Financial industry leader – international cooperation on the Baltic Sea

01/19/2024 / Client from the financial industry

The Global Financial Market Leader achieved significant success by presenting its new office in Gdynia in October 2023. Covering an area of 8,000 m2 in the 3T Office Park, this project, completed within 13 months, reflects the Client’s commitment to sustainable development, employee well-being, and local culture. This case study illustrates the collaborative efforts of international coordination among various specialists, including Workplace.

Project Overview

• Location: 3T Office Park, Gdynia
• Area: 8,000 m2, space for over 1,000 employees
• Duration: 13 months
• Partners:
  • Conceptual Design: Scott Brownrigg
  • Project Implementation and Supervision: Workplace
  • Development of industry projects and consultations: WSP
  • Project Management: Arcadis

The Gdynia office was designed as a strategic center supporting operational functions, data analysis, and technology. The emphasis on sustainable development, employee well-being, and local culture reflects the company’s commitment to providing an advanced and supportive workspace conducive to collaboration and flexible work arrangements.

Challenges and Solutions

• Collaboration: Ensuring synergy between the design concept by Scott Brownrigg (UK) and the executive project by Workplace was a key challenge, effectively addressed through efficient communication and coordination. Involvement of all process participants allowed for the best possible reflection of the Client’s expectations and design in the final product.

• Sustainable Development: The project aimed to use local alternative materials to those chosen in the conceptual stage to minimize environmental impact and reduce the carbon footprint, aligning with the Client’s commitment to ecological responsibility.

• Hybrid Work and Technology Integration: Advanced building management systems and office occupancy control systems were implemented for optimal operational efficiency. The project considered spatial solution flexibility, allowing adaptation to different work patterns and employee needs, thereby supporting the Client’s commitment to a hybrid model. All desks are height-adjustable to meet individual needs. Each employee has access to a locker for equipment and personal accessories. The desk, meeting room, and acoustic booth reservation system allow for flexible workplace changes throughout the day based on needs.
• Cultural Integration: Elements reflecting the local character of Gdynia observed by the designers were incorporated into the project, thereby reflecting the cultural identity of the location and providing a sense of belonging to employees in the Polish branch.
• Technological Improvements: Enhanced internet connectivity and digital tools were implemented to support the effective adoption of hybrid work.

Key Decisions

• Space Utilization: Introducing a large collaboration space for organizing joint events and informal interactions underscored the importance of reinforcing the community atmosphere. “SuperHub” became the heart of the new office.
• Interior Design: The conceptual designers Scott Brownrigg (UK) made a series of functional and aesthetic decisions, giving the Client a space reflecting the locality, context, and energy of the Polish coast. Learn about key decisions that gave a unique character to this space:
• Maintaining the industrial aesthetic of the building by leaving the original concrete structure exposed.
• Connections between floor coverings representing successive layers of the waterfront: coniferous forest, sandy dunes, and the Baltic Sea.
• Introducing navy blue to the color palette as a combination of the Client’s visual identity with the depth of the sea.
• Graphic elements depicting the vibrant life of the city of Gdynia.
• Rounded, soft, and undulating shapes reminiscent of sea waves.
• References to maritime navigation, such as braided ropes, wood, and arches.

Outcomes

• User Perception: The project received acclaim from both the management of the Global Financial Market Leader and employees, regarding the quality of jointly developed material finishes, acoustics, color decisions, and office functionality.
• Brand Representation: The office effectively reflects the brand and business philosophy of the Client. The space, complemented by global elements of Space Branding and Wayfinding, unified the appearance of the Gdynia office with other offices around the world.
• Location Reflection: Project elements inspired by the maritime and forest landscape of Gdynia successfully integrate local culture into the workspace. Visual borrowings providing tranquility and associated with nature receive positive feedback from users of the new office.
• Project Management: Emphasizing clear role and responsibility division among designers, contractors, and managers was crucial for the successful project implementation. As a result, the project showcased successful international cooperation, highlighting the importance of effective coordination.

Summary

The Gdynia office project demonstrates Workplace’s ability to integrate the precision of architectural design concepts with functional executive projects, creating a workspace resonating with the ethos of the Client from the global financial market and meeting diverse employee needs. This collaboration sets standards in office design, emphasizing sustainable development, well-being, and technological integration, showcasing the potential of innovative and collaborative solutions in the architectural and design industry.

Project Authors:

Management: Bogusz Parzyszek, Dominika Zielińska

Workplace Team: Aleksandra Czarnecka, Zofia Kurczych, Rafał Mikulski, Tomasz Wontor

Scott Brownrigg Team: Beliz Sariyer, Laurence Orsini

WSP Team: Leszek Adamczyk, Mateusz Janowski, Karolina Kondraciuk, Grzegorz Radyno, Emilia Śreniawska, Karol Więcek

Arcadis Team: Anna Aspesi, Paulina Krukowska, Szymon Mikołajski

Photos: Adam Grzesik