Every year on August 9th, coworking communities around the globe celebrate the positive impact of the coworking movement. That includes right here in Frederick Maryland.

Join Frederick’s “Coworking Cake Walk”
Tours, free coworking, and cake! Read on to learn more.

One Town. Three Coworking Options

Did you know Frederick is home to three unique coworking spaces? That’s right. Frederick is home to no fewer than three independently-owned (in fact, woman-owned) coworking spaces.

Tour one or all at Frederick’s “Coworking Cake Walk”

Cowork Frederick

Cowork Frederick was the first to bring coworking to Frederick in 2012. Situated across two historic buildings in downtown Frederick, their vibe is “home office away from home”. Through events that range from potlucks, to movie nights, happy hours, and lunch & learns, as well as organic networking, their focus is building connections between members of their diverse community, “because together is better”. Short-term (one week to one year) coliving was added as part of a major expansion in 2023.

Squadstyle Work & Wellness

Squadstyle Work & Wellness, a coworking space that prioritizes wellness & personal development, opened in 2021.

Their goal is to “help you implement sustainable healthy habits, so that you can live a fulfilling life”, providing access to a work environment and a private gym. To back that up, they offer perks like a mindfulness & meditation space and complimentary monthly massages. Squadstyle “make[s] work-life balance accessible & convenient”, describing themselves as “your workspace, gym, & social club. Because life is so much more than what you do for work.”

SHIFT Work + Play

Frederick’s most recent addition, SHIFT Work + Play, has quiet workspaces for adults and a staffed playroom for children so parents can work while their kids play. They are committed to creating a “coworking with kids” experience that sets you and your family up for success”. With offerings from a “homework club” to private offices, they address an important need for parents and caregivers trying to balance it all, noting that “working + parenting can go hand in hand.” Indeed, sometimes it simply must..

Coworking Cake Walk

Frederick’s three coworking spaces are coming together for a “Coworking Cake Walk” event that celebrates the positive impact of the coworking movement not just on Frederick, but the world. Visit one or all three Wednesday, August 9 between 8 am and 6 pm. Each is holding an open house event with free tours, free coworking, birthday cake, and other refreshments (after all, it’s coworking’s 18th birthday!)

Why celebrate coworking?

Coworking was the answer to the isolation, drudgery, and distractions that often come with trying to go it alone when launching and running your own business or working remotely for someone else’s business. Study after study has shown coworking increases productivity, boosts creativity, and provides collaboration and networking opportunities. It offers flexibility and supports the autonomy remote workers and entrepreneurs seek. Perhaps most important, it provides a sense of community.

The backstory

Many attribute the very beginning of coworking to hackers in Berlin, who wanted to find a space they could share thoughts and information back in 1995. But, coworking didn’t really take off until ten years later, when, in 2005, software engineer Brad Neuberg blogged about inviting creators to gather together as a community. On August 7th, 2010 Tony Bacigalupo, co-founder of New York City’s first dedicated coworking space, New Work City, announced “Next Monday will be 5 years since Brad Neuberg talked about coworking for the first time. I think that date should be the official Coworking Day.” From that day on, August 9th has been celebrated as International Coworking Day.