Coworking has been a growing concept in large cities across the country over the past couple years. According to the Dallas Business Journal, the concept of shared co-working spaces is starting to take root in Dallas and Fort Worth as well. Coworking facilities provide shared workspace to a variety of non-traditional workers, from freelancers to startup companies. 

According to Dallas Innovates, a partnership of the Dallas Regional Chamber and D Magazine Partners, there are a total of 64 co-working spaces in North Texas, some of which are affiliated with local universities. Their locations include places as diverse as Denton and Oak Cliff in addition to traditional business centers like Downtown Dallas, Downtown Fort Worth, and Plano

Such co-working spaces are highly adaptable, even allowing small teams to easily expand to greater office space as their business needs grow. WeWork is a nationwide coworking company that now has three locations in Dallas and one in Fort Worth

Even suburban Mansfield is getting its own independently-owned coworking space in a building that was the former office building of one of the city’s earliest practicing doctors. 

Coworking is meeting the needs of the changing workforce. According to a 2016 Forbes report, more than 35 percent of the U.S. workforce is freelance or contract workers, many of whom work remotely.

Startup companies often have a small team and a good idea but have to ramp up to getting a permanent facility. Coworking spaces are especially useful for startups since space needs can rapidly change as the business expands. 

Coworking facilities allow workers to be more productive and focused than they would be at home. 

As the workforce continues to change, it is likely that the prevalence of coworking spaces will increase.