There's no denying that technology has drastically changed our vision of the "perfect" workplace over the past decade — from our dress codes to our schedules. Many of us can now, in theory, work or co-work from virtually anywhere. This cultural paradigm shift has fostered the co-working boom, but as this trend matures, many have begun to wonder whether all our new workplaces are really that much better than the traditional office. Does the freedom to work on multiple projects from multiple locations actually make us happier or more productive? Against this backdrop, Primary, a brand-new space for wellness-minded co-working that officially opened last week, offers a refreshing perspective. Primary, located at 26 Broadway, practically the tip of lower Manhattan, is the brainchild of WeWork veterans Danny Orenstein, who was Head of Design & Construction there, and Lisa Skye Hain, who was Head of Community. Hain's husband, Brian, has over 10 years of experience as a health and wellness entrepreneur and now serves as Primary's CWO (Chief Wellness Officer). Their respective areas of expertise successfully blend into a co-working space that genuinely feels innovative and unique. Almost immediately after walking through the glass doors that serve as the gateway to Primary, you are greeted by a glowing front desk that sits in front of a living wall, creating the impression that the space you are entering is more oasis than office. The Feng Shui flow brings you to a cafe, which brews Stumptown coffee, serves catered lunches from Dig Inn, pours juices from Lulitonix and Pure Green and brews a delicious, house-made blueberry hibiscus iced tea—a much healthier upgrade from mason jars filled with sugary junk that can often be found in startup and co-working cafeterias. Past the café lives a 600-square-foot fitness studio, which hosts multiple functional fitness, yoga and guided meditation classes throughout the day (over 30 classes/week), and opens up to a spa-worthy bathroom featuring six steam showers and private lockers. There's also several massage and acupuncture rooms, where licensed therapists can work their magic. The best part? Primary membership comes with unlimited access to all of it. In addition to that, you've got your standard perks, like printing and lightening fast internet, and some cooler ones, like lockers, bike storage and unlimited conference room hours. In terms of actual work space, there is one main communal work room filled with nine long, mid-century modern meets wabi-sabi tables (there are technically 108 seats), collaboratively designed between Danielle Galland Design, Iron Oaks and Primary Co-Founder, Danny Orenstein. The walls are decorated with greenery (provided by local plant vendors Greensulate and Brooklyn Plant Studio) and original landscape photography by Rich Stapleton, Creative Director of Cereal Mag. Private phone booths enable gallery members to privately take calls. A standard co-working membership, which offers 24/7 access, runs about $600 per month, while one of the private offices start at $750 per month, and range from a single-desk-and-chair setups to expansive layouts featuring harbor views. So far, Primary's initial occupants appear to skew slightly less "startup" and more "creative" than the average co-working space: With branding firms and photographers to genre-breaking companies like Magency, an agency that takes the principles of magic and applies them to digital engagement (employees do ice-breaking tricks, like manifesting objects out of thin air) working side-by-side, there's definitely a sense of community already developing. After spending just one day in the space, it seems obvious that Primary is just the beginning of a much larger trend one might call "co-working out." In truth, this inaugural serene shelter does feel a bit out of place in the financial district; fortunately, the Primary team has plans to open another office in Flatiron. That said, after a day surrounded by its good energy, you tend to see FiDi a bit differently. I even caught myself looking at the famous Charging Bull statue, which is impossible to miss when entering or exiting the space, and thinking, "Maybe his nostrils aren't flared in anger; perhaps he's just deep in some meditative breathing."
Primary opened a wellness-minded co-working space named Veterans of WeWork in lower Dig Inn the day . The space has been described as innovative and unique, it includes a healthy cafe, fitness studio, massage and acupuncture rooms, spa-worthy bathrooms, and 108 long tables with 108 seats. A standard Primary membership costs $ 600 per month and so far is attracting businesses that are more 'creative' than traditional companies.