The work-life balancing act can be stressful, but Boulder’s Kiln coworking space proposes a holistic solution for merging labor and lifestyle in a cool new clubhouse right on Pearl Street.

Before founding Kiln, CEO Arian Lewis, COO Andrew Redpath, and creative director Leigh Radford had already launched over a dozen other coworking spaces worldwide, from Cape Town to Mumbai, London to New York. They’ve introduced their new, boutique Kiln brand to locations in Utah (Salt Lake City, Lehi, Park City) and now Boulder, with another Denver-area space coming within the next two years. Their future development plans include Kiln locations in California, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, and Oregon.

So, why Boulder? “Boulder’s unique personality makes it a great fit for Kiln,” Radford says. “It’s socially conscious and tech-focused, the birthplace of many positive social and environmental movements.”

The onsite café features Udon chairs from Hem, a Swedish brand. Photo courtesy of Kiln

The complicated, two-year project of creating Boulder’s Kiln headquarters was entrusted to Arch11 design studio and Duggan Construction. The crew had the daunting task of combining seven existing buildings to create one new, 22,000-square-foot space. “Instead of demolishing the structures, property owner John Reynolds saw an opportunity to honor the bones of the buildings and reuse them through a collaboration with Kiln,” Radford explains. “The buildings’ original functions ranged from an early-20th-century icehouse to a late-20th-century retail space—these had been stitched together over the years,” explains Arch11 project manager Mat Brundage.

To make sense of what could easily have become a structural hodgepodge, the design team came up with the idea of a central “Main Street,” connected by concrete ramps to different areas throughout the complex. When the builders removed the walls that divided the buildings, they created a central gathering space. Overhead, they installed large, translucent skylights to flood the interiors with sunshine, and they also added almost 50 feet of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Pearl Street.

Custom Kiln desks, clustered into activity hubs, were designed with storage shelves and dividers to provide a sense of enclosure. Photo courtesy of Kiln

Variety is the spice of coworking life at Kiln. “The plan allows for multiple ways of working,” Brundage explains. “Some business owners prefer a more intimate and private office; others thrive in larger, taller, daylit offices—the buildings together retain an inherent funkiness allowing for multiple work styles.”

“Kiln allocates about 25 percent more space for each of its members than its [competitors], creating a more human-centric environment,” Radford says. For a single worker or a team of 50, Kiln offers membership levels with varying degrees of access and privacy, starting at $345 per person, per month, for a drop-in, shared desk. Onsite amenities include an auditorium, podcast studio, event space, commercial kitchen, café, parenting room, long-term bike storage, electric car-charging stations, an outdoor patio, and a landscaped roof deck.

The conference room features a bespoke oak table and pink-tinted walls. “Pink has been our conference room color since our first Kiln,” Radford says. “It helps break down the perception of what a conference room might normally be.” Photo courtesy of Kiln

Wellness is also part of Kiln’s holistic mission. So, in response to COVID-19, they’ve introduced enhanced cleaning and safety features including a hospital-grade HVAC purification system, an antimicrobial brass “Kiln Key” system, infrared temperature check-in stations, and more.

Spaces are furnished with careful consideration of both form and function. “Kiln’s blend of natural materials, biophilic design, art, and furniture collections was designed to resonate with this rugged mountain town, while best serving the dynamic tech community with purposeful, thoughtful, and creative design,” Radford says. “We’ve developed a series of 20-plus custom and proprietary furniture pieces that not only give Kiln its unique aesthetic, but also provide a heightened level of functionality for each of our members.” In true Boulder fashion, Kiln also offers walking or biking desks. The overall look is daylight-fresh with muted colors, influenced by both midcentury-modern and Norwegian design.

Custom desks in solid alder are part of the Kiln series. “We appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making real furniture,” Radford says. “From the selection of the timbers to the final coat of semi-white sealant, we think these details are as important to our members as they are to us.” Photo courtesy of Kiln

“Boulder is a highly creative community that continues to pioneer the future,” Radford says. “We couldn’t be more excited to call it our newest home.”