Revitalizing an old brewery into a circular Coworking space (CWE23)

This 2023 Coworking Europe presentation described Impact Hub Berlin’s conversion of an old brewery building into a coworking space shaped by circular-economy principles. Leon Reiner introduced the project within the wider context of Impact Hub Berlin’s mission, startup support programmes and coworking community. The deck reported that the organisation operated a 3,500-square-metre coworking space with more than 550 members and hosted more than 150 events attended by 2,600 guests. It also outlined 11 incubator and accelerator programmes spanning circular economy, green technology, diversity, equity and inclusion, and sustainable food. These programmes had supported 64 ventures, delivered more than 2,000 support hours and helped raise €6.3 million. The presentation connected the brewery redevelopment to the broader Impact Hub network, which it described as comprising more than 24,000 members across more than 100 locations in over 60 countries. Its closing diagrams contrasted an ideal circular construction process with the more interconnected course of the actual project. The ideal model followed a structured cycle from concept development and material sourcing through construction, use and dismantling, while the actual model showed repeated feedback between design, prototyping, construction, sourcing and later adaptation.

Key findings

• Impact Hub Berlin reported operating a 3,500 m² coworking space with more than 550 members, more than 150 events and 2,600 guests.
• Its 11 incubator and accelerator programmes had supported 64 ventures, provided more than 2,000 support hours and helped raise €6.3 million.
• The Impact Hub network was reported to include more than 24,000 members across more than 100 locations in over 60 countries.

Presented by Leon Reiner, Impact Hub Berlin, at Coworking Europe 2023