The small things count.
Lunch around the communal table. An informal social after work. A break in the garden. A well behaved dog asleep under the desk. Those everyday things help people feel at home here.
Work together.
Grow together.
A place to get your work done, and to know the people working beside you.
It started with a few founding members.
The Common opened in 2017 in an original 1970s Squamish building. Peter Buchholz wanted people working on their own projects to have a place to focus and a reason to meet one another.
Just a few weeks after opening, he wrote a note to members. He was proud of the space, but felt he had spent too much time setting it up and too little time connecting the people inside it. He said plainly: Our goal was to build community.
He invited members to a social, asked for their feedback, and set out to make more opportunities for them to meet. The Common has kept evolving around the people who use it.
Peter's first weeksDifferent work. One room.
Over the years, coders, lawyers, geospatial engineers, PhD students, green tech innovators, founders, and remote workers have all found a desk here. The mix keeps things interesting. You might come in to finish your own work and leave with a useful introduction, a fresh perspective, or a familiar face to say hello to tomorrow.
Space to focusDesks, offices, and rooms for the work in front of you.
Space to connectLunch at the communal table, a chat in the kitchen, or a break outside.
Space to contributeIdeas, introductions, and support for people building things in Squamish.
What social capital means here.
Seats2meet in Utrecht helped inspire The Common. Its idea of social capital is simple: people have more to offer one another than a fee for a desk. They have experience, time, contacts, and encouragement.
At The Common, that idea became Common Capital, gatherings for members, and support for local groups. Peter's vision was to make connections between people and organizations, not just rent out a room.
About Seats2meet
The space has always been a work in progress.
Peter asked founding members what could be better. That habit shows up throughout The Common's old updates: new desks and monitors, more places for calls, changes to the lounge and kitchen, and work on the Micro Office. Some of the details have changed again since then. The habit of listening is what matters.
If something isn't working for you when you visit, tell us. The Common gets better when the people using it speak up.
A place for people to gather.
The Common has hosted meetups, film nights, conversations, and community events. In 2018, Peter announced an all candidates air hockey tournament for the local election, with proceeds intended for Howe Sound Women’s Shelter.
See the event spaceMaking space for more people.
Over the years, The Common has tried a few ways to help more people take part. These programs are part of our history. Funding and sponsorship are not confirmed current offers, so please ask us what is possible today.
Common Capital
People could offer time, skills, or connections in exchange for more accessible desk space.
Community grants
Support was offered for Squamish groups working on small business, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Venue sponsorship
Community groups and nonprofits could seek help with the cost of bringing people together.
Come see if it feels right.
Come work here for an hour or a day. Meet a few people, see how the space feels, and decide whether you'd like to come back. No need to choose a monthly desk before you've spent time here.
Book a desk