Member Spotlight: Kosmo Coworking, a Coworking Space in Downtown Olympia Designed with You in Mind

Nestled inside the historic Rockway-Leland Building, Kosmo Coworking in downtown Olympia blends professional amenities with imaginative design, creating a workspace that’s as inspiring as it is productive. Every detail reflects owner Kelsye Nelson’s belief that where you work directly shapes how you work.

It’s easy to see why members describe Kosmo as their own clubhouse in the heart of downtown. Every corner invites curiosity, from the dramatic Raven Room conference space to the whimsical Vault Library, built inside the building’s original bank vault. Kosmo offers 24/7 member access, complimentary coffee, tea and snacks, thoughtfully designed workstations, and even welcomes well-behaved four-legged coworkers.

A Space Designed to Work for You

Whether you’re a remote employee, entrepreneur, freelancer, creative, or student, Kosmo offers a shared workspace in Olympia that adapts to the way you work. Members can choose from dedicated desks, open seating, private meeting rooms, and quiet corners designed to support different working styles.

The space was intentionally created to be neurodiverse-friendly, giving people the flexibility to move throughout the day depending on the task at hand. That thoughtful approach is backed by research. A 2025 peer-reviewed study published in Ergonomics found that remote workers reported higher well-being, greater work engagement, and higher perceived productivity when working from a coworking space compared with working from home (Lukeš, Zouhar, & Bennis, 2025). Researchers concluded that the biggest benefits came from flexible work environments and opportunities for in-person collaboration.

“We’ve put real care into making the space neurodiverse friendly, with different environments to suit different working styles,” Nelson shares. “You’ll find the place that feels right to you, whether you need a calm, focused setting or a more stimulating, creative corner to spark your best ideas. We’re like WeWork meets Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Professional where it counts, playful where it matters.”

The Long Way Home

For Nelson, opening Kosmo wasn’t simply about launching a business, it was about creating the workplace she wished she’d had.

After nearly a decade working remotely and traveling the world, Nelson returned to the South Sound with a renewed appreciation for the place and the community that shaped her. Growing up in the Olympia area, there’s something especially meaningful about building her business in the city she always hoped to return to. Choosing downtown wasn’t just practical. It felt like coming home.

“I’ve worked remotely and on the road for nearly a decade, and I loved it—at first,” Nelson admits. “But the charm of the home office eventually wore off. I found it increasingly hard to focus at home, where every distraction competes for your attention. The dishes are somehow always too loud! The days started blending together in a way that wasn’t good for my productivity or my sanity. I needed to be around people. Kosmo Coworking is the space I was looking for. I know I’m not the only one who needs this.”

Today, that vision has become a welcoming place where members find not only a practical workspace, but also meaningful conversations, new collaborations, and a stronger connection to downtown Olympia.

Clocking In for What’s Next

Although Kosmo Coworking is one of downtown Olympia’s newest businesses, Nelson already has her sights set on what’s next. Plans are underway for The Conservatory, another themed meeting room that will continue the space’s imaginative design. Plus, the upcoming launch of the Alibi Writing Society will introduce classes, workshops, retreats, and dedicated writing sessions for authors of every experience level.

“Kosmo Coworking provides a strong, reliable home base for active professionals and creatives in downtown Olympia,” Nelson says. “We give people a reason to come downtown. Members at Kosmo feel like they have their own clubhouse in the heart of the city. Rather than isolating at home, they feel a greater connection and ownership of the community.”

As more professionals embrace remote jobs, Kosmo is proving that where you work affects how you work. By creating a welcoming coworking space in downtown Olympia that celebrates creativity, productivity, and human connection, Kelsye Nelson is helping shape a downtown where work feels a little less cumbersome and a lot more like belonging.

Find your focus and your community at Kosmo Coworking. Experience a fresh, modern way to work right in the heart of Downtown Olympia.

Kosmo Coworking
123 Washington St NE
Olympia, WA 98501
support@kosmocoworking.com
(360) 995-8136

References

Lukeš, M., Zouhar, J., & Bennis, W. M. (2025). The influence of coworking on well-being and performance: An Experience Sampling Method study. Ergonomics. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2025.2473019

Photo Credit: Olympia Downtown Alliance. All images are our own; please contact us (mwillie@downtownolympia.org) for explicit permission before use.