New world of work at BRAIN BOX BERLIN
The concept of the new office building in Adlershof addresses changing work structures with more spaces for communication and teamwork
Mega trends like the digital transformation and globalisation are changing work processes and are impacting how, when, and where we will work in the future. More radical than anything else, the coronavirus pandemic has made sure that the impact of these megatrends is being felt in people’s private and professional lives. This transformation is described as “the new normal”. However, the new normal is more than working from home and working remotely. New structures require workplaces that were created to match. Like the ones at BRAIN BOX BERLIN in Adlershof.
When driving to Adlershof on the motorway, people were hitherto greeted by distinct towers made of cars. Visitors now are welcomed by the 400-metre-long building figure of the BRAIN BOX. Depending on the point of view and the position of the sun, the asymmetrically folded metal facade glows in gold, copper, green, blue, or red.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, at the latest, many companies have been providing their staff with the option to work from home. We have learned that not every commute is necessary and digital meetings can be a viable alternative. At the same time, many organisations are debating the consequences of remote work and the new role of the office. “Microsoft in Munich,” says Robby Rieger, project head at Profi Partner Projekt, the real estate developer that conceived BRAIN BOX, “was an inspiration when we started planning BRAIN BOX in 2017. Almost 25,000 people work there. It has more staff than workplaces, acoustic elements, boxes, meeting points. It was a good illustration of how the world of work had changed.”
Digitisation and interconnectedness have given employees a lot of flexibility when deciding where to work. Even if working-from-home remains an option in the future and the demand for fixed workplaces declines, the workplaces of the future will still be complemented by offices as places of connection and community. The increase in communication on all channels reinforces a desire for physical meetings and direct face-to-face exchange. "Space is being redistributed," says Rieger, "and offices are also changing due to these new requirements. The number of fixed workplaces is decreasing, offices are structured into different units, spaces for communication, retreat, and teamwork are becoming more important.”
The new office building of BRAIN BOX sits on a 17,000-square-metre premises. The two meandering components create courtyards that are connected via passageways to form a common campus. There is an underground parking level with 232 parking spaces, many of which are geared towards e-mobility. “This was a topic,” says Rieger, “that was very important to us right from the outset, even though we were sometimes ridiculed for planning it so generously.” All the bike rooms are also equipped with electric charging equipment. There are 60 charging stations for electric cars.
Together, the two buildings will house up to 84 commercial units with a total lettable area of around 25,000 square metres, spacious outdoor facilities, and spaces for events and gastronomy. They offer enough space for about 1,8000 office and administration jobs but also for research, development, and prototype production. The upper floors are designated for a variety of office units, including individual desks, co-working landscapes, and open-plan areas. They can be designed freely and have access to 5G internet. The first tenants arrived in November 2020. Today, BRAIN BOX is already full.
By Rico Bigelmann for Adlershof Journal