiFi, are included with memberships, as well as access to conference rooms and events. Membership options range from individual access for general work areas to private offices for small groups. For those who prefer to come and go without the commitment, day passes are available that give you access between 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
 

5. The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center

The Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC) offers coworking space, called Flexspace, on the Northeast side of Fort Wayne. It is aimed at entrepreneurs and other professionals seeking community and flexibility.
 
Options at the NIIC can be utilized for as little as one hour or on a yearly basis. They include the Cabana, an individual office pod ideal for replacing informal workspaces like coffee shops, and Office Oasis, an enclosed modular office for private work, designed as an alternative to the open cubicle.
 

6. The Garden

The Garden, which opened in August 2020, is a multi-use creative space in the North Anthony Corridor. The space hosts art exhibits, yoga workshops, and more. While The Garden doesn’t currently offer coworking space, it can be rented for business meetings and community events. Keep an eye on this newcomer as it continues to grow and evolve its offerings.
 

7. The Friendly Fox 

This all-day cafe in Southwood Park plays host to a variety of neighborhood gatherings, business lunches, remote work, and more. What sets The Friendly Fox apart from other cafes is it’s longer hours, allowing early birds and night owls alike to enjoy it as a workspace. The approachable atmosphere and variety of food and drink offerings make The Friendly Fox a favorite for all types of work and play. And in warmer months, you can't beat the beauty of its expansive front patio, frequented by neighborhood dog walkers.


 

8. Design Collaborative

Olivia Yourdon looks over floor plans while in the community hub area at Design Collaborative.

In addition to public coworking spaces, some businesses in Fort Wayne open their offices to partners and clients outside of their organizations to use for remote work. Design Collaborative is one such business, with its beautiful sixth-story Downtown office that offers sweeping views of the city skyline.

View from the 8th floor/Greater Fort Wayne, Inc
 
As the designer of many office spaces around Fort Wayne and beyond, Design Collaborative's office offers community space, conference and training rooms, and individual workspaces to its employees, clients, vendors, and organizations its employees are affiliated with. 

Conference rooms and co working spaces Design Collaborative.
 
“​​It’s not unusual to see new faces in and around the office throughout the week,” says Lauren Elliott, Workplace Market Leader at Design Collaborative. “Design Collaborative likes to support our community and local businesses, and we want to share our space with those who don’t have the space available.”

The community hub area features booths, coffee, and even a pool table at Design Collaborative.
 
Design Collaborative aims to give its employees and partners the flexibility to work when and how they want, whether they’re in or out of the office. 
 
“There is a balance between the convenience and benefits of working from home and having that company culture and connection, so offering flexibility is key,” says Elliott. “It’s important to give people a choice of how and where they want to work. The pandemic made people realize that flexibility needs to be an option moving forward, so building flexible spaces is a change that we see becoming a 'new normal.' Companies are realizing that they need to be prepared for events in the future that may cause the need for remote work options, and spaces are being designed to reflect this.”
 

9. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. 

Aaryn Eady, GFW Inc. director of investor engagement, discussing member benefits at a “Maximize Your Membership” event.

Two floors above Design Collaborative, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. takes a similar approach to coworking, offering four conference rooms open to its Greater Fort Wayne Inc. members at no charge. These conference rooms vary in size, with WiFi, TVs, and whiteboards for presentations, as well as great views of Downtown.

Conferences rooms at Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.
 
“Sometimes folks are looking to get away from the distractions of their normal office for a few days, or they want to get into a different headspace to change things up," says Dan Watson, Director of Marketing at Greater Fort Wayne Inc. "Other times they might have multiple meetings Downtown on the same day, so they drop in to work in our space for a short period between meetings. Like everything we do, it’s to help local businesses thrive.”

This story is a part of a series on the future of talent and the workplace funded by Design Collaborative.