Outdoor Offices: The Next New Thing?

In an effort to get most indoor worker bees into the fresh air and sunshine, some developers are proposing outdoor office spaces. Peterson Cos., a development firm in Fairfax, VA, recently opened Outbox, a 20-seat outdoor space on Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring, MD. The outdoor office features desks, chairs, electronic outlets and internet service.

Outbox is experimental, but it isn’t the first to attempt outdoor workspaces. The Golden Triangle BID in Washington DC offers WiFi-enabled chair-and-table settings that can seat up to 24. Other informal outdoor working spaces are popping up in Long Beach, CA and Austin, TX.

Whether outdoor offices are viable right now isn’t yet settled. The category is still being established.