Balance Space co-founders Bunny Young, left, and Amy Rose Miller. (J. Elias O’Neal)
It took only four hours, a platter of Mexican food and a couple of screaming kids for stay-at-home working moms Amy Rose Miller and Bunny Young to devise their plan.
“It got a little crazy that day,” Miller said. “But in the end, I think we developed something truly special from the chaos.”
From that meeting they created Balance Space, a coworking space for working parents that combines onsite access to child care and resources to complete daily business tasks.
Miller, an Army intelligence officer who owns digital design firm Nouveau, and Young, the owner of A Better Place Consulting, have leased about 4,000 square feet of industrial flex space for the venture at 2194 Lanier Lane in Rockville.
Balance Space’s building in Rockville.
The co-founders held Balance Space’s pre-construction party last week. Construction is scheduled to begin in August, Young said.
‘We think this is the missing link,” Young said. “It needed to be space that combined everything. Once people realize they can really have it all, it’s going to catch on to moms and dads.”
While the Richmond region has its share of coworking space, Young and Miller’s choice to locate in Rockville will give them plenty of distance from the competition, which is centered largely in the city.
They see the Rockville site’s location to be a solid draw for working parents, in proximity to the Route 288 and Interstate 64 interchange near Short Pump and to West Creek Business Park, which is home to corporate campuses for Capital One and CarMax.
“Balance Space was designed to accommodate rural working parents in Goochland and Louisa counties,” Young said. “We see this as a place for people working at high-level corporations, such as Capital One and CarMax, really utilizing this venue for the everyday business needs.”
JLL broker John Simmons represented Balance Space in its lease. Richmond-based American Bulldog Construction has been tapped as the general contractor overseeing the project. The space is open to users during construction.
Once built out, plans call for Balance Space to include meeting rooms, office space and break areas for members, Young said. Other amenities include access to free and discounted fitness classes, which include monthly massages, and business coaching upon request.
The children’s area, which will be run by an experienced childcare professional, will include a tumbling area for gymnastics, bounce houses, an area for arts and crafts, and a nursery.
“The concept for the children’s childcare is designed for kids at 8 weeks old to 8- to 10-year-olds,” Young said.
Balance Space charges $500 a month for access to shared workspace and childcare. Individual offices will run about $800 a month pre-construction and increase to about $1,000 once construction is complete.
Balance Space adds to a wave of co-working spaces that have popped up in recent years. In Richmond, Gather opened its second location last year in Scott’s Addition last year. Other city facilities include 804RVA, Marvin Lang and VCU’s Founder’s Corner.
Balance Space co-founders Bunny Young, left, and Amy Rose Miller. (J. Elias O’Neal)
It took only four hours, a platter of Mexican food and a couple of screaming kids for stay-at-home working moms Amy Rose Miller and Bunny Young to devise their plan.
“It got a little crazy that day,” Miller said. “But in the end, I think we developed something truly special from the chaos.”
From that meeting they created Balance Space, a coworking space for working parents that combines onsite access to child care and resources to complete daily business tasks.
Miller, an Army intelligence officer who owns digital design firm Nouveau, and Young, the owner of A Better Place Consulting, have leased about 4,000 square feet of industrial flex space for the venture at 2194 Lanier Lane in Rockville.
Balance Space’s building in Rockville.
The co-founders held Balance Space’s pre-construction party last week. Construction is scheduled to begin in August, Young said.
‘We think this is the missing link,” Young said. “It needed to be space that combined everything. Once people realize they can really have it all, it’s going to catch on to moms and dads.”
While the Richmond region has its share of coworking space, Young and Miller’s choice to locate in Rockville will give them plenty of distance from the competition, which is centered largely in the city.
They see the Rockville site’s location to be a solid draw for working parents, in proximity to the Route 288 and Interstate 64 interchange near Short Pump and to West Creek Business Park, which is home to corporate campuses for Capital One and CarMax.
“Balance Space was designed to accommodate rural working parents in Goochland and Louisa counties,” Young said. “We see this as a place for people working at high-level corporations, such as Capital One and CarMax, really utilizing this venue for the everyday business needs.”
JLL broker John Simmons represented Balance Space in its lease. Richmond-based American Bulldog Construction has been tapped as the general contractor overseeing the project. The space is open to users during construction.
Once built out, plans call for Balance Space to include meeting rooms, office space and break areas for members, Young said. Other amenities include access to free and discounted fitness classes, which include monthly massages, and business coaching upon request.
The children’s area, which will be run by an experienced childcare professional, will include a tumbling area for gymnastics, bounce houses, an area for arts and crafts, and a nursery.
“The concept for the children’s childcare is designed for kids at 8 weeks old to 8- to 10-year-olds,” Young said.
Balance Space charges $500 a month for access to shared workspace and childcare. Individual offices will run about $800 a month pre-construction and increase to about $1,000 once construction is complete.
Balance Space adds to a wave of co-working spaces that have popped up in recent years. In Richmond, Gather opened its second location last year in Scott’s Addition last year. Other city facilities include 804RVA, Marvin Lang and VCU’s Founder’s Corner.