Coworking as an emerging urban lifestyle: location analysis study of coworking spaces in Manhattan, NYC

Publication by Yaoyi Zhou , , , ,
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Abstract in English:

Coworking spaces are currently fast-growing in the cities, and it represents a new living and working lifestyle for an increasing population of contingent workers. However, what kind of urban environment are the coworking space embedded in? Few studies have analyzed the relationships between the emerging coworking workplace and the urban environment. This study is an exploratory research for this emerging urban ‘lifestyle,’ which aims at developing an understanding of the coworking spaces’ locations and the urban context so that additional questions or hypotheses about the meaning of coworking as a sustainable urban development can be constructed. The location analysis answers the question about where the coworking spaces locate and what the factors are correlated with its clustering pattern. Locations of 123 coworking spaces in Manhattan, NYC are analyzed through Geographical Information System (GIS) platform ArcGIS in this study. This analysis is based on a framework of factors in five categories: 1) Neighborhood and social atmosphere; 2) Neighborhood environment; 3) Transportation connection; 4) Random discovery and events; 5) Life convenience. Eighteen factors including population density, median household income, proximity to subway stations, accessibility to green spaces and so on are examined in the location analysis, ordinary least squares regression analysis, and geographically weighted regression analysis. Most significant correlations are found between the coworking spaces location and transportation connection, random discovery and events, and life convenience. The result suggests that the coworking spaces on the market are not randomly distributed but highly clustered, and they are mostly located in the mixed-use areas so that it allows easier access to the surrounding facilities and urban resources. Planners, workplace designers, and potential investors will benefit from the study result, as the cluster relationships between coworking spaces and the social, environmental factors are revealed from the maps and analysis.

Open Access? Yes

Book Title Proceedings of the 50th EDRA Conference
Publication Year 2019

English | Discipline Real Estate