It’s been operating more than 15 years, but NedSpace is ready to take on its most compelling opportunity yet: a new location in the historic American Bank Building, a spot that has the long-running coworking space overlooking one of those classic ridiculous decisions that makes Portland, well Portland, Pioneer Courthouse Square.
“This move brings us to an even more central place in Portland and gives us access to spaces we can use to re-engage our city in a new way,” said Faris Mubarak, owner of NedSpace. “We’re excited to partner with Menashe Properties, whose family ownership and mission to build a better Portland provide a perfect foundation for our next stage of growth.”
The new space features village clusters — collaborative work areas where NedSpace’s five specialized communities focus on web and digital solutions, photo/film/media production, artificial intelligence applications, art and creative services, and events coordination. These villages function both as internal collaboration hubs and as a “shopping mall of expertise” accessible to Portland’s broader business community.
The move expands NedSpace’s capacity to host events and programming that bring people downtown, providing a hub where Portland’s diverse professional communities can connect, collaborate, and access specialized expertise through the village network.
Rebuilding on a history of community work
NedSpace began as one of the first collaborative coworking spaces in town — spread over a few floor of a building on SW 3rd Ave. And it quickly attracted a wide variety of residents, from individuals working on startups to folks who worked for major tech companies. Not to mention serving as an event space for a tech community and a nascent generation of startups that would eventually become the quintessential companies in the community.
But things aren’t always that simple in the world of commercial real estate. And so NedSpace moved from its largely subterranean existence — as well as a brief stint in Old Town — to a SW Broadway highrise, where it has remained for the majority of existence. Weathering changes in ownership, a pandemic, and of course, a drastic change in the way that people work and gather in the city of Portland, especially downtown.
But NedSpace’s third owner had a vision for the potential of the space — and the people who would inhabit it.
“I inherited an empty floor, in an empty downtown — devoid of people, ideas, and any semblance of community,” said Faris, reflecting on taking over NedSpace 14 months ago after the space had declined from a peak of 250 members. “The pandemic had ravaged the community, and when you reach rock bottom, the only way is up. Today we’re creating a melting pot and destination for people who have skills and talents they’d like to monetize, bringing people and businesses together to make a better Portland.”
How did a scrappy coworking space pull this off…? With the support of a creative landlord, Menashe Properties.
“We see this partnership with NedSpace as an investment in the future of Portland,” said Barry Menashe, Founder of Menashe Properties. “This building has always been a centerpiece of the city, and now, with NedSpace at its core, it can be a place where new ideas are launched and communities are brought together.”
Personally, I’m as psyched about this version of NedSpace as any version
I’ve been tracking on NedSpace throughout its entire existence. From its founding to its relocations to this latest instantiation. And throughout that time, it’s always had this sort of an inherent optimism. An ethos that seemed to believe in people and the potential of Portland.
And over time, it has continued to attract and foster that dynamic. Year after year.
Despite the challenges. Despite the changes. NedSpace has somehow always remained true to its ethos as a community space. And remained focused on bringing community together for the good of the community.
Now, it gets to do that from Portland’s living room. And I couldn’t think of a more fitting locale.
Will this change the dynamic of how people use the built environment…? Will this change how people use downtown Portland…? Will this revive the city core with new energy and optimism…?
I can’t say. But I can tell you, that if anyone has the potential to do that, NedSpace does.
For more on the new location or to figure out how to get a desk, visit NedSpace.
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