Facilities
Coworking facilities
Assess coworking facilities against your team's real work, from desks and basic amenities to rooms, quiet areas and internet access.
Judge coworking facilities by whether your team can use them for ordinary work at the times it attends. Inspect the exact space offered and check how shared facilities work when other members need them too. An amenity list shows what exists, not whether it is available or suitable.
Check the working area first
Sit where your team would work. Is there enough desk space, power and light for its equipment? Can people see screens without persistent glare? Check temperature and airflow while the area is occupied, and ask whom to contact if either becomes a problem.
Follow the route from the work area to toilets, drinking water and an exit. Check whether people can use the facilities during their permitted work hours, including when reception is closed.
Safe Work Australia publishes the Model Code of Practice: Managing the work environment and facilities. For this site, establish what people can reach and use.
A quiet morning tour gives you one observation. If the team normally attends on a busy afternoon, arrange a visit or trial then.
Match facilities to tasks
| Task | Facility question |
|---|---|
| Team or client meeting | Is a suitable room available when needed, with the equipment the meeting uses? |
| Short call | Is a booth available, and where can someone go when every booth is occupied? |
| Concentrated work | Is there a quieter area with a clear rule about calls and conversations? |
| Online work | Does the permitted connection support essential tasks from the proposed seats and rooms? |
| Daily setup | Where can people charge devices, keep permitted belongings and report a fault? |
A room on a floor plan is not dependable meeting capacity. Check its booking rules and availability at the times your team needs it. A quiet-work area and a phone booth serve different tasks, and neither label proves that speech stays inside the space.
Coworking space features: what’s essential vs. nice to have
- Essential
- Reliable internet, power outlets, seating, access to toilets and emergency exits
- Important for collaboration
- Bookable meeting rooms, whiteboards, video conferencing tools
- Supports focus
- Soundproof phone booths, dedicated quiet zones, noise control policies
- Nice to have
- Free coffee, gym access, event spaces, creative lounges
Walk through an ordinary day
Where would someone take an unexpected call while a room is occupied? Can a visitor reach a meeting room without disrupting the work area? If a screen, door or connection fails, who can help during the hours your team attends?
Ask the operator to show the desks, rooms and facilities available under the proposed membership. Confirm which are shared, which can be reserved and which require separate approval or payment. Check the full price and agreement against the written offer.
How to assess a coworking space before committing
- Visit during peak hoursObserve real-time usage, especially during busy afternoons
- Test key facilitiesTry booking a meeting room, using a phone booth, and checking internet speed
- Ask about supportConfirm who handles technical issues, maintenance, and emergencies
- Review pricing and contractCompare full price and terms against the written offer, including hidden fees
Decide from observed use
Mark each essential facility usable, uncertain or unsuitable. Note what you observed, when you observed it and what still needs confirmation. Give each uncertain item a specific next check, such as a busy-day visit or room trial.
A site is a practical candidate when the team can carry out its essential tasks without depending on a facility that is usually unavailable or unsuitable. Confirm any promised repair, alternative room or special access arrangement before treating a gap as resolved.
Key checks for coworking facilities in Australia
- Desk space and power availabilityEnsure sufficient desk space, power outlets, and lighting for equipment use
- Glare and visual comfortCheck screen visibility without persistent glare during occupied hours
- Temperature and airflowVerify comfortable conditions while the space is in use
- Access to toilets, water and exitsConfirm facilities are usable during permitted work hours, including when reception is closed
- Meeting room availability and booking rulesTest if a suitable room is available at needed times with required equipment
- Quiet areas for focused workConfirm presence of a quiet zone with clear rules on conversations and calls
- Internet connectivityVerify network performance supports essential online tasks from proposed seats
- Device charging and storageIdentify where devices can be charged and belongings kept securely
- Fault reporting and supportConfirm who to contact if a screen, door or connection fails during work hours
In this guide
- Evaluating meeting rooms before choosing a spaceCheck a coworking meeting room against real meetings: layout, visitor route, call equipment, speech privacy and availability.
- Checking phone booths and quiet-work areasAssess coworking booths and quiet areas for calls, concentration, speech leakage, busy-time availability and practical alternatives.
- Testing internet reliability during a workspace trialTrial coworking internet from the desks and rooms you would use, repeat real work tasks and record failures without overreading one speed test.
