The owner of Think Tank, the popular co-working space in Portland, has signed a lease to open a new location on Biddeford’s Pepperell Mill Campus.

Think Tank Biddeford, as it’s being called, will be located in 3,000 square feet in the Pepperell Center, one of the several former textile mill buildings that make up the campus in the heart of downtown Biddeford, according to Patrick Roche, Think Tank’s founder.

An artist’s rendering of Think Tank’s Biddeford location. Courtesy of Think Tank

Courtyard space and walkways made of brick grace the outside areas of Pepperell Center in Biddeford. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

The new co-working space will include 11 private offices, eight dedicated desks and several work stations that are available to people who are called “floating” members. As with Portland’s Think Tank, Roche hopes the Biddeford location will also serve as a vibrant community hub that will host a variety of events, meet-ups and workshops.

Roche founded Think Tank in Portland in 2010 to cater to freelancers and remote workers looking for a change from their home offices, as well as small startups and nonprofit organizations in need of affordable office space without the risk of entering into long-term leases.

The Biddeford site is actually Think Tank’s third location. Roche opened a co-working space in Yarmouth in 2013. Between Portland and Yarmouth, Think Tank now boasts more than 200 members, including software engineers, writers, Web developers and consultants.

Roche expects Biddeford won’t be Think Tank’s last location. He said he is already in talks to open co-working spaces in Lewiston-Auburn, Brunswick and Waterville. Long-term, his vision for Think Tank extends beyond Maine’s borders.

“I believe that co-working is the future of community, startup ideation and business incubation,” Roche said. “Ultimately, we will see Think Tanks cropping up in satellite cities around the country as people discover the power of a bottom-up approach to economic recovery.”

Roche is tentatively planning a grand opening for Think Tank Biddeford on Oct. 1, though he has already begun fielding inquires about joining the space. At the moment, the monthly rate for a floating member is $125, while a dedicated desk will cost $250, and a private office will cost $375, according to the website.

Think Tank Biddeford joins several other businesses that have moved into the Pepperell Center in the past year since its redevelopment, including Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Banded Horn Brewing Co., Angelrox and Portland Pie Co.

“Think Tank will be another great addition to the variety of businesses here, and I really think that they will fill the need for freelance workers or small startups that are looking for smaller office space that already has all the bells and whistles,” Will Kany, leasing director for the Pepperell Mill Campus, said.

The redevelopment of the Pepperell Mill Campus has been one of the factors fueling Biddeford’s recent growth. The city has approved more than $70 million in new projects in the mill district in the past three years.

Related Stories