Where to cowork in Waterloo Region

(Updated Aug. 14, 2024)

Coworking spaces are more than desks, Wi-Fi, and free coffee—they are a place to be part of a community. Business leaders and employees alike know that spending time IRL with your coworkers is critical to innovation. Working side-by-side in a workspace means more opportunities for those serendipitous moments sharing a coffee or simply taking a break that can spark a new idea or approach to a problem.

Beyond innovation, sharing a space can also make your team happier. A survey by Small Business Labs reported that 89% of co-workers said they felt happier after joining a coworking space, and 83% said working in a coworking space made them less lonely.  

Whether you need some space to network, a place to focus on a challenging task or get away from noisy roommates or children at home — coworking spaces might be right for you.

Thankfully, there are many options when it comes to coworking spaces in Waterloo and Kitchener. To help you find the one that's right for you, we’ve put together this guide to coworking spaces in Waterloo Region.

Almost all the options around town offer these three common space types:

• Hot desks are typically a first-come, first-served style of seating. You can’t leave anything overnight, but you get to sit next to someone different each time you work there.
• Dedicated desks provide a dedicated space where you can leave a monitor, keyboard, and a framed photo of your dog.
• Dedicated office spaces are small office areas within a coworking space where multiple people on your team can work.

Now, on to the list!

Coworking at Catalyst Commons

Catalyst Commons has been building community since it opened in 2020. Demand for private offices has been so high that the 65,000 sq ft coworking facility is expanding in fall of 2024. An additional 75,000 sq ft is being added and will include solutions tailored for teams of 2 to 100+, ensuring that organizations of all sizes can thrive in an innovative and collaborative environment. Membership at Commons offers flexibility at its core, with the added benefit of a beautifully designed space to allow your workforce to grow.

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Here's what Amber French, co-owner of Catalyst Commons, had to say about the space:

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Coworking at Den 1880

Located in a historic building on Erb St. in Uptown Waterloo, Den 1880 is the newest coworking space option in Waterloo Region. The building, which was once home to an insurance company and served as a station for the Waterloo Region Police, has also been the site of the Communitech Data Hub. Today, Den 1880 offers hot and dedicated desks and private office space.

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Jacklyn Warmington, Operations & Community Manager at Den 1880, said they believe that well-designed spaces contribute to enhanced productivity and the overall well-being of their members.

She added that the space includes 16 ft. locally crafted library-style tables, a variety of high-tech meeting rooms, a stage with theatre-style seating, and a podcast studio in the building's vault.

"Den 1880 creates a space where leaders in their field can come together to form a vibrant community that encourages knowledge exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration, resulting in an environment that nurtures creativity and fuels the success of our members," said Warmington.

Coworking at WorkHaus

WorkHaus is a growing, vibrant workplace community of individuals and companies working in a productive, collaborative environment. From individual freelancers to Fortune 500 companies, Workhaus provides shared and private office spaces suitable for group sizes ranging from one to 100. With 12 locations across three Canadian cities, Workhaus is an established leader in the flexible office space industry with more locations than any other Canadian-owned company.

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The community at WorkHaus is diverse, said Adam Mawer, Director of Workhaus Kitchener-Waterloo

Mawer said that everyone at Workhaus truly has your back no matter what comes your way. He has experienced this support first hand after receiving a cancer diagnosis in 2020. “I was able to temporarily hand over the reins to two of our most tenured members, and they continued in my absence — they had my back. I try to return the favour every day now.”

Coworking at the Accelerator Centre

The Accelerator Centre is Canada's #1 private business accelerator. Its coworking space and community incubation program allow businesses to realize their aspirations alongside other passionate founders.

“Our coworking spaces are all about giving founders options,” said Tabatha Laverty, Vice President of Marketing and External Relations. “Whatever you need, we’ve got a model that supports it.”

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Coworking at the Communitech Hub

Working from home can be great, but sometimes you want to go where everyone knows your name. The Communitech Hub offers flexible workspaces in the heart of the Waterloo Region tech community in Downtown Kitchener. The Hub is the center of gravity for founders, innovators, and partners — and a connector for those building trust-based tech companies.

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Coworking at Galt Collective

Coworking isn't just for Kitchener and Waterloo. Situated on the banks of the Grand River in Cambridge, Galt Collective is a 5,000-square-foot coworking and event space with character and community. From hosting a meeting to dedicated offices, the space is flexible and professional. Why would you ever work alone?

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Today, instead of being offered as a perk, flexible work environments are essential. They provide the space for getting work done—and for finding a community to help you thrive.

Photo courtesy of Catalyst Commons and Megpie Creative