While San Francisco doesn't lack for co-working spaces, a new one has just joined the crowded scene, hoping to distinguish itself with a focus on community.

Earlier this month, international co-working company Spaces opened its first San Francisco location in the Paramount building at 95 3rd St. (and Mission) in SoMa.

Spaces took over a space that had previously housed UC Berkeley Extension, and it has now been extensively renovated. “I’ve been touring this location since it was just concrete,” said area manager Nick Sanchez. “It was hard to envision what it would become at that point.”

The co-working company—which first began in Amsterdam—has offices worldwide, including in Menlo Park and San Jose elsewhere in the Bay Area. Members can access around 3,000 international workspaces in locations across the U.S., Europe and Asia.

While Sanchez admitted that San Francisco already has its fair share of co-working spaces, he explained that what makes Spaces unique is the community element. The company has its niche in adapting its common areas to facilitate more communication between different companies.

“We’re trying to have an environment that has an open-door policy," he said, "[where] you can go across the hall and talk to someone who has expertise in a department you may not have set up yet."

There are also plans to hold community events at the San Francisco location, including book readings and art shows. 

“People are really excited to have us here," he said. "Seeing it finally open and being able to meet the companies I’ve been talking to over the last couple of years, it’s been really nice. It’s also been very rewarding to see all the hard work we’ve put into this place come together." 

The SoMa co-working space also includes a 8000-square-foot business club, a communal area that all members—regardless of their type of membership—can access.

“You can come out into the common areas and bounce ideas off of each other," said Sanchez. "That’s a big thing for us.”

Other amenities include private phone booths for calls, the standard Wi-Fi, and coffee and snacks. 

For potential members, a free trial and tours are available. Individuals can either rent a dedicated desk—which includes use of a locker—for $510/month, or use the common work space for $340/month.

Larger office spaces for six to ten people will cost companies $8,600 to $12,000 per month. According to Sanchez, a wide range of companies—including tech startups—have already set up at the San Francisco Spaces.

For now, the 3rd Street location only has three employees, but Spaces will be hiring more staff as the offices fill up. In August, the company plans to host an official opening party, but a date has not yet been determined.