The white colonial revival church with its high steeple adds an idyllic architectural touch to the affluent town of Huntington, a Long Island suburb of New York City. But a sign grabs the eye from the road: “Coworking space,” it says. “Kind of like a WeWork. Was a church, but not anymore.” The former church may have been leveled and replaced with condos, had Michael Hartofilis not bought it and repurposed it as a coworking venue called Main Space that opened earlier this year.
The design and music selection take inspiration from libraries, coffee shops, and hotel lobbies more than offices. Part of the draw, too, is convenience. Switchyards clubs are often located in residential neighborhoods and away from crowded commercial districts, where office space is plentiful but can be costly.