We only had a short while between the end of class and our visit to Sinergia Cowork, a space designed to bring entrepreneurs together to create sustainable and innovative companies.
By some twist of fate, I happened to be out of class, and as luck would have it, I ran into a group of friends. One of them, Diego, was planning to drive; he offered to give us a ride, so we hopped in.
We chatted and relaxed, and before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination. Ahead of us stood a large gate with a green “S” painted on it. Since we had arrived early, we hesitated a bit before asking to be let in. I won’t lie—by this point, our expectations were sky-high.
We went inside. The area set aside for the bicycles was unusual; instead of being propped up on the floor, they were hanging on the wall. I'm trying to remember, and I think the walls were covered with paintings.
We walked a few steps and came to the entrance hall of the place, which, though not very large, led into a massive space. As far as my memory goes—fortunately, it hasn’t failed me—there were paintings and colors on display here as well. Everything was beautiful, everything was wonderful. Among the paintings on display, there was one in particular that caught my eye.
Written in chalk on a black background were the words: “Minds are like parachutes; they only function when open.” In the distance, people were working hard.
A really nice girl came up to us. She would be the one to give us the guided tour later on, but we didn't know that yet.
It was then that, full of confidence, she asked if we were students and had come for the tour. We nodded and replied. We wanted to look around a bit, but when we asked if we could, our plans were dashed when she turned us down and explained the importance of taking the tour as a group. We understood and agreed: she had the presentation all figured out.
All the friends who were missing showed up. We were crammed together, chatting. I think—though I can’t know for sure what they were thinking—they were quite impressed by the surroundings. After a few minutes of chatting, the event began.
Silent visit
We slipped in like ghosts. There was no shortage of color, nor of people absorbed in their work. A huge double-height room seemed to tower over us. On both the upper and lower floors, there were tables, more secluded offices, and living areas arranged in small groups.
The instruction was to walk through the entire space in silence and then move on to an area where, eventually, we would be told a little more about what was going on. The atmosphere turned out to be completely different from that of the waiting room. Now we were on the move; the things we could see were different, and so was the way we looked at them. The spacious area allowed the 20 to 25 of us to walk calmly, taking in what was happening. And what was happening? The people working there looked at us, and we looked at them. Perhaps at some point we would find ourselves in their place, and they had already been in ours, I suppose.
All of a sudden, I decided to sit down. I tried out one of those armchairs in an effort to organize my thoughts. I sketched a few things, jotted down a few notes, and by the time I looked up again, everyone had left. There I was, a lost soul in Sinergia.
I got up in a hurry and looked for my friends. I wandered around until one of the girls who was working there suggested I go down to the basement in case they were part of the tour. I did, and I found them. It wasn't such a big deal that I got lost. I don't think they even noticed I was missing. The thing is, I had ended up in the recreation room. And I liked what I saw.
The new space that opened up before me was spacious, with soft lighting. From the way things were arranged, I could tell it was a dining room. Everything seemed to point toward a sense of fun, connection, and relaxation—some of the qualities I like to see when working as a team.
Finally, I spotted some amplifiers… music, I thought. There was plenty of space to set up a jam session. The idea of taking a break, plugging in a guitar, and playing a few songs while others played a game of ping-pong seemed sublime to me. This place practically invited such a scenario—almost as a matter of course, almost as an obligation. Lots of good vibes and charm. Ten out of ten for Sinergia.
The tour ended when we reached the last room. With large windows letting in the light and plenty of colorful seats waiting to be filled, the talk began.
A Not-So-Quiet Chat
It was Lucía who spoke. She invited three of us to come in and present with her, since she preferred it that way.
The suggested activity asked everyone to share their thoughts on how things had gone so far. Several words came up, including aesthetic identity, personal identity, quality, and a sense of belonging, among others. Victoria, Florencia, and Diego were the ones who spoke up.
“I was completely taken aback,” said the last one. I remember finding it very funny. That’s how a conversation began between them and everyone who was listening.
From time to time, as opportunities arose, Lucía took them to highlight some of Sinergia’s key features. She mentioned the importance of paying attention to new clients and making sure they have everything they need. This way, they ensured that they would be chosen again. She continued her presentation and emphasized that “the key is to put people at the center,” as well as considering it “essential that people get to know one another.”
Everything that was said seemed very timely. Until now, I had thought of the place as a space where things can happen—and do tend to happen, why not—but more than anything else, there are many people who are willing to make them happen; this last point is what matters most.
A classmate spoke up at that moment. I found her words very eloquent. She talked about how, for communication students, it was difficult to break into the job market and have it fully meet their expectations. So this classmate saw Sinergia as a solution to the problem, since you could come in, work remotely for a while, and meet people while working.
The speaker, sensing the tension, retorted, “Of course, this is a space for entrepreneurs; we provide tools and guidance. It’s not just a workspace. And if you’re stuck for ideas right now, grab a bike and go for a ride—something’s bound to come to you.”
With those last words echoing in my mind, I decided to stay.
This place is crazy—colorful and fun, but above all, productive. Lucía conveyed an organizational culture that invites you in. I don’t know when or under what circumstances, but from now on, Sinergia is on my radar as a possibility and a space for growth. Even though I haven’t experienced Sinergia from the inside, I can say without a doubt that from the outside, it looks fantastic.