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Co-Optim Deer Park featured in Quintessential Barrington March/April Spring 2017 Issue

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Published by aliciahutzler, 2017-03-02 13:21:37

Co-Optim Quintessential Barrington

Co-Optim Deer Park featured in Quintessential Barrington March/April Spring 2017 Issue

Meet Me in Joe Elias, founder of Co-Optim
shared office space.
manhattan
A chance encounter in New York City by lisa stamos | photography by Jim Prisching
inspires Barrington designer Joe Elias
to create his flagship luxury Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017
shared office space in Deer Park

Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017

The Co-Optim reception features handmade cabinetry, hounds-tooth covered
pillars, a custom-made Italian chandelier, and illuminated blown glass flowers
boxed in a walnut frame with silver leaf finish known as the “flower box”. The
end of a bar is visible where each morning, Co-Optim staff put out fresh fruit-
infused ice water, cookies, and fresh-brewed Starbucks coffee.

It’s entirely possible for someone at Co-Optim’s shared luxury messages about the property within. “It’s about helping business people live The Manhattan board room showcases the
office space to say, “meet me in Manhattan” to a co-worker or visitor. well at work, and offering an environment that inspires them.” Manhattan board room table, which is made
Manhattan is one of several themed board rooms at the Deer Park com- from solid African mahogany with an illuminated
plex created by Joe Elias. Manhattan is the first board room on the right side That environment begins the moment you enter Co-Optim’s reception polished stainless steel base and glass top (this
when you walk through the main doors, and the Brooklyn Bridge cityscape and proceed through its many spaces. Annual membership options reflect table design is available in the furniture line).
covering the wall is a constant reminder of where Elias was inspired for the entire use of the space in various packages—such as private offices for
creating the unexpected. one or more people, use of a board room, and use of amenities including the Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017
fitness center and meditation room. Co-Optim also includes private phone
“It’s the emotion you remember most,” says Elias about how he felt turn- booths, a courtesy van, coffee bar, reception concierge, and a space for the
ing a street corner in Manhattan and happening upon this very view. Now, kids if needed. Want to connect with others at Co-Optim? Check out its
a board room bearing the name of that place also has a table that looks like mobile app.
its iconic bridge—one that’s designed and built by Elias and made entirely
in the U.S.A. (as are all his furniture and other products). “We thought care- Work Happy is Co-Optim’s theme. Elias hopes that the unique and com-
fully about each of our rooms, what they stand for, and they all have names fortable space he’s created for others will help make their work life happier
that reflect something about them,” he says. and more productive and even inspire some big ideas.

The idea behind Co-Optim is to offer all kinds of business people who
need office space a luxurious, yet very affordable alternative. Elias attracts a
variety of people—telecommuters who need an office space at times, small
businesses, freelancers, and even Fortune 500 staff who need a place to meet.
Elias isn’t trying to impose his brand idea on others, instead, his goal is to
offer a space that allows each member’s own brand to thrive. “It’s not about
us at Co-Optim,” he says, noting the fact that there are no visible branding

136 • Qu i n t e s se n t ia l Ba rri n g ton | QB ar r ing ton.com Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017

Below: This open seating floor plan incorporates
functional art as seen in the vertical, decorative
lighting panels. The panel windows provide lighting,
while also providing discrete power sources for lap-
tops, cell phones and other portables devices. The
richly grained wooden table with a live edge helps
balance technology with a nature.

Above: Adjacent to a long bar is the Salon. Featured Above: “Rain” is the name of this board room with
on pillars and pillows and echoed elsewhere is the whimsical umbrellas floating up high. This conference
hounds-tooth pattern. This is a comfortable space room table is bar height, enabling members to stand or sit
where members and their guests can have coffee, during meetings. The umbrellas evoke a childhood sense
a glass of wine, or just relax on the sofa. A vintage of wonder and fun.
crest associated with Joe Elias’ brands can be seen
in the leather couch. Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017 QB ar r ing ton.com | Qu i n t e s se n t ia l Ba rri n g ton • 139

Right: Woodstock is a themed board room with a
mural and large conference room table.

Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017

Joseph EliasMeet Entrepreneur

Above: The name Sol, for this open workspace, was Joseph Elias is an old-world artisan at heart, one who likes high fashion. The Joseph Nicola brand name covers both luxury hand-sewn
given in appreciation for the sunlight streaming in to work with his hands, yet his many business ventures reflect a more and built handbags, and his line of furniture. His purse designing is now in
through tall windows. This space is reminiscent of a sophisticated set of skills and design aesthetics—ingenuity, fine crafts- its sixth line, with clientele from Barrington to Beverly Hills. Elias works
local coffee shop, study hall, or library. manship, a keen eye for materials, and a relentless reach for excellence in with one of three remaining leather handbag sewers that remain in the U.S.
everything he designs, creates, and builds. The brand name Joseph Nicola combines his name with his son’s, Nicholas.
Left: The back of a napkin will never go out of style The luxury handbags can be viewed online at www.josephnicola.com .
for generating big ideas. Joe Elias believes that if you Co-Optim, with its flagship location in Deer Park, Ill., is the newest ad-
are comfortable at work and can relax your mind as venture in his significant and growing portfolio of businesses. Co-Optim’s With this set of accomplishments, it might be surprising that Elias’ is
well, good ideas will flow. industrial-meets-luxury vibe invites members to be focused and produc- completely at ease having taken the road less traveled—that is, he did not go
tive, even if that means taking a constructive break, or visiting with other to college. Instead, shaped and skilled by the trades classes he took refuge in
140 • Qu i n t e s se n t ia l Ba rri n g ton | QB ar r ing ton.com Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017 Co-Optim members to share ideas. And while Elias is firm that work should at Barrington High School, he didn’t wait for opportunity to come to him,
not be one’s entire life, he believes that it doesn’t hurt to have an energiz- instead, he started his first profitable seal-coating business at age 16 while
ing, beautiful office environment that is shared with like-minded business attending high school.
people to network with.
As a teen, Elias realized that he could focus on the things at school that
Elias is also a residential real estate developer, a designer for the homes completely interested him and gave him hands-on training. But if it weren’t
he builds and subdivisions he develops. He takes pride in having originality for the trades in high school available back then—sculpting, welding, shop,
and one-of-a-kind designs and details in the luxury homes he builds under and automotive—his trajectory might not have arced as high. “I could take
the moniker Vintage Luxury Homes (www.VintageLuxuryHomes.com). All apart a motor completely and put it back together again,” Elias says of his
home designs are created “from scratch” based on the client family’s inter- school days at Barrington High School, with fondness.
ests and needs at home.
The homes and furniture and office spaces that Elias builds are as solid as
The interior at Co-Optim showcases many of Elias’ art pieces and hand- his business vision. “I have a passion for what I do, and am building a 100-
crafted furniture lines, all of which are made in the U.S. and are signed and year brand,” he says. But it’s not all about work, either, says the father of three
numbered originals. It’s not unusual for Elias to show up at a manufactur- teen-aged children and husband of 26 years. His view that a high-quality life
ing location and help assemble furniture and other interior design pieces starts and belongs at home, but can and should extend to the work place,
himself. Many of those work sites are in the Barrington area and Chicago. seems to be at the heart of all he does.

Beyond all things home and office, Elias’ design reach goes all the way to QB ar r ing ton.com | Qu i n t e s se n t ia l Ba rri n g ton • 141

Reprinted With Permission - Quintessential Barrington Magazine - Copyright © 2017


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