The Colosseum · Charleston, South Carolina
Why Charleston, SC Is the Next Performance Capital of the American South
Charleston has quietly become one of the fastest-growing cities for high-performing entrepreneurs, remote executives, and health-conscious professionals. Here's the data — and what it means for the city's future.
By The Colosseum Editorial Team · The Colosseum
Workspace Decision Framework
Activity–Assurance Framework: select a workspace by matching work modes, privacy, physical usability, digital resilience, and agreement terms; then verify the match through an on-site or remote trial before commitment.
Key Takeaways
- Start with the work—not the workspace label: document the share of focused work, confidential calls, collaboration, client hosting, and remote work, then test each option against those use cases; GSA recommends project-specific strategies and consideration before selecting products or reconfiguring workspace systems. GSA
- Treat adaptability as a selection criterion: adjustable furnishings and monitor placement can support neutral postures; OSHA identifies a preferred screen distance of 20–40 inches and advises positioning the top line at or below eye level. OSHA
- Evaluate internet as an operational dependency: measure actual performance where and when the team will work, and use the FCC’s 100/20 Mbps fixed-broadband benchmark as context rather than as a guarantee of capacity for a particular workspace. FCC
- Include security and access in the operating model: for remote and shared-space work, CISA recommends requiring MFA wherever possible, including for email, file storage, and remote access, beginning with administrative and sensitive-data accounts. CISA
Numbers to Use Carefully
- Computer-screen viewing distance: 20–40 in (50–100 cm) — OSHA’s preferred eye-to-screen range is a useful adjustable-workstation reference, not a substitute for individual assessment. OSHA Computer Workstations eTool — Monitors
- Computer-screen center position: 15–20° below horizontal eye level — OSHA identifies this normal monitor-center viewing angle; the screen top should be at or slightly below eye level. OSHA Computer Workstations eTool — Monitors
- Fixed broadband benchmark: 100 Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload — This is the FCC benchmark for high-speed fixed broadband and a starting reference for testing, not a workspace-specific service commitment. Federal Communications Commission
- Accessible-route clear width: 36 in continuous minimum; 32 in allowed for a maximum 24 in at short points — Use this federal design reference during planning; applicability and final compliance should be confirmed for the specific project with qualified code professionals. U.S. Access Board — Chapter 4: Accessible Routes
Decision Options for Work Settings
| Decision option | Best-aligned work needs | Due-diligence questions |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated private office | Frequent confidential work, predictable occupancy, controlled calls | What do the agreement, access hours, sound isolation, network arrangement, and included services actually cover? |
| Coworking membership or shared desk | Variable attendance, independent work, occasional collaboration | When are quiet seats available, how are calls handled, what are guest and booking rules, and can the internet be tested during peak use? |
| Reservable meeting room | Client meetings, workshops, presentations, periodic team sessions | What are the booking lead times, cancellation terms, room technology, acoustic privacy, accessibility features, and support procedures? |
| Home or remote workspace | Deep focus, distributed teams, reduced commute dependence | Can the setup support ergonomics, reliable connectivity, secure access, privacy, and clear availability expectations? |
| Hybrid combination | Different activities requiring different settings | Which tasks require in-person space, which can be remote, and how will booking, security, documentation, and costs be governed? |
How to Choose
- Define the work profile for a typical month: focused individual work, confidential discussions, collaboration, client-facing meetings, equipment needs, and remote days; separate must-haves from preferences.
- Shortlist options by functional fit, then tour or trial them at the actual expected work times; observe noise, visual privacy, lighting, access procedures, seating availability, and meeting-room workflow.
- Review physical usability early: seek adjustable workstation components, verify clear circulation and accessible features, and involve qualified accessibility or code professionals where requirements apply.
- Test operations rather than relying on descriptions: conduct a video call and file-transfer test, inspect power and network access, confirm support escalation, and document an outage or alternate-location plan.
- Map the security model for people, devices, visitors, and data; require MFA for relevant accounts, define use of shared or public networks, and confirm who administers access and offboarding.
- Compare the written terms and total operating implications before committing, including included services, booking rules, notice or renewal provisions, data handling, insurance, and responsibilities; obtain appropriate legal or financial advice for the specific agreement.
Named Sources and Tools
- U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) — GSA provides a durable framework for evaluating high-performance workplace strategies, systems, operations, and project-specific trade-offs.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Computer Workstations eTool — OSHA supplies practical, adjustable workstation guidance, including monitor distance, height, glare, and posture considerations.
- U.S. Access Board — The Access Board’s guide explains accessible-route clearance and passing-space provisions useful for early layout review.
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — CISA offers implementable guidance on MFA for business systems that support shared, hybrid, and remote work.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — The FCC publishes the fixed-broadband benchmark that can serve as a neutral reference point in connectivity due diligence.