The reconstruction of the offices brought the largest Czech telecom operator a modern desk-sharing space with sophisticated design and details. The transformation was implemented while the office was in full operation and the result is an interior that not only ensures the comfort of all employees thanks to clever zoning, but also features the use of natural elements and colour motifs to create a pleasant working environment.
The collaboration between T-Mobile Czech Republic and CAPEXUS changed the character of the workplace – the employees moved from small, enclosed rooms to an open space that adapts to the activities being performed. In the new offices, employees have places for teamwork, independent activity requiring focus, and an opportunity to relax.
In its office transformation project T-Mobile fully benefited from the design & build service model, where the design, implementation and delivery of a custom interior is all done by a single partner. "Thanks to this, negotiations with subcontractors are eliminated and T-Mobile could fully concentrate on its business throughout the entire implementation period," says Karel Konečný, managing director of CAPEXUS. "We handed over the first 4,000 square meters of new offices for use in a record-breaking time of five months, which included architectural design, technical design, project documentation, obtaining the necessary permits, implementation and moving in." At present, other floors are being redesigned and the entire building will be reconstructed in 2021 in a unified concept.
"The fit-out of T-Mobile's headquarters aims to build a modern environment that fosters collaboration, flexibility and agility, and is thus an important component of the ongoing change in company culture," said Lenka Brody, T-Mobile's Program Director.
In addition to the interior of one of the largest single-tenant buildings in the Czech Republic, the style of work has also changed. "Employees now have a choice of where to work, whether a formal place at a desk, an enclosed room with height-adjustable desks suitable for quiet work, or a comfortable seat in the cafeteria," says CAPEXUS architect Erika Bohatá. "Flexibility and adaptability are among the most important aspects of a functional modern workplace."
Each team of approximately 20 members is assigned a specific base – the so-called neighbourhood. It includes a special section called a focus hub, which is intended for up to four employees. It features mobile walls, thanks to which it can be divided into three separate rooms. "This solution facilitated the transition from a closed to an open office," said CAPEXUS architect Martin Židek. "We designed it for quiet independent work and frequent conference calls."
"Zoning works through a variety of acoustic and visual barriers," Židek explains. "These include acoustic curtains, acoustic panels, greenery, corridor separation and ground plan layout."
All workspaces are shared in line with the so-called share desk system correspond directly to the clean desk policy – when employees finish their shift at the end of the day they leave a clean desk behind them.
T-Mobile's corporate identity was brought to the interior by repeating the square motif that appears in the company logo. The main objective was to avoid the primary colour, magenta. Attention was thus given to secondary colours. The architects chose blue, orange, green, yellow and teal in various shades.
The whole transformation took place with the aim of minimizing environmental impact. Internal messages are projected onto LED screens instead of using paper post-it notes. Soda makers are placed in the kitchens, reducing the consumption of plastic bottles, and there are sorted waste bins in the offices.
"The CAPEXUS architects designed a functional space that makes employees feel good while promoting a change in corporate culture," said Lenka Brody of T-Mobile. "They were proactive with good ideas that always moved the target solution a little further. The subsequent implementation went smoothly, on schedule and while the company remained in full operation."