Frequently
asked questions.

Middle Ground is designed for parents (especially with young children) who are looking for a flexible, thoughtful environment where they can work, connect, and have reliable care and play integrated into their day.

Middle Ground blends elements of both but is designed as a community-first space where work, play, and care exist together. It’s flexible, thoughtfully designed, and built around real family needs rather than rigid systems.

We’re targeting Winter 2026. We’re currently building this alongside our founding families, shaping the space together from the ground up. All founding families will be the first to know the exact date.

Middle Ground is located in the South Loop neighbourhood of Chicago, Illinois. The exact address will be announced before opening. We will notify all founding members first.

You can’t visit a space yet because we are not open — but you can test out the concept! We host pop-up events and prototype experiences before the official opening. Our next CoWork + Play Pop-Up is being curated for families to experience Middle Ground in action and share feedback. Stay tuned on the Events page.

Play Studio is a supervised play space designed to give parents and caregivers flexibility while they work, recharge, or connect within Middle Ground. It is not a waiting room with toys — children engage in curated activities that spark creativity, discovery, and learning through play.

We are designing playcare for children approximately 9mo to 4 yo. Final age ranges will be confirmed before opening based on our studio setup. Check back for updates as we get closer to launch.

No. Play Studio is not a licensed childcare program. It is a supervised play space designed to give parents and caregivers flexibility while they work, recharge, or connect within Middle Ground. Parents remain responsible for their child and must remain on-site at all times.

Childcare hours will be bookable through your member dashboard — up to two weeks in advance. Booking will be available via web and mobile. CoWork Founder includes 4 childcare hours per month. Work + Care Founder includes 10 hours. Cornerstone Founder includes 25 hours.

We are still finalising our drop-in policy. Our goal is to make Middle Ground as flexible as possible while ensuring consistent quality care. We will share full details before opening. Founding members will have priority booking access regardless of the policy.

Your founding payment is a one-time contribution that is applied toward your future membership, securing your spot and early pricing while helping bring the space to life. It is not a subscription or recurring charge. Founding rates are locked in permanently — lower than future public pricing.

Yes. Your founding rate is permanently locked in for as long as you remain a member at Middle Ground. As membership prices increase over time, you keep your founding rate.

Your founding perks — recognition, event invites, and access to shaping the space — begin immediately. Full workspace and playcare membership access begins when Middle Ground opens its doors in Winter 2026.

Yes. You can request a full refund within 7 days of your founding payment. If Middle Ground has not launched within 90 days of its publicly announced opening date, founding members have the right to request a full refund or extend their founding benefits to the new launch date.

Yes. You can upgrade to a higher founding tier before we open by paying the difference. Your founding rate at the new tier will still be locked in at the founding price.

Founding memberships close once we reach capacity or secure our first location — whichever comes first. This opportunity is only available during our founding phase, so the earlier you join, the more you save and the deeper your involvement in shaping the space.

We have a crowdfunding campaign live on IFundWomen with a goal of $300,000 — we are inviting thousands of people around the world to leave their mark. Every donor plants a living dot on our interactive world map with their story attached. General supporter donations ($25–$250) are open to everyone globally. Founding member tiers ($360–$5,000) include real membership access to Middle Ground when we open.

After donating on IFundWomen, you will be redirected to our Welcome page where you answer one question: “What design or architectural element feels like home to you?” Your dot then appears on the map with your city, your name, and your answer. Your donation tier determines the colour and size of your dot.

General supporter tiers ($25–$250) are open to everyone globally — your dot will still appear on the living map with your story. Founding member tiers are designed for those planning to use the space, but there is no restriction on supporting from anywhere.

Physical perks for general supporter tiers will be shipped after the campaign closes and we reach our goal. We will confirm shipping timelines with all donors by email.