FUSE Coworking Brings a New Sense of Community
Friends Bob Hinrichs, Matt Westenburg, and Andy Beecham created FUSE Coworking with three core values in mind: community, collaboration, and sustainability. Hinrichs and Westenburg had the feeling that Lincoln was the perfect place to attract young professionals. The next step was finding the neighborhood that fit their needs.
Originally above The Mill, FUSE is now located across the street in the Salvation Army Building in the Historic Haymarket. When Nelnet and Speedway found out what FUSE was doing, they wanted in on it. Starting with 12 members in the FUSE community, more space gave them a chance to grow. FUSE now has almost 150 active members in a space that is almost 10 times bigger than before.
Hinrichs mentioned that with COVID, there has been a shift in the coworking space. With everyone working from home, FUSE saw more people commit to the drop-in desks for a change of scenery and to get the familiar office feel without having an actual office.
It’s time to move away from coffee shops and the comfort of your own home, and into a new community of members with comfortable breakout rooms, conference rooms, and sizeable event spaces. FUSE offers numerous rental spaces including conference rooms, event spaces, and available suites for a more secluded work environment.
Amy Hengelfelt, community manager at FUSE Coworking, has been there for a little over a year.
“What FUSE brings is a sense of community, especially when all of our members work different hours,” Hengelfelt said. “All of our memberships except for the private offices are month-to-month for an easy and flexible lease. FUSE is also perfect for individuals and small groups working on their start-up businesses. There are 18-20 drop-in desks for people who want a day pass to enjoy the FUSE environment when they need it. It’s the perfect solution for those who are tired of working at home but have no office space.”
Some of the perks of joining the FUSE Coworking community include unlimited access to The Mill Coffee & Tea on-site, local beer on tap, and a great work environment. FUSE uses ALLO to give their community members 10g internet. They also offer to troubleshoot on-site for those pesky technology issues. For more privacy, FUSE offers little phone booths for those who need to take an important call. They also offer a new podcast studio, in addition to the basic amenities such as discounted HR benefits, sponsorships, free printing, coworking partnerships, programming, personal lockers, 24/7 secure access, dog-friendly offices, and many more.
Once someone joins FUSE Coworking, there is a strong sense of community. Oftentimes, individuals will join each other for lunch around the kitchen table and will partake in a happy hour after work. These organized happy hours are a chance to network and meet other young professionals and entrepreneurs in the city.
“It’s just so nice to have a sense of community within your workspace that you wouldn’t have at home,” Hengelfelt said.