Introducing Chicago—Dynamo’s first hub in the Midwest! Welcome to the vibrant heart of the Windy City, where innovation meets tradition, and business thrives amidst the iconic skyline. We caught up with our longtime space partner, Studio by Tishman Speyer to learn more about the Chicago hub and how it’s more than just a workspace.

Tell us a little bit about Studio and its Chicago location.

Studio by Tishman Speyer offers exceptional spaces for the future of flexible work. The world’s leading companies choose Studio for flexible workspaces with no compromises. Operating over one million square feet of business-class coworking, event space and move-in ready suites, Studio is a pioneer in delivering holistic real estate solutions from long-term leases to desks on demand.

At 227 W Monroe, Studio at The Franklin occupies a full floor in one of the most recognized buildings in Chicago, a 60-story amenity rich building boasting a 16-story atrium, awe-inspiring custom light fixtures by acclaimed artist Leo Villareal, easy access to all seven “L” train and subway lines, and a short walk to both Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center.  The Franklin is LEED Gold certified, demonstrating its efficient management, as well as Fitwel certified, the world’s leading certification system committed to building health for all.

What are the main benefits of Studio’s Chicago location that differ from other coworking spaces that you’d like the Dynamo community to know about?

Because Studio is part of the global Tishman Speyer portfolio, our amenities and offerings for members are integrated within each building in a way that is unparalleled, from the moment you’re greeted in the lobby to when you arrive at your Studio private office. Our wide range of office space solutions, meeting spaces, and event spaces reaches beyond the Studio floor and adds value to the companies and communities we partner with, like Dynamo. A membership with Studio also includes access to Tishman Speyer’s global amenity network, ZO.

More importantly, a Studio membership places customers within an integrated Tishman Speyer ecosystem of opportunity, where all their business needs are met with the utmost flexibility, security, and scalability. We remain partners for growth and guidance from our customers’ first day with us into our shared futures.

Studio spaces also benefit from Tishman Speyer’s vertically integrated, fully embedded, ESG team and strategy. Understanding that we all bear responsibility for this planet, Tishman Speyer is committed to transitioning its global portfolio, inclusive of Studio spaces, to operational net zero carbon. Each asset is on its own bespoke pathway to authentically achieve net zero and ESG resources are happy to assist with member environmental reporting.

Lastly, we are proud to highlight how Tishman Speyer has always prioritized the health and wellness for our customers, a dedication which has proved essential in our modern era. That’s why The Franklin is recognized as an industry leader in sustainability–and has the designations to show for it.

As we expand to Chicago as our 5th location within the Studio partnership, how do you envision this partnership benefiting the local business ecosystem?

Given that many Dynamo members are just starting their businesses or are focused on growing them, partnering with an owner-operator like Studio by Tishman Speyer means that our customers have stability and support when they enter our spaces. We are dedicated to partnering with our customers and helping them grow in the long term through our on-demand spaces, giving them the flexibility they need to gather, network and innovate. And, in the short term, the Studio team is here to absorb the impact of office operations and to curate a full-service experience, allowing our customers to focus on what they do best.

What are you most excited about Studio’s partnership with Dynamo as we expand to Chicago? Answer:

We greatly value the opportunity to partner with like-minded groups united in our ambitions to support the low carbon transition. We’ve already seen the partnership at work across our existing hubs, and can’t wait to bring the networking, community, and culture that Studio and Dynamo cultivate together into Chicago.