Laminar Work Spaces

Beyond Home and Office

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg introduced the concept of the "third place" — a social environment separate from the two usual social environments of home (first place) and the workplace (second place). Cafés, libraries, parks, and community centers serve as these anchors of community life.

The Remote Work Revolution

The pandemic permanently shifted how we think about work. According to a 2024 Gallup survey, 53% of workers in the U.S. now have some form of hybrid arrangement. But working from home comes with its own challenges:

Isolation — humans are social creatures who need ambient social energy
Blurred boundaries — when your office is your bedroom, it's hard to "leave work"
Distractions — household chores, family members, and the refrigerator all compete for attention

Why Cafés Work

Cafés offer something unique: ambient sociality. You're surrounded by other people, which satisfies our need for social connection, but you're not obligated to interact with them. Research from the University of British Columbia found that moderate ambient noise (around 70 decibels) actually enhances creative thinking.

The Missing Piece

But cafés have limitations:

No guaranteed seating — especially during peak hours
Noise levels vary — from pleasant hum to overwhelming chaos
No privacy — for calls, sensitive work, or deep focus sessions
Guilt factor — occupying a table for hours with one coffee purchase

Enter Laminar

This is exactly the gap Laminar Work Spaces fills. We partner with the cafés you already love and install private, acoustically-engineered workspaces within them. You get the best of both worlds:

The social energy and great coffee of your favorite café
The privacy and quiet of a dedicated workspace
No guilt — your booking supports the café directly

The Future Is Hybrid — And Local

We believe the future of work isn't about choosing between home and office. It's about having access to the right environment for the right task, right in your neighborhood. Deep focus work? Book a Laminar workspace. Collaborative brainstorm? Head to the café floor. Quick emails? Stay on the couch.