Global design and engineering company, Arcadis’s new agile workplace showcases their global identity, augmented with local nuances of the Philippines culture, reflected in the choice of materials and environmental graphics.

For this project, DB&B’s design team worked closely with key stakeholders – Arcadis’s design consultants, workplace director, and representatives from their management and facilities team to ensure all user requirements are met.

To deepen their understanding, DB&B’s design team attended an Arcadis’s workplace assessment to derive the right headcount and other test fit requirements based on their study. The final layout was a new workspace featuring huddle spots and hot-desking stations along with suitable digital solutions for that would facilitate their shift towards agility.

GLOBAL COMPANY, LOCAL INFLUENCES

In terms of the overall design and colour palette of the space, DB&B’s design team sought to infuse their local culture by injecting nuances of Filipino patterns and materials within the design – all while keeping in mind the functional goals across their global offices.

DRIVING AGILITY

Stepping into the Arcadis office, employees would be greeted with a variety of work settings at the reception space. These settings double-up as a waiting area for guests, as well as an open space for discussions and work.

These activity-based work settings extend throughout the floorplate to suit different work styles. Huddle spaces, both private and semi-private are available for group work. Solo quiet booths are also carved out for focus work. Meeting rooms are equipped with conferencing systems to connect with employees working remotely. Collaboration spots lined along the perimeter of the floorplate enjoy unblocked views of the surroundings and allow employees to bask in natural light flowing in from the full height windows.

By encouraging all employees to collaborate and work on the ‘cloud’, Arcadis is able to achieve a paperless workplace which helps to keep the place tidy. In addition, with the use of meeting room and desk booking systems, this smart office allows employees to reserve their preferred work settings during different times of the day for different purposes. All meeting rooms are also fully equipped with scheduling panels to help keep employees keep track of space occupancy conveniently.

CARING FOR EMPLOYEES

With employee well-being in mind, biophilic elements are injected throughout the office space in the form of potted plants, overhanging plants and natural stones. These elements collectively help to spruce up the space, bringing the outdoors in. Wellness rooms and a mother’s room are also created for nursing mothers.

Learning from the recent pandemic, DB&B paid special attention to Arcadis’ request for a space to care for unwell employees. An in-house clinic and doctor’s room are placed with an isolation room next to it so unwell employees can be isolated with proper amenities in place.

SUSTAINABILITY IS KEY

Situated in a LEED Platinum Level certified building, the office design is aligned with green initiatives and complies with stringent guidelines. Furthermore, Arcadis inherently values sustainability, so this common goal is one of the key guiding principles in their design.

For instance, smart lighting is adopted within the office space and saves energy efficiently with the use of movement sensors. DB&B’s design team also made a conscious choice of materials that are environmentally- friendly carpets, vinyl flooring, wall tiles and acoustic panels. Recycle bins are also built into cabinets and easily accessible to help in waste segregation.

*This story was first published in Office Concept Magazine, Issue VI6N1, MCI (P) 067/03/2023.

After a full year of hosting their employees at a co-working space, Philippines digital bank, Gotyme, recently took over the floorplate at Ortigas Center to build a place of their own, The DB&B team worked closely with their team to identify the key priorities for their business, such as user experience and to exude a professional and reliable brand image. With this understanding, the design of their office sought to express the same goals. 

THE WELCOMING EXPERIENCE 

This welcoming zone is dressed with a luscious moss wall backdrop, hosting the company’s logo. The backdrop is set against a timber surface pieced together with slats of different colours, and this design extends to the ceiling, and is paired with matching vinyl flooring, creating textures and injecting vibrancy into the space. The clean white wall at the side with geometric cut-outs also serve as lighting for the space, offering a futuristic experience to guests and employees that step in.  

Designed to be a customer-centric arrival zone, two digital banking kiosks are placed next to the reception counter so guests can help themselves to quick transactions. A lounge space is also carved out opposite the kiosks to allow customers and guests to wait in comfort while appreciating the sophisticated design within this space.  

CONNECTING THE SPACES 

Studying the work styles of their various departments, the layout of the space was planned to support their business models and dial up productivity. For Gotyme’s sales team, it was important for them to be located near the entrance in order to attend to customers promptly. Understanding that an agile work model works best for them, DB&B created an open collaboration hub with a multitude of work settings for the Gotyme team to move around during the workday. 

To facilitate company events periodically, this open collaboration hub can be transformed into an open space for parties and townhalls. This is made possible with the use of movable furniture that can be stowed away or reconfigured easily based on the occasion. Amenities such as a fully equipped pantry is also thoughtfully carved out next to this hub.

Similarly, for the finance team who requires a higher level of privacy, a space is allocated at the back office, with acoustic panels separating each desk to protect privacy.  

Apart from the open discussion areas, private meeting rooms and semi-private huddle spots are also found around the office to support different modes of discussions. Lining the perimeter of the office, these spaces enjoy unblocked views and natural light from their full height windows, stimulating the mind for brainstorming and sharing sessions.  

THE RAINBOW CONNECTION 

It was imperative that employees feel engaged and connected to this new workplace that truly belongs to them. To fulfil this, a key design element incorporated into the space was a ‘rainbow track’ that leads the way from the front office to the back. This track is made up of Gotyme’s corporate colours – building the sense of identity employees would experience as they journey deeper into the office.  

Similarly, pops of colours can be observed through the selection of furniture pieces, acoustic panels, carpets and wall colours throughout the office. Acting as a means of wayfinding, the carpet colours also signify the designated workspaces of Gotyme’s different departments.  

PSEUDO OUTDOORS 

To introduce biophilia into the office, nature-inspired materials such as wood panelling and rattan furniture, lights and space dividers were used in various parts of the office. Besides the impressive vertical greenery at the entrance, planter boxes are also installed across the floorplate to double up as ‘soft’ demarcation within the office. At the open collaboration hub, a ‘mini tree’ is also planted as a centrepiece to the space, sending alfresco vibes to its surroundings. Collectively, these biophilic elements create an oasis of comfort within the office space. 

CONNECTING WITH THE WORKPLACE 

In this new generation of the workforce, it is increasingly important for employees to be able to connect with their workplace and be motivated to head back to the office to collaborate in person. Gotyme recognised this trend, and worked together with DB&B to design and build an office that reflects their brand story and journey they have taken as a young company. This user-centric space also speaks of their company values and how they prioritise employee wellness to eventually drive productivity at the workplace.  

*This story was first published in Office Concept Magazine, Issue VI6N1, MCI (P) 067/03/2023.