‘The new dynamics of the workforce call for new environments’: Step inside Austin’s Indy by Industrious
When Tim Hayden, CEO & Business Development at BrainTrust Partners, heads to work every day, he no longer needs to commute to downtown Austin, compete for parking, get stuck in traffic, and deal with the headaches of a workplace far from home. Now, he walks to work.
How?
It’s thanks to Indy by Industrious, a new neighborhood office that makes getting to work and staying productive throughout your day even easier for people near Austin’s Crestview neighborhood.
First announced in August 2024, Indy by Industrious delivers on the trusted quality, service, and hospitality of Industrious’s 200+ locations, while also providing new flexible options designed to fit any budget.
Austin is the first location of its kind, helping provide a blueprint for the recently opened Indy by Industrious in Berlin, and another one planned for Phoenix later this summer.
The format seems to be working. Companies who need more space for their teams mentioned location, space, amenities and the turnkey ease as reasons for joining. Shortly after opening, 100% of available suites were occupied.
Iteration is the heartbeat of innovation. As the hybrid work movement has gained momentum and our membership base grown, we’ve learned that some folks are looking for something different. Indy by Industrious is our answer for those who are simply looking for a streamlined, comfortable, and flexible workspace without the full range of amenities we typically offer. At the same time, because it is a different model, Indy by Industrious enables us to enter many more markets with robust hybrid work ecosystems that we’re not currently in.
Indy by Industrious locations will enhance our core network with workspaces designed to be more accessible—for example, locations that are likely closer to where you live or built with smaller footprints. Think of neighborhood offices that fit more closely into your lifestyle and daily needs, and without compromising on the level of quality you expect from Industrious.
Those neighborhood offices can pull people in a different way. For example, going back to Hayden, he was just walking through his neighborhood when he saw a brand new building with a banner that read “Indy by Industrious.” He had previously heard of Industrious, but not ‘Indy’ — his interest was piqued.
“It’s been awesome,” said Hayden. “I have a 13-year-old son and my office is only three blocks from my house, so I can walk to the office, not worry about driving a car, and then because I’m so close to home, I can be more present with my family.”
Every Indy by Industrious location will have a dedicated on-site team, ensuring that from a warm hello in the morning to a much-needed surprise midday snack, you’re always supported—whether you’re heads-down on focused work or just need a space to host an important client meeting.
Hayden, who has a three-desk office at the Austin location, says that the added touches make the location just as welcoming as a full-blown Industrious.
“Indy to me is as much about independence as Industrious,” said Hayden. “I enjoy connecting with people and seeing opportunities to make new relationships.”
Previously faced with the workplace prospects of a discouraging downtown commute or trying to make work from home work for him, Hayden sees Industrious as a middle ground.
“It’s the compromise to say you need to get out of the house, but you can only do coffee shops for so long – you need whiteboards and no line for coffee,” said Hayden. “The new dynamics of the workforce call for new environments and flavors. Industrious is definitely in the right place at the right time.”
Similarly, Elena Fuentes, SVP, Operations, at Procare Med Center, looked at six to seven different companies in the market when they were ready to consider options for a corporate space. “Indy was by far the best option we could find in terms of location, space, amenities, and the turnkey ease,” she said. “We were concerned we weren’t going to find a space that suited our needs for conference rooms, training rooms, and events like lunches or after-hours. We were pleasantly surprised Indy by Industrious offered all of those solutions for us.”
Why ‘Indy’ versus Industrious? Fuentes said it came down to the location. It’s a win-win to not have to commute or worry about traffic sandwiching a busy day.
Teresa Sokolow, General Manager at Austin’s Indy by Industrious, says her team helps potential members find the right fit across all Industrious locations in the city – totaling seven by the end of this summer. One advantage of Indy by Industrious is its simpler approach, offering lighter refreshments and less emphasis on curated programming or member events.
Currently Indy locations have landed on one special event a week, rotating a member event, a happy hour, a snack, and a breakfast. We still think making connections is important and that’s why Alix Dyer, Member Experience Manager in Austin, also helps act as a “dot connector,” introducing members to one another in between special hosted events.
“Indy by Industrious will continue evolving as we get more feedback from members and explore new markets,” said Sokolow.
We’re excited to introduce Indy by Industrious. It’s something new and different that we believe will make our collection of workplace experiences even more worthwhile. If you’re in Austin or Berlin – and soon, Phoenix – please give us a visit. And hopefully soon we’ll have more locations coming to a neighborhood near you.