In an era of WeWork and the Wing, country clubs and private clubs seek to regain relevance Last summer, Alessandra Brescia needed a new place to work. The 44-year-old Seattle-based brand strategist, who lives in the Ballard neighborhood with her two kids, wanted an easier commute and more inspiring space. At first, all she found nearby were cubicle-style offices for rent or WeWork spaces, none of which appealed to her. She sought something that didn?t feel like an office, a more comfortable space with a diverse crowd.
Her solution ended up being an ?urban basecamp for the mind, body, and soul.? That?s the tagline for Collective, a new private members-only club in Seattle?s South Lake Union that opened last summer with aspirations to reboot the stuffy, staid image of such institutions. The brainchild of Tommy Trause and Alex Mondau, employees of ClubCorp, the nation?s largest operator of private clubs, Collective offers a decidedly on-trend spin on a concept many associate with dress codes, dining rooms, and frankly, dudes (or as Mondau described it, ?pale, stale, and male?).
Inside, members can grab a coffee and find a laptop perch amid 8,000 square feet of workspace, which includes nooks and crannies to make calls, and even space to record music. The High Tide restaurant and bar serves grain bowls and grilled fish. And Alpenglow, a 7,000-square foot recreation area, includes an indoor campfire circle, space to play cornhole, couches, vintage ski lift chairs, and ev...