The pandemic highlighted the need for a “third space”—another spot to work in that’s distinct from home or the office. Co-founders Robbie Friedman and Allison Zofan launched their company ootBox last year to meet the demand for an extra area that was connected and comfortable. A turnkey, leasable solution, an ootBox is made from a traditional shipping container.
Friedman came up with the first version of the ootBox a few years ago, because he wasn’t able to work productively with a newborn at home. He built an office-like structure in his backyard, and soon his neighbors were stopping by to use his custom creation when they needed to get their own work done without distractions.
One of those neighbors was Zofan. “My internet went out, and I asked Robbie if I could come over and do my phone calls for the day. I was a corporate real estate consultant at the time, and Robbie started to listen to what I was talking about. He quickly understood that I had a lot of ideas that aligned with what he was experimenting with. Our early conversations turned into days’ worth of conversations. I quit my job, and here we are,” she explained.
When Friedman moved and couldn’t bring the original pod with him, that prompted more discussions, and the ootBox prototype began to take shape. The product would be a spot for working and it would also be mobile. “When I realized I couldn’t take what I call my escape pod with me, it gave rise to the concept of a temporary indoor-outdoor work setting. One that you could use when you needed it, and move it if you wanted to, as well.”
People have looked to the outdoors as a workspace alternative because of the desire for access to sunlight, fresh air, and expansive vistas. “Pre-COVID-19, the crux was about wellness, biophilia, and getting people moving, instead of sitting inside all day,” Zofan said. Now, there’s a holistic view of exterior work sites that involves more than just placing a desk on a patio.
Friedman believes workers can have a connection to the outdoors while still being adequately sheltered. Enclosed structures are ideal in areas of the country that have less than temperate climates. “We’re based in Ohio, where optimal weather days are few and far between. It’s either too hot, too cold, or too rainy. And so our take on the outdoors is really beyond the four walls of a building. You’re not stuck in the office, but you still have a roof over your head, you still have heat and air conditioning. The ootBox is a weatherproof environment,” Friedman said.
While shipping containers often conjure up images of industrial warehouses or loading docks, the ootBox is surprisingly well-appointed, so that a range of job functions is supported. “It’s delivered fully finished. Sometimes we’ll include furniture, and sometimes we won’t. It just depends on the customer. For the most part they just need to plug it in, and there’s nothing left to do,” Friedman added.
Firms continue to grapple with questions about more or less space, and most leaders agree that there will be changes to layout and how the facility will be utilized. “I think this past year has taught us that there are different places to work. If you talk to someone on a Monday, they’re sitting at the kitchen table. The next day they are on the couch or on the patio with a laptop. I think more and more people are going to become comfortable with not having dedicated space,” Zofan noted.
As companies renegotiate tenancy or move throughout the year, Friedman expects some downsizing to occur. “As those leases come up, companies are definitely second-guessing the amount of space they need in a big building. We’re seeing smaller, employee-controlled spaces gaining momentum. Having that control is an important safety element for a lot of people.”
Not only can users adjust lighting or the thermostat for their comfort, there’s less worry about staff inadvertently leaking sensitive information. “Management is telling us that they would prefer to provide a space for employees outside, but still on the corporate campus. The employees won’t leave and go to a coffee shop to have conversations we’d prefer for them to have in a private space,” Zofan said.
The container can be used by an individual or up to a dozen people, for collaboration or heads-down tasks. “Somebody who works in an open-plan office and just needs a quiet place can use the ootBox, and we’ve also seen 10 to 12 people inside a box having a huddle,” Zofan added.
The minimum lease period is four months, and the cost is $1,000 a month. Customers are quick to renew, and on average, they use the product for six months to a year. Friedman and Zofan have a core clientele, and there has been an uptick in inquiries from a variety of firms. Hospitality and retail companies in particular want to create pop-up eateries or clothing stores, as an option for consumers not comfortable gathering in larger groups post-pandemic.
There are so many ways to use a container, and that versatility has led to the company’s success. “We need to make decisions now about how we think our workplaces will evolve. Yet, we have learned over the past nine months that we don’t know what tomorrow will bring. In under a week a customer can get their ootBox and use it for an event activation or as a restaurant. That’s why this works; the flexibility,” Zofan said.