Vasakronan is an exciting company that invests heavily in office development. Our interior designers previously developed Vasakronan’s headquarters in Stockholm and when we were assigned to take on the company’s regional office in Uppsala, we returned to the University. The theme was “a campus” and resulted in a notable activity-based office project. The project is an example of how Studio Stockholm Arkitektur works with the entire process for companies that want to develop their organisation towards an activity-based approach.
Challenge
Encourage all the staff to switch to an activity-based approach.
Open up the office to Vasakronan’s tenants and create added value for their clients.
The premises are larger than what Vasakronan needs.
Making the office into an inspiring example and showing tenants the potential of having an activity-based office.
Create the opportunity to sometimes share the office with other tenants.- Ordinary office building lacking in personality.
The premises must be handed over quickly if a tenant wants to take over the office.
Process
Perform a feasibility study and analysis using workshops, employee performance surveys and interviews to create a mission statement and an overview of present needs and challenges.
Initiate an activity-based approach and a clear strategic goal.- Create a clear concept in the form of “a campus”. The concept should have references to Uppsala city and evoke curiosity, knowledge sharing, collaboration, innovation and gumption.
Create an open, inspiring environment with room for both energising meeting spaces and areas for peaceful concentration. Open spaces combined with nooks and hubs.
Design a lounge instead of a reception so as to provide a welcoming sense of community and a small-town feeling.
Retrieve design inspiration from campus environments where buildings and parks coexist.
Base the office on long-term environmental thinking and choose sustainable materials as a key ingredient in the concept. A combination of new, self-produced and reused furniture and furnishing solutions will create a dynamic atmosphere with a little twist.
Create an open floor plan so that the premises can be shared between Vasakronan and other organisations.
Design an area that can be easily adapted and divided into smaller offices.
Result
An entirely activity-based office with increased functionality and flexibility.
A more efficient way of working and satisfied employees. The entire staff, including the customer service team, technicians and receptionist, have switched to an activity-based approach and share all the workspaces. When the staff have the opportunity to mingle, exciting meetings with tenants or partners who come to visit can arise.
The office has become a culturally significant meeting place and has strengthened Vasakronan’s brand.
Vasakronan can share their office with partners, customers and suppliers. Tenants can use the office as a temporary workplace leading to exciting meetings, relationship building and a cross-fertilisation of ideas.
The office premises are used jointly during and after office hours. The auditorium is used for workshops, lectures, internal meetings and yoga.
The office has received a lot of attention in the media and was even nominated in the competition “Sweden’s best-designed office in 2015”.
