I do not work in coffee shops, but I wrote my Ph.D. thesis in one. Think it is odd? Harry Potter was written in a coffee shop. Actually, there is evidence that white noise can enhance concentration, not reduce it.

But this is beside the point, the coffee shop here is a symbol. The Computer Science laboratories I have worked in were not any quieter than a coffee shop, they were just far more formal, with straight chairs, designated chairs and closed doors.

I do not actually think that universities should turn into coffee shops, but they should mimick them more than the mimick factories. Who needs fixed hours, routine, rigid rules?

I do my best research sitting by my fireplace, at home, with loads of coffee.

But I am also quite sure that top-notch computer science research is mostly not done, and will not be done, from coffee shops and bars.

Research takes lots of work and concentration. I doubt that being creative, having good ideas and knowing interesting people is the key factor to success in a field like computer science.

It is a good starting point, but not more.

As for the industrial workspace notion, I don’t even live in the same city as the university I’m registered in for my doctorate program and I do some of my best writing when I head to the public library. Assuming one has enough discipline, there is no need to head to the lab when you aren’t tied there for equipment reasons.