TriBeCa Workspace Sprouts Eco-Friendly Jobs
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An eco-friendly workspace that's putting the environment first is helping entrepreneurs get off on a sustainable foot. NY1's Asa Aarons filed the following employment report.When you enter the Green Spaces offices in TriBeCa, it's very clear that it's not your standard working environment.
From the front area drenched in natural light, to the back room communal coffee kitchen -- where composting and recycling are enthusiastically embraced -- nearly two dozen businesses share one mind when it comes to environmental and sustainability issues.
"There's a lot of great interest right now amongst the entrepreneur community to find a collaborative workspace that's socially minded where people can get together and feel good about the world while they do their work. In the past month alone, our business has doubled," said Marissa Feinberg of Green Spaces.
For those who pay about $500 a month for work space, it goes beyond natural light and composting.
"Design with sustainability in mind. From the furniture that you see, it's all been refurbished, repurposed. It's been sourced directly from the street, from the sidewalk," said Roberto Rhett of Green Spaces. "It adds a creative atmosphere and a different feeling than your normal cubicle office space would have."
There are also low power consumption computers, experiments in natural decorating and hanging art made from repurposed materials.
"It looks good, people feel more comfortable about art especially if its green," said artist Susan Benarcik.
Green Spaces is hoping to attract a new breed of ecopreneur -- people with a keen appreciation for the concept of sustainability, and an understanding of the power of ideas.
"I wanted to have a platform to balance off ideas of other people, how to make my business more sustainable. In turn, I feel better about my product and so do my customers," said clothing designer Designer Sonia Tay.
Green Spaces also appears to be friendly when it comes to creating jobs.
"We've had several interns come into our program who have been hired with the Green Spaces company," Feinberg said.
In the TriBeCa office center, as well as in two more they are opening in other cities, green is translating to green for these ecopreneurs.
If you have an employment story, a job, a new interview technique, or something you want to share with those looking for work or those doing the hiring, contact Asa Aarons at askasa@ny1.com.