Office Evolution coworking space coming to Fort Collins in fall

FORT COLLINS — Southeast Fort Collins will get more than 12,000 square feet of new coworking space this fall when Michael Ollom opens a franchised location of Louisville-based Office Evolution.

Ollom told BizWest on Tuesday that he is finalizing lease arrangements for the space in the Villaggio development at East Harmony Road and Snow Mesa Drive. Villaggio, a seven-building mixed-use project built from 2007 to 2010, is part of Bellisimo, a 24-year-old development company founded and owned by Fort Collins City Councilman Gino Campana.

“Certain businesses and industries are moving to Northern Colorado, and I think we have the opportunity to meet the demand of the increased clientele,” Ollom said. “We will be easy to get to and surrounded by many other businesses.

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Ollom worked in the information-technology industry for more than 25 years as a consultant, supervisor and analyst, mostly with First Data Commercial Services, DPG Midstream and MarkWest Hydrocarbon. His last job was as a director for Houston-based G2 Integrated Solution, operating out of an Office Evolution coworking space in Golden. 

“While I was working there, I took a look at the business model Office Evolution had, and it offered many amenities for what we were trying to do,” Ollom said. “Starting my own coworking space was a great business to step into.

“I was living in Denver with my family, but we actually liked the idea of going up to Fort Collins, and have moved to Timnath in the past couple of weeks,” Ollom said. “I didn’t want to be just an absentee owner. I want to be working with the community, helping with outreach. My two children start school there this week.”

Office Evolution, founded in 2003, launched its franchising model in 2012. It has 21 locations, including sites at 4845 Pearl East Circle, Suite 101, in Boulder; 11001 W. 120th Ave., Suite 400, in Broomfield; and the corporate headquarters, 357 S. McCaslin Blvd,, Suite 200, in Louisville. It plans to open 15 more business centers across the country — including Ollom’s — by the end of 2016.

The facility will include offices for members, plus conference rooms, telephone, mail and receptionist services, and also will operate as a hub for local meetup groups, business gatherings and networking. According to the Office Evolution website, the company is pre-selling premium virtual office services there.

“One of the perks I hope to offer is that our members can increase their business footprint by working with any of the Office Evolutions offices, like the ones just off the 16th Street Mall or in Cherry Creek (in Denver), or up and down the Front Range — and vice versa,” Ollom said. “It might be exciting for Denver businesses to work with Northern Colorado clients.”

Pricing for the Fort Collins location was as yet unavailable. At Office Evolution’s Louisville location, according to its website, executive suites start at $615 per month, virtual offices start at $79 per month, and pay per use starts at $20 per hour.