Mokena Brothers Create Space For Workers

MOKENA, IL. — Tangram, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “a Chinese puzzle made by cutting a square of thin material into five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid which are capable of being recombined in many different figures.” And so it seems apt that two Mokena brothers chose the name for their new co-op office sharing space business.

Tangram is the brainchild of brothers Nicky, 29, and Joey, 20, Knaperek. The concept is this: With so many workers now either working remotely or a hybrid of office and remote work, some are struggling to find that sweet spot in the work/personal life balance, and Tangram has stepped in to offer office space to members of the community who are looking to spend time in a professional office space without having to make a long commute.

“We really wanted to focus on the community aspect of things and bringing the smaller business because we knew those people who were suddenly working from home or who suddenly had their office taken away from them, we wanted to create a space that was away from the kids and the barking dogs, a space where you could really hone in on your work,” Nicky Knaperek said.

And the name Tangram struck the brothers as ideal for the concept of sharing work space and being able to collaborate with one another.

“You are a piece of something bigger. You are a piece of a whole shape,” Nicky Knaperek said.

“Another thing with the tangram puzzle: Obviously you can put all the pieces together and make something whole, but you can also take the individual pieces and make something completely different,” Joey Knaperek said. “And I think that’s where networking comes in: It’s endless possibilities.”

The office space offers five spacious, private offices; nine semi-private work spaces; a fully-equipped conference room; secure inventory space; and a community lounge for its members.
The conference room is equipped with a 75-inch smart TV that can also serve as a display for laptops, is connected to Tangram’s wifi and features a custom-mounted camera for video conferencing.

In addition to the office spaces, the brothers wanted to dedicate space for local artists to showcase their work. Tinley Park artist Jaci Robbins is currently featured, and the plan is to rotate artists quarterly. Tangram takes no commission on art sales, nor does it charge the artists for displaying the work.

“One hundred percent of any sales goes directly to the artist. We want to give artists the incentive to display their work here, and if it sells, that’s awesome and we want that to go to the artist,” Nicky Knaperek said.

Tangram members also receive exclusive discounts at other locally owned businesses, such as 10 percent off food from Stoney Pointe Grill in Mokena.

“We want to incentivize our tenants to keep things local,” Nicky Knaperek said.

The brothers said they were dedicated to decorating the office using recycled or repurposed materials, all from other local businesses and residents, which gives the space a modern look while keeping a focus on sustainability.

Leases for the office spaces can be for as short as a day for the semi-private offices— ideal for students who may be working on summer classes, or for a business in need of a conference room to host an event or meeting — or as short as a month for the private offices.

“We built the space with growth in mind for the individual person,” Nicky Knaperek said. “... It focuses on bringing the small business here to have a space to start growing, and then we want to help facilitate that growth.”

Tangram is located at 9830 W. 190th St., Suite M, in Mokena. For more information, or to book a space, send an email to info@tangramoffice.space. Interested individuals can also visit Tangram’s website at tangramoffice.space.