The practice provided interior design services for a global financial institution's new flagship building in the Polish capital, which has been awarded Platinum LEED certification with the highest score to date of any commercial development in Poland.
The new headquarters is in Generation Park, the first of three new office buildings being developed by Skanska in the west of the city. Broadway Malyan has also been commissioned to deliver a second major fit out at the development.
Antoni Konarski, who led the project for Broadway Malyan, said the brief had been to create some of the most exciting space in an increasingly competitive city.
He said: “Warsaw is home to an increasing number of blue-chip companies who are all competing for the very best talent with the expectations of the millennial generation driving a much more exciting approach to office design.
“The modern workforce wants to be connected – both physically and virtually - and this means workplace design is much more focused on encouraging collaboration, congregation and social integration. A successful workplace offers a variety of workspaces to maximize productivity and offer workers choices about how and where they work.”
The office has been divided into a range of different spaces including open plan areas, enclosed touchdown and focus pods, multi-purpose huddle rooms, conference rooms, collaborative areas and a double height Sky Office on the top floor.
A light monochrome palette along with greenery, wooden elements and graphics have been used across the scheme as well as noise reducing measures such as acoustic screens between desks to create a soothing working ambiance while the design also maximizes natural daylight across the office.
The offices also include lockers for each worker rather than a defined desk to promote integration and collaboration while the layout has organised the conference rooms next to the lifts so that people can move between them more easily.
There is a large café that is treated as a workplace where people are encouraged to eat, drink, relax or work while the Sky Office provides a further relaxation area with stunning views across Warsaw via 360 degree double height glazing.
The Sky Office also includes two training rooms for company inductions with removable walls which open up to create a ‘town hall’ space that can accommodate up to 200 people.
Antoni added: “Even the most traditional sectors are shifting to a much more open approach to their workplaces and this project has been guided by important issues such as happiness, creativity and wellness while ensuring the design continued to represent the core brand and values of Citi .”
The client added: “Having helped deliver over 29,000 seats in both APAC and EMEA over the last 4 years, I truly believe that Generation Park in Warsaw is one of the best we have completed.
“Great detailed planning, blended with good change messaging around protocols meant that our focus areas are quiet, our collaborative areas are engaging and our sky lounge is both fun and functional. The space is efficient but at the same time feels generous and natural light is balanced with internal lighting to stimulate and energize staff, whilst enabling minds the ability to focus.”