Reimagining the Workday
Why coworking makes sense in the Northwoods
When people hear the word “coworking,” their mind often jumps to the city: Glass towers, crowded sidewalks, and conference rooms that feel more sterile than soulful. But for many of us in northern Wisconsin, that image doesn’t quite fit. It’s not who we are, and it’s not what work looks like here.
In Hayward, work is a mix of old and new. Some run family businesses that have served the community for generations. Others are building something from the ground up, whether it‘s a one-person startup, a creative studio, a digital side hustle, or a nonprofit with big goals. More and more people are also living here full-time or part-time while working remotely for companies based in Minneapolis, Chicago, or across the country.
But for all of us, work is personal. It’s woven into the rhythm of our lives, the pace of the seasons, the stillness of the mornings, the pride we take in doing something well. That’s exactly why a place like The Lumber Exchange matters.
This is not coworking as a trend. This is coworking with roots.
The Lumber Exchange was designed to support people who live and work in the Hayward area and want their workday to reflect the values of this place. It’s a space where you can plug in and focus, but still feel connected. Where you can meet with a client in a sunlit conference room, then walk to the bakery or take a call on the second-level deck overlooking Main Street. Where you can move between heads-down work and spontaneous conversations around the fireplace. Where your day includes both momentum and pause.
It’s about reimagining the workday, not as a grind, but as a rhythm that includes time for both productivity and presence. A walk at lunch. A paddle before dinner. A community workshop in the evening. We believe that the Northwoods should not just be where you escape when you are not working. It should be where your best work happens.
Why it works in a small town
Some people ask how a concept like this could succeed in a rural community. The answer is simple: because the need is already here.
We have heard from remote workers looking for a better backdrop than their kitchen table. From service-based professionals who need a place to meet clients. From nonprofit leaders without a home base. From part-time residents who spend summers up north but need to stay connected to their teams. From event organizers, consultants, creatives, entrepreneurs, and more.
The truth is, the way we work has changed. The spaces we work in should too.
The Lumber Exchange will offer:
- Flexible work areas and shared desks
- Private offices and quiet phone booths
- Conference rooms and presentation space
- Indoor and outdoor gathering spaces
- A coffee and espresso bar
- Fast, reliable internet and secure access
- Programming and events that bring people together
All of this will be just steps from lakes, trails, and tall pines. It is work-life harmony with a Northwoods twist.
A space for this community
Hayward has always been a place where people build things. We’re building this space for them.
For the teacher turned consultant. For the graphic designer who just moved back home. For the nonprofit leader hosting a board meeting. For the small business owner catching up on invoices before heading to the lake. For the founder drafting their first pitch deck. For the local professional looking for connection. For the seasonal resident who wants a productive morning before an afternoon ride.
We believe work should fit into life, not the other way around. Hayward is the perfect place to prove that it’s possible.
This is more than a building. It is a new way to show up for your work, your community, and yourself.
We are getting closer to breaking ground on the new building. It’s a good moment to ask: how might this space become part of your personal story? Maybe it is a quiet desk to start the morning. A warm spot to meet with clients. A place to build something new, or just focus on what matters most. However you work, we hope The Lumber Exchange will give you the room and the rhythm to do it well.
“For me, The Lumber Exchange is about more than work—it’s about giving people a space that feels like it belongs to Hayward, a place where your best ideas aren’t boxed in by four walls, but sparked by the world just outside your window. We’re not just building a coworking space. We’re building a new way to belong here, every day.”
