Opening up perspectives
Designing offices that meet the requirements of New Work concepts is not a simple undertaking. Agile work requires a multifunctional space which gives staff members sufficient options for selecting a suitable environment that fits their individual requirements perfectly. At the same time, the space should provide a pleasant atmosphere, foster creative thinking, and emphasize the employer’s philosophy. Measuring instrument manufacturer Testo SE & Co. KGaA, based in the Black Forest, recognizes the importance an environment tailored to the working culture has for staff productivity and satisfaction. That’s why it has brought the experts on board to fit out the new company headquarters: König + Neurath, a supplier of office furnishings and spatial systems, provides advice and support to companies throughout the entire process of designing an office – from the analysis, planning and production to long-term service.
When it came to the new Black Forest office of measuring instrument manufacturers Testo SE & Co. KGaA, König + Neurath worked with local furniture retailer Gollrad in realizing an office concept that is thought-through down to the last detail. This reflects the company’s progressive character while at the same managing to unite its internationally oriented workplace culture with its strong ties to the region. “With an attractive working environment that fosters our staff’s wellbeing and health we create space for a high level of work satisfaction, which in turn leads to top performance and successes” stated Lara Burger, Corporate Communications Manager at Testo SE & Co. KGaA.
Spread across two buildings with around 13,000 square meters of gross floor space each, the new corporate headquarters now brings administration, R&D, and production together at one location. The demands on the space were correspondingly diverse: “The furnishings had to be suited to New Work and it had to be possible to combine them at liberty” explains Roman Müller, Facility Manager at König + Neurath. Three workspace varieties were created in consultation with the Testo SE & Co. KGaA department heads and staff to satisfy the individual needs of the company. These workplace variants offer fixed places, freely selectable ones and a hybrid form of the two solutions to enable dynamic working. All furniture systems were provided by König + Neurath and manufactured in Karben in Hessen. In the open plan office landscapes the “NET.WORK.PLACE LOUNGE CHAIRS” for example provide “small retreats for uninterrupted work, phone calls or relaxation. Laptops can be placed on swiveling shelves integrated into the armchairs. Communication lounges with cozy seating elements from the “NET.WORK.PLACE Organic” program invite staff to work collaboratively and engage in discussions with colleagues. The pleasant quality created by the furniture feet made of real wood is also revisited in the “MOVE.MIX” chairs, bar stools and meeting tables in the bistro area. Built-in plug sockets provide the power for electronic devices. Functionality, ergonomics and aesthetics play an important role in the selection of all furnishings and equipment solutions.
The color selection for the upholstery textiles is an elegant reference to the Black Forest: Subdued natural hues harmonize smoothly with dynamic accents in green, blue, red or orange. A nod to the magnificent landscape around the Titisee lake can also be found in the plants introduced throughout the working areas and the sustainable construction of the two modern buildings designed by architecture office Sacker for Testo SE & Co. KGaA.
With an office design custom-made for the client’s individual needs, König + Neurath reflect the “Testo spirit” in the headquarters of the measuring instruments manufacturer: a working culture shaped by an informal atmosphere, agile working methods, digital collaboration, as well as a firm focus on strategic goals and results. And it’s not the first time that the two companies collaborate. Previous cooperation has been so successful that Roman Müller, Facility Manager at Testo SE & Co. KGaA, wouldn’t have it any other way: “The fact that König + Neurath is so dependable in terms of logistics guarantees a high degree of process reliability, which is extremely important for my work”. (am)
