There is something dynamic about working in the heart of a bustling, walkable downtown and being in an office with other dedicated professionals — even if they work for different companies.
Welcome to the world of Office Evolution Somerville, a business center that has provided dedicated furnished office space, virtual offices and coworking space in downtown Somerville since 2014.
“When I was looking for a location, I just fell in love with Somerville,” says owner Ulka Bhavsar. “I loved the whole downtown aspect. You have the train station, post office and courthouse in close proximity, making it a very convenient location. Plus, it’s so vibrant. The Downtown Somerville Alliance has been so great coordinating events in town.”
Bhavsar, who has a master’s degree in commercial real estate, knows the importance of location for successful business operations. “I have always been passionate about real estate and entrepreneurship. I wanted to create a space that could foster creativity for all types of businesses, whether it’s a solo entrepreneur starting out or a larger business entity needing additional meeting space,” she says.
There are several membership tiers, which allow people to use Office Evolution for their individual needs. “Members sign an agreement, not a lease,” says Bhavsar, who also is the business center manager at the Somerville location. “Some members just use our mailing address. Maybe they are launching a business and don’t want their home address or a P.O. Box to show up when clients Google them. Or maybe they want to increase their geographical presence. If they have a location in Morristown, for example, they can use our Somerville address to show they also have a presence in Somerville, which helps them appeal to a broader base. Other members need a private, dedicated office for themselves or their teams. The offices come ready to go with furniture, internet, phone, phone number and a front office presence so it’s easy to get started.”
Office Evolution also offers coworking plans in which members have 24/7 access to the business lounge (communal coworking area). “This plan appeals to people who are self-employed or whose companies have gone fully remote and want to work somewhere other than home,” she says. “Members can opt for only coworking or combine with the mailing address plan for their business.”
The facility’s spacious conference rooms are perfect for companies seeking to have off-site meetings. Non-members can also rent a conference room by the hour or the day. “Large companies often use the conference room for business meetings, whether they are fully remote or just desire an offsite location. Both our conference rooms come equipped with large monitors and whiteboards, which is very conducive to presentations and brainstorming sessions,” Bhavsar says. “Our conference rooms offer benefits that hotels cannot. For example, you can bring in your own food, arrange delivery from the numerous restaurants in town or go out for lunch. Then, after your meeting there are many team-building activities, like The Escape Room, Spotted Leaf and Board & Brush, which are just steps away. Or you can just relax and walk to have cocktails or dinner at some of the finest restaurants.”
Bhavsar has been seeing a number of larger firms use the space because their locations have closed or reduced their size due to remote work. “They use our business spaces like a hub, where employees will rotate using our offices, but not at the same time,” she says. “People are getting tired of working in their homes. They’re ready to meet face-to-face again.”
Learn more about how Office Evolution Somerville can help your business at officeevolution.com/locations/Somerville.
“I love the whole downtown aspect. You have the train station, post office and courthouse in close proximity, making it a very convenient location. Plus, it’s so vibrant. The Downtown Somerville Alliance has been so great coordinating events in town.” — Ulka Bhavsar