
Beautifully Restored Membership
Based Co-Working Space
With gorgeous natural light, many unique work stations to choose from, lightning-fast WiFi and access to our full menu downstairs- Society Hall at Northern Grounds is the ideal place to get work done!
Society Hall Workspace is an open-plan co-working space on the second floor of an iconic historic building in Downtown Ely, Minnesota. It’s a beautiful, natural-light-filled space with reliable high-speed internet and amenities where residents and visitors can work and network. The workspace operates daily, opening with Northern Grounds and closing at 5:00pm, with potential weekend exclusions to accommodate private events. Access to the space can be obtained by purchasing a day pass or monthly membership, which includes additional membership benefits.
Society Hall Workspace is a collaboration between Northern Grounds / Jasper Company and Boundary Waters Connect. Boundary Waters Connect fosters sustainable wilderness edge communities where you can live, work, and play. BWC is a program of Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness.

Monthly Member - $75/month
Available through September 2023.
Unlimited priority access to the space during open hours. Apply >
Day Pass (non-membership) - $10
Access to the space during open hours- limited number of passes available based on occupancy that day. Purchase pass at Northern Grounds.
14 Day Passes Punch Card - $100
Purchase punch card at Northern Grounds.

MEMBERSHIP FAQ
Can I hold meetings in this space?
While we do not have private meeting spaces available, Monthly and Annual Society Hall Workspace members may hold up to one meeting per week in Society Hall with up to 3 additional non-members in attendance. Day pass members cannot hold meetings in the space. Members should speak with staff ahead of time downstairs or by emailing meet@thenortherngrounds.com to obtain day pass table tents for those attending the meeting. We ask that you not hold more than one meeting per week in the workspace and be respectful of those working by keeping volumes reasonable and not planning extended meetings. We cannot accommodate private meetings and suggest that you keep in mind that others may be working or having meetings in the space during your meeting. If you have more than 3 attendees planned for your meeting, please check with our staff well in advance to make sure your party can be accommodated by emailing meet@thenortherngrounds.com
Can I participate in virtual (Zoom/Google Meeting/Microsoft Team) meetings in this space?
Yes, but headphones are required while doing so to be respectful of others around you working.
Is there an elevator to this space?
No. Society Hall Workspace is a private, membership based co-working space located on the second floor of a historic building with no elevator.
Do I get my own workspace/table with a monthly or annual membership?
While you may end up being the only one at a given table/sofa/armchair some of the time, we do not guarantee that will be the case. Society Hall Workspace is an open-plan co-working space designed to accommodate those comfortable working in a space with other people. Society Hall Workspace is not a private office space.
How many people will be working in Society Hall?
We have purposely limited the number of memberships available to ensure the space is not crowded or noisy, but there’s no way to predict how many people will be in the space at any time since we’ve designed the program for member flexibility - members can come in as often as they like whenever they would like during open hours. Day passes are even more limited. If you have further questions or comments about capacity limits, please email meet@thenortherngrounds.com
What happens if I lose my member keychain?
Please email meet@thenortherngrounds.com to obtain a replacement membership keychain. Per our membership agreement, you will be responsible for the replacement cost.
Can I take phone calls and talk in the space?
Yes, but we ask that you keep your volume at a reasonable level and limit the number of calls so as not to disturb others working in the space.
Can I bring my child(ren) to Society Hall Workspace?
Sorry, no. Society Hall Workspace is a professional co-working space, children are not allowed. Thank you for understanding.
Can I leave my belongings in the space to hold my spot if I need to leave?
Please take your belongings with you if you need to leave the building, and sign out when leaving. You do not need to take your belongings with you if you are going downstairs, but note that Northern Grounds / Jasper Company and Boundary Waters Connect are not liable for any theft or damage.
Can I expect the space to be totally quiet?
No, you should not expect Society Hall Workspace to be completely quiet as we are an open-plan co-working space. We do however, ask that members be respectful of one another and keep speaking volume low. We also utilize ambient music and other sound-dampening measures to prevent voices from carrying in the space. If you are bothered by noise, we highly recommend bringing noise-canceling headphones to listen to music, utilizing our free earplugs, or choosing an alternative/private office space.
My work isn’t done on a laptop. Can I still work in space if I have equipment or require space to spread out?
Unfortunately, Society Hall Workspace is not conducive to working on easels, monitors or other gear based enterprise. This was a decision made for the benefit of all day pass holders, monthly and annual members.
MEMBERSHIP POLICIES
-Please only take the office supplies/extras that you need during your time working in the space.
-No children are allowed in Society Hall.
-Only certified service animals are allowed.
-Noise should be expected, but keep volume level low to be respectful of those around you.
-Membership can be revoked at any time for a violation of the above listed policies or a discontinuation of the program.
-You can come as often as you would like with a monthly or annual membership.
-Headphones are required if you are participating in a virtual meeting.
-No outside food is allowed. No outside beverages are allowed with the exception of water.
-Society Hall operates daily, opening with Northern Grounds coffee shop & wine bar and closing at 5:00 p.m. There are occasional private events that will close the workspace on Saturdays and Sundays - these closings will be posted in the stairwell in advance. You may also call ahead for weekend operation plans.
-Monthly members will be billed via a recurring invoice from Square that will be sent monthly. To cancel monthly membership at any time, email meet@thenortherngrounds.com. Annual members will be billed for one year via Square invoice. No refunds will be issued.
-To apply for a membership, fill out the form below and we'll be in touch to set up a recurring invoice.
