Success Stories
Hamburg Software Firm
01 THE OPPORTUNITY
The success story began five years ago. The IT company sought a service provider to assist with project management for the fit-out of their new Hamburg office and the move. They chose Cushman & Wakefield. With a lot of passion, we provided support in 2017 as the company moved from the old premises to the new property - without disrupting the smooth running of the business.
Within a few years, the company had grown so much that the new office no longer provided enough space. A new one was needed - and with a new concept: more space for interaction and agile working, in a modern, bright and inviting atmosphere. At the same time, it was to offer the 100-strong team more places to retreat for confidential discussions and concentrated work.
Both in terms of the location and the design of the office space, our client's top priority was the well-being of the employees. Therefore, they wanted a building with typical Hamburg architecture in the city centre with good transport links, numerous restaurants and many shopping opportunities in the vicinity.
02 THE SOLUTION
Thanks to the successful first project, we were again invited to take over the property search, project management and individual office design for our client in 2020. To ensure that the right office was precisely matched to the processes and requirements of the company, our Office Agency team made careful consultation the priority at the beginning of the search. Should open plan or enclosed spaces predominate? What were the requirements in terms of technology and equipment? What does young talent expect from a modern working environment? And what were appropriate lease conditions?
When designing the interiors, the client attached great importance to picking up on the historic character of the building's facade and combining this with modern elements. The working environments were to pick up on the corporate design of the American headquarters and create a reference to their own products - in an abstract-creative way. And the materials used should also underline the values of the company. And all in the spirit of "Hamburg understatement" with the typical Hanseatic virtues of the employees at the location: simple, striking, unique, stylish, quality-conscious.
03 THE RESULTS
Simple but high-quality. Classic but also modern. We found what we were seeking for the software company in the heart of Hamburg city centre. The new office is located in a prestigious old building and is characterised by an open and generously-proportioned layout. The first impression of anyone entering the software company’s office in Hamburg is the cordiality of everyone working there.
The focal point of the office is the large cafeteria, with a great view of the Binnenalster lake, which employees also like to use as a lounge and meeting place to play table tennis. Close to the reception, it is also the perfect place for a chat over a coffee with clients and business partners in a pleasant ambience. Staff have access to classic desks in the open-plan space as well as many open and closed retreat areas and meeting rooms to increase productivity and concentration.
The design combines the historical character of the building's facade with modern street art and geometric structures. The wall decorations reflect the colours of the headquarters in California and abstractly represent the company's recently launched product. A high-quality, warm interior design and the creative design elements, which are coordinated in detail, underline the company's values such as openness, humanity and flexibility.
By using glass walls and predominantly discreet colours, we created additional calm, transparency and brightness. The interior design concept was rounded off by the use of selected materials and custom-made furniture to give the premises a very special and elegant touch.
Another design-and-feel-good highlight: the cafeteria has a state-of-the-art lighting system whose colours and light intensity can be individually adjusted - the perfect prerequisite for a successful evening event with or without clients. A beautiful patio and a cosy relaxation room with comfortable armchairs invite you to recharge your batteries.
The new office has become a place where employees can develop mentally, exchange ideas, laugh with each other, feel comfortable and work productively. A place that combines history with modernity, tradition with progress and the universal with feeling at home.
„We let the uniqueness of each company flow into our interior design concepts. Always considering the needs of the people who will work in these offices. Not only creating individual and efficient room concepts but also workplaces that they feel good in."
Martin Wellnitz | C&W Head of Project Management DACH