While some companies have downsized their space as needed, others haven’t been able to.  Most companies are locked into long-term leases and because they have fewer employees than 18 months ago, they pay for more space than they need.  There is a silver-lining: stuck with overhead (Internet, phone, and square footage) and in need of cash, some of these firms have begun renting excess space by the desk.  By renting desks to smaller companies at low prices, existing tenants are bringing in cash and getting exposure to new ideas while giving start-ups the professional office space they are looking for.  We call this a win-win…win.

We went out to Artaic, a creative firm that currently calls the Innovation District home, and met with founder Ted Acworth to hear his thoughts on why he loves his space and can’t wait to share it.

Ted stresses that he’s not alone in the Innovation District; in fact he’s right in the ‘epicenter’ of the design community. “Our favorite companies in this area are other people who are doing cool things.” Acworth acknowledges that the firms nearby are “very technologically advanced, they are smart people, hard working, and innovative. It is a lot more fun hanging with people like that than someone who is doing pretty basic stuff.”

We couldn’t agree more…

The strategies behind the ID are right in line with Ted’s remarks–clusters help generate new ideas and allow for rapid iteration. In the Bronstein Center, Artaic’s home, there are architects who have designed labs at MIT, a nationally known web design firm, and a rapid-prototype manufacturer.  Just next-door is a company working to solve the world’s energy problems with PV technology and another focused on energy-saving retrofits for the city’s housing stock.

“It’s in the cracks between departments where some of the greatest innovation tends to be happening.” Artaic grew from one of those cracks, taking an artistic form (mosaic) that has been around for thousands of years and bringing it into the 21^st century with the help of a slick software package, a tile-sorting robot, and a staff of multi-talented artists.  All of those assets together create one of our favorite buzz words in the ID…“mass customization.”

Artaic currently has some vacant space and is looking to incubate a start-up or two.  The company doesn’t have to be a design firm; remember—it’s in the cracks between departments that innovation happens.

If you’d like to sit with Ted and the fine folks at Artaic, click here.  He has some fine turn-key office space for rent at a very reasonable price.

Also, if your firm has some extra space, we know a bunch of innovators who would be happy to share it.  Just let us know!

To continue the conversation on this post or any other post, take it to twitter: @idboston.

We can’t wait to share,

~af

See more from Artaic’s opening event in Oct 2009