LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — Rock City Centre opened its doors in Little Falls last November, providing co-working space to individuals, businesses, and entrepreneurs looking to utilize shared office space. “The whole concept is to get different companies in here together, sharing that co-working space, bouncing ideas off each other,” says building manager Dean Gaylord. The […]
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LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. — Rock City Centre opened its doors in Little Falls last November, providing co-working space to individuals, businesses, and entrepreneurs looking to utilize shared office space.
“The whole concept is to get different companies in here together, sharing that co-working space, bouncing ideas off each other,” says building manager Dean Gaylord.
The building, owned by entrepreneur and Little Falls native Martin Babinec, features a variety of workspaces located on its two floors. They range from simple seating areas to co-working stations to private offices, depending on what members need.
Rather than lock clients into long-term leases for space, Rock City Centre offers membership packages of varying levels. For less than $100 a month, members can get 96 hours for one person to use in the building’s business-lounge spaces. For $700 per month, members can utilize 80 hours of private office time for up to five people plus unlimited use of the business lounge and co-working areas. Membership packages in between offer different options, making it easy for anyone to find a package that works for their needs, Gaylord contends.
Included in those packages are access to the building’s kitchenette including coffee and espresso, lockers to keep personal belongings secure, and all the utilities and technology services needed to keep a business running.
“It’s really very affordable to get into a space like this,” Gaylord says. The building is available to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rock City Centre uses Proximity Mobile to control the space, with members using an app on their phone to book their time in the building and open the doors.
In addition to the workspaces, Rock City Centre (RCC) also has a multipurpose room and a board room, both complete with audio/visual equipment. The board room is currently being fitted with a video-conferencing system making it perfect for remote meetings, Gaylord says.
There is also a glass-walled meeting pod on the first floor that members can use when they are conducting confidential business but don’t have access to one of the offices.
Among the building’s more unique features are the living walls it has on both floors. The walls hold an array of plants from floor to ceiling that not only add visual appeal, but help improve the quality of the air inside, Gaylord notes.
The space has been well received since opening with 30 members already, Gaylord says. Most of the growth to date has come from word-of-mouth advertising as existing members spread the word, but RCC will soon be developing a more comprehensive plan to reach out to more potential members.
One of the center’s newest tenants is Strategic Financial Services of Utica.
“Rock City Centre offered us an opportunity to build on a community of like-minded businesses focused on growth, serving a larger purpose,” Strategic’s CEO Alan Leist III says. “There is great power in the RCC model, and we are thrilled to be a part of it all.”
Gaylord hopes the building will be popular with larger companies that have offices along the Thruway corridor. Little Falls is located about halfway between Syracuse and Albany, making it a convenient location for companies that have facilities in both of those cities, he notes.
“This is going to be a hub for a lot of those companies,” he predicts.
On top of the office space, Rock City Centre also has a rooftop event space available for rental. That venue currently has capacity for 70 guests but can hold between 80 and 100 if needed.
“This is going to be a great space for companies to hold private functions,” Gaylord contends. The building has a commercial kitchen on the second floor for caterers to use for events and is obtaining its liquor license so it can offer bar packages for events. RCC plans to hold several ticketed community events in the space this summer.
