A new work culture is on its way

Almost a quarter of the workstations were housed in rented units, so the divergent locations made communication noticeably difficult. For this reason the plan was to create 1000 new workstations at the existing site in Karlsruhe – in buildings that fit in seamlessly with the existing facilities whilst meeting the latest standards with regard to energy efficiency and sustainability. And that’s not all: Fiducia & GAD IT AG set a goal of creating a campus that combines old and new, whilst allowing colleagues to experience the new work culture throughout the concept in both furniture and design. The intention of these attractive, future-oriented workstations is to create plenty of space for networking, as well as an agile, healthy approach to work. Well-being is a particularly important factor here.

They wanted to leave the floor area of 27 400 square metres unchanged, says Matthias Kraus, head of Facility Management, “so that we don’t have to seal any more floors.” The first of three construction phases is now complete. The clear forms of the six-storey building, which boasts plenty of glass for optimum lighting conditions, contrast with a deliberate mix of colours, shapes and materials inside. They decided on König + Neurath as a partner for the new furnishing concepts, having worked with the company already. “We’ve been using K+N furniture for a long time, and we’re more than happy with the quality, flexibility regarding special requirements, and the price-performance ratio,” confirms Kraus.

Interior architect Jenny Gros has planned and furnished every zone with great attention to detail. Her remit for this project is a range encompassing formal to casual style. The focal point of the site is formed by the Campus Hub and Campus Plaza, which connect the existing and new buildings. Alongside a foyer, exhibition space and bistro restaurant, the hub houses a variety of meeting and conference rooms. “In the new buildings we’ve increased the communication areas by more than double, to encourage project work and cross-functional cooperation. As well as classic meeting rooms, there are also spaces for Think Tanks and collaboration, an arena – and even furnished niches for ad hoc meetings,” explains Jenny Gros. An accessible green roof terrace features pavilions, so that meetings can be held outdoors in future. There is also a selection of unconventional relaxation and retreat spaces – perfect for topping up energy levels or creative brainstorming. Examples include a snooker room and a fireside lounge, as well as a gym. The parent-child office provides an opportunity for mums and dads with acute childcare issues to simply bring their kids into work.

“Even though furniture is something that’s constantly up for review, and we can continually adapt how we furnish new sections of the build project, we’re more than happy with our current choice of furniture,” says the interior architect. At the moment they are using TALO.S motorised desks in Urban Style, TENSA.NEXT, trapezoidal conference tables, NET.WORK.PLACE Organic, LIFE.S Indoor and many more items of furniture – some of which have been specifically designed according to customer preferences. “The wide variety reflects both new work trends and the needs and expectations of the workforce here.” Jenny Gros says: “Our aim is for employees to feel at ease here. That’s why we held workshops with them to find out what’s important to them.”

“Having König + Neurath on board as a process facilitator, producing furniture directly based on our requirements and sharing many useful insights with us, makes cooperation straightforward yet inspirational. I’m looking forward to the next phases of construction.”

Jenny Gros, interior architect at Fiducia & GAD IT AG