Lieke Attorneys Ltd

An office that enables growth in a prime location in Helsinki

We designed the new 1,000-square metre office of Lieke Attorneys Ltd in the high-value property The First on Aleksanterinkatu. In the new high-quality premises, the focus was on a space that meets the requirements of the demanding work of lawyers and attorneys-at-law and incorporates a classic design. “The office space strengthens our corporate image. Our new premises also reflect Lieke’s growth and development,” says Jussi Ekonen, one of Lieke’s Partners, describing the significance of the new premises.

A state-of-the-art office for a thriving corporate culture

We were responsible for the interior design and graphic identity of Lieke’s work environment, as well as the coordination of the implementation. We also ensured that the spatial experience, quality and responsibilities for alteration work correspond with Lieke’s needs. Bureau Real Estate, already familiar with and trusted by Lieke, found new premises for the client. “The aim was to create a valuable and trustworthy but also warm atmosphere for the office. We reviewed, for example, the surface materials of the property already during the rent negotiation phase, according to Lieke’s wishes,” says Aino Keto, the project’s Lead Designer.

“We are really happy with the result. The premises are high-quality and stylish. We also received a lot of valuable support with the lessor. You supervised our interests as a client and discussed the quality level with us – for example, the layout of the premises turned out great. We were able to eliminate wasted space. It was also a great idea to build a so-called core in the middle of the office, where Lieke employees can gather,” Jussi says.

The aim of the project was to design an office that:

  • Increases attraction among staff
  • Strengthens the company’s values and work culture
  • Acts as a business card in meetings with clients and partners

In addition to the actual planning meetings, a workshop was held with the project team and an interview with an IT expert and office manager in order to create a future-proof and practical office. The pull factors of the new office include shared encounters and events, which are not available in the home office, as well as spaces designed for focused work.

“The shared break room has become one of the most popular functions at the new office, where people can meet one another and organise a variety of events. Another important aspect of Lieke’s premises is the sound insulation, which is top-class especially in customer premises and offices,” says Aino, describing the design principles of the new premises and the user experiences.

 

Classic and casual atmosphere delights users

Visually, the employees wanted the premises to have a stylish yet approachable atmosphere that reflects expertise and reliability in a warm way. The starting point for the visual look was the recently renewed brand identity, with copper and green tones that reflect the energy economy. The client wanted the same colours to be visible in the new office.

“We didn’t follow the latest trends in the design of the property, but instead selected durable and high-quality furniture and materials. Many visitors have said how much they admire the beautiful new premises,” says Kaisa Sinisalo, Interior Architect, describing the atmosphere of the Lieke office.

The sustainability of the office’s spatial and material solutions was taken into account in the design process and the end result. For example, the project made extensive use of existing furniture and took into account the adaptability of the premises. “Where possible, we retained the suspended ceiling lines and technical building systems of the property. The premises are naturally adapted to different uses, as the lighting, for example, can be adjusted to different moods,” says Aino.

“We entered the new millennium compared to our previous office. The premises are functional, employees enjoy coming to the office and working there. It’s nice to have premises that reflect who we are as a company,” says Jussi with a smile.

Would you like to learn more?

Let’s talk! We offer everything from strategy to design and vision to implementation.
You can also read Lieke’s news article about the move or the reference story (in Finnish) by Bureau Real Estate who found the new premises for Lieke.

 

Sponda Kaivokatu 8

The top floor of Citycenter underwent a transformation

The eight floor of the iconic Citycenter property, which was completed in 1967, was transformed into a modern office environment with a premium location and top-notch functionalities and details that make it unique. Near the entrance, the space opens up into a working café that is also open for visitors, followed by spaces for internal collaboration and diverse working spaces as you move deeper into the office. The stunning surface materials of the original architecture, such as the black marble and teak, combined with the intricate oak parquet floor and tranquil colours create an effective but subdued atmosphere for the renewed facilities. The large windows and the harmonic view of the office frame the landscape opening across the Töölönlahti bay and Helsinki Railway Square. The shopping centre that is located in the same building tops off the high-quality experience with its restaurants and retail venues.

The premium office was designed together with the property owner

You cannot get any closer to the city centre. The Citycenter office premises near Helsinki Railway Square comprise three buildings: Kaivokatu 8, the Saarinen Building and the Tower. We set out to renovate the top floor of Kaivokatu 8, the core property of the Citycenter complex, together with the property owner Sponda.  We converted the traditional office rooms into a versatile and modern work environment, respecting the architect’s vision. “The aim was to design high-quality office premises that will also impress international visitors – smoothly flowing space where the view is particularly important,” says Jenni Herkama, Lead Designer for the project. “We wanted to create a premium, pleasant workday experience that supports recovery,” says Aino Keto, Interior Architect.

The design of Citycenter was guided by the following design drivers that were specified with Sponda:

  • a modern office that adapts to different uses
  • a premium atmosphere that also appeals to international stakeholders
  • highlighting the unique qualities of the space while respecting the original solutions

Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the interior architectural design, fixture design and the graphic ideas, as well as the modelling of images for the marketing materials. The design process also included analyses related to the WELL and BREEAM certifications. “We were responsible for the spatial programme, in other words for defining the spaces that make up a modern office, as well as for the aesthetics, material choices and details design,” says Jenni.

Unique space down to the smallest details

Each detail of the over 2,000-square metre office floor has been carefully selected and is suitable for diverse use. The architecturally largest change was achieved by opening up the space so as to highlight the view. The railway square side is designed for joint use with customers. It can be separated from the rest of the space with a glazed wall and access-controlled doors. The rounded reception desk between the two sides serves as a counter at the working café. There is a small kitchen at the other edge, enabling even more extensive catering. “We designed the property so that it would serve all the needs arising during a workday as well as possible. We analysed the needs and workflows of different users,” Aino says.

The spirit of the 60s and the finished details make the space unique. “In the design choices, we respected the solutions of the iconic 1960s masterpiece, while updating it to modern times,” Jenni says. For example, the windows have been renovated and the air conditioning renewed, but the technology is hidden inside the window benches, which does the space more justice. Brass trim, which is typical of the era, has been used at material joints. The end result is an office with an exceptionally high-quality look and feel.  “When the lift doors open and you step into the space, you feel like you are in a high-class place where world-class experts work,” Jenni says.

Would you like to learn more?

The other floors of the Citycenter building are also being thoroughly renovated.
Read more in an article on Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish).

Mehiläinen

A shared working environment for Mehiläinen in Kamppi

Mehiläinen’s new hotel-like office is located at the Narinkkatori square in Kamppi, in central Helsinki, with excellent transport connections and services. Specialists from Mehiläinen’s management and head office moved to the new premises from several different locations.

The company wanted to focus particularly on quality in the premises. The views over Kamppi on the top floors create a spectacular setting for individual work and cooperation, and the office space also features a terrace that is particularly popular on hot days. “It makes a huge difference that everyone is under the same roof. The popular plaza area and terrace are excellent for creating encounters. People come together for a coffee, and more casual meetings are also held on the terrace,” says Mariia Einesalo, Interior and Design Concept Manager at Mehiläinen.

Needs assessment showed the direction of the future

The spatial design was based on a project aimed at clarifying the shared objective of Mehiläinen with regard to future spatial solutions. Based on the needs assessment, the team decided to combine premises at several different addresses to create encounters and synergies between different functions. Mehiläinen’s iconic building in Töölö continues to house the medical centre and hospital.

The next step after the needs assessment was to design the selected office property. “During the project, we questioned the familiar ways of doing things and genuinely thought about how people will work in the future and what kind of an office supports their work. The aim was to create an attractive, high-quality office that promotes a sense of community,” explain Sini Ala-Nikula and Jenny Soldan, Design Strategists for the project.

The design of the new shared office was guided by the following design drivers:

  • Encounters between Mehiläinen employees and with other stakeholders. The new office is a cosy working environment that brings people together, supporting collaboration and allowing employees to see what others are doing.
  • Hotel atmosphere and different Mehiläinen employees. Creating a hotel-like atmosphere, especially in meeting rooms. Facilities solutions support Mehiläinen’s agile corporate culture and different ways of working. The services work seamlessly together and support daily work and well-being.
  • Flexible and versatile use between and within different locations. Spaces can be reserved as needed instead of owning them, and tribal areas and different types of space support innovation and recovery.

Rune & Berg Design carried out a needs assessment, spatial adaptations and an assessment of the spatial requirements to support Mehiläinen’s decision on the premises and designed a new office on the 6th and 7th floors of the Arkadia building. The design process covered the interior design and graphic look of the space, as well as project coordination during their implementation. The premises on the sixth floor were already leased by Mehiläinen and had been re-designed quite recently, so as few changes as possible were made to them and the work was concentrated on the top floor. “We created a floor plan for the sixth floor to update the functionalities and create a uniform look that connects the two floors. In general, we reused and repaired everything we could in the property. For example, existing ceilings and lighting rails were used in most of the premises,” says Kaisa Sinisalo, Interior Architect.

High-quality hotel-like workday experience

Mehiläinen’s new premises have fewer square metres than before, but the use of the premises is even more flexible. The office spans two floors and offers a wide range of spaces for focused work, joint brainstorming and hybrid meetings, for example. The heart of the office is the working cafe on the top floor, which also has a terrace over the Kamppi roofs. There are team workspaces on both sides of the cafe and on the lower floor, and they are divided into spaces for silent and loud work and based on different ways of working. The use of the spaces is based on team days, flexibility and each team’s own areas, which make it easier to find the closest colleagues. “The spaces are really nice and comfortable, they offer an excellent setting for work and also support Teams meetings well. The atmosphere of the premises reflects Mehiläinen’s status as an international company. It’s great that we now have such an elegant setting for welcoming guests to our premises,” Mariia says.

Would you like to learn more?

Read Mehiläinen’s press release on the centralised head office.

Senate Properties

Shared service and work environments for the public sector in Lahti and Lappeenranta

In the future, all state services and work environments will be found under one roof in both Lahti and Lappeenranta. The changes in these two premises are part of the more extensive renewal of the state services and facilities network. In Lahti and Lappeenranta alone, the renovations will make the workday and the use of services smoother for approximately 1,500 employees and 2,500 weekly customers.

All services in the same place

The aim of the project was to implement the shared government services concept in the government office buildings of Lahti and Lappeenranta and to create concrete proposals for solutions that take into account location-specific needs and opportunities. The change was motivated by the Finnish public sector’s aim of gradually gathering the physical services of government offices into shared customer service points, harmonising the service experience across the offices. The service design project was implemented in cooperation with Senate Properties, the government facilities partner. “This project was part of a larger programme that aims to merge the services of government offices under the same roof. The objective was to make the customer experience smoother and increase the flexibility of customer service work,” says Johanna Happonen, Service Designer and Interior Architect for the project.

Plans created to support the implementation of the shared customer service concept:

  • functional description of the premises from the point of view of employees
  • customer profiles and their service pathways
  • location-specific adaptations for the customer service area and working spaced connected to it

Rune & Berg Design was responsible for facilitating the service design process in Lahti and Lappeenranta and for drawing up a summary to support implementation. Service design was implemented through six virtual workshops, three of which covered the government office building in Lahti and three in Lappeenranta. Customer service employees and managers from various public administration organisations, such as the Tax Administration, Kela and several state offices, participated in the workshops, alongside the architect of the location. Rune & Berg Design’s expertise in spatial design was also utilised in the project. “We supported our employees through the change, this was a completely new process for them. The benefit of the service design process is that it helps the employees to understand what a multiservice point is and which aspects of their internal operations they still need to develop before the implementation,” Johanna says. “Together, we brought the process into practice one step at a time. Thanks to you, we involved the users in the analysis and were able to identify different perspectives,” says Mervi Räisänen, Project Manager for Facilities Projects at Senate Properties.

The service and workday experience brought together

In the service design process, the location-specific ways of working, customer profiles and spatial adaptations were brought together into a final report that supports the implementation of the shared work environments. With regard to working practices, the report illustrated what kind of work takes place in each area and what the role of each employee is in different situations. The different employee roles and ways of working were summed up as four easy-to-understand employee profiles and shared working principles. In addition, each customer profile received its detailed service pathway, which helps the employees to understand the different needs of the customers and Rune & Berg Design’s designers to find the best spatial solutions.

The spatial adaptations for the architecture of the Lappeenranta and Lahti office buildings were based on employee needs and customer service pathways. In accordance with the shared service concept, each office has a lobby and a waiting room, customer service points, background working premises, a ceremonial space and a meeting centre. In Lahti, attention was also paid to the needs of restaurant guests who come to the building for lunch, while in Lappeenranta, the wayfinding system deserved particular attention due to the divided structure of the space. “The architect participated in designing the building even during the service design process, implementing the findings in the design. Lahti and Lappeenranta serve as pilot projects for a more extensive change across the country,” Johanna says, describing the progress.

Both of these locations are currently in the implementation stage: the customer service facilities were taken into use in summer 2023 and the shared work environments are due for completion in spring 2024. “The local residents have been extremely happy with the shared service point. The concept feels functional, and the use of the services is smoother than before. For the personnel, the change will become more concrete after they experience working within the new model,” says Mervi, summing up the end result of the extensive change project.

Unity Technologies Finland

The Helsinki office was extended and upgraded for the hybrid era

The Helsinki office of the international software company Unity is located in central Helsinki, on the 6th and 7th floors of the Makkaratalo building. Compared to Unity offices in other large cities, Helsinki feels like an idyllic small village where everything is close by, including nature. However, personnel growth has also been rapid in Helsinki, and nowadays an increasing number of the employees work both remotely and at the office. The Helsinki office was upgraded to meet the demands of this growth and the hybrid era, based on the space types defined in the Unity Workplace 2.0 playbook, without forgetting the connection to nature that is typical of the Helsinki office.

Boldness and locality as the starting point

The aim of the project was to improve the functionality of the Helsinki office to make it better meet the needs of the growing organisation and the changing work culture. The change was implemented in connection with the property renovation, and it covered the current space of approximately 3,000 square metres and the 1,100 square metre extension. Although the upgraded office is still located in the same space, the starting point for the new design was boldness: “Doing things boldly and at full volume is a good match for Unity’s values. In this project, boldness was evident in the colour and material choices and the spatial division system that supports modern office work that takes places in multiple locations,” says Riina Ruska, Lead Designer for the project.

“The nature of work in this environment diverges significantly from our other offices. There’s a heightened focus on programming, with teams engaged in both desk-based and on-site activities. The initiative brought a refreshing vibrancy to our workspaces, making them more inviting and illuminated. Moreover, we introduced versatile and collaborative think tank areas, departing from traditional formal meeting rooms,” Tara Oberoi, Manager of Global Environments for Unity, explains.

The following design drivers were specified together with the Unity team:

  • functional – practical and flexible
  • inspiring – premium but cosy
  • collaborative – spaces for cooperation and meeting others
  • sustainable – responsible design choices and connection with nature

Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the interior architecture and graphic design of the Helsinki office and for curating art for the office. We also designed temporary premises for the client in the same property during the renovation. “In the past, each Unity office would look the same around the world, but nowadays the emphasis is on local elements. The client wanted to ensure that when someone comes, for example, from Montreal to Helsinki, they immediately know where they are. That is why we made the atmosphere of the space more distinctively Finnish and fresher, and we selected the urban forest in Helsinki as the underlying theme,” Riina says, describing the starting point for the design.

“We greatly admire your commitment to the entire design process, from inception to completion, and we genuinely value the holistic approach you bring. Your team’s prowess as designers is evident, and the collaboration was seamless — an experience we thoroughly enjoyed,” says Tara, describing what it was like to work with Rune & Berg Design.

Hybrid environment with inspiring encounters and urban nature

The transformation of the Helsinki office covered not only the technical building system and lighting but also the functionality of the space and the different roles of different spaces. The office still serves as the home base of the teams and offers ergonomic workstations for coding, but the new spaces emphasise encounters with other Unity employees: an extensive social hub was created on the 6th floor, the meeting rooms were made more varied and, for example, the floor area of the workplace cafeteria was doubled. “We analysed the need for different types of spaces by interviewing and observing Unity employees in their work. Another important thing to note was the global Unity community – there are teams in which not all members work at the Finnish office,” Riina says.

The atmosphere of the space is bolder and more Finnish than before, built on, for example, the furniture, graphic elements and curated pieces of art. Almost all of the furniture we purchased is Finnish, and environmental friendliness was an important criterion in making the design choices. For example, as the floor material, we selected an alternative that was not only functional but also the most ecological. The bold graphic details and materials highlight the urban nature of Helsinki: the names and icons of the meeting rooms refer to locally well-known animals and plants, such as city bunnies and lily of the valley, and the glazed walls of the meeting room are adorned by the skyline of Helsinki with its signature landmarks. “Through the narrow horizontal windows of Makkaratalo, you can see all the major landmarks of Helsinki, from the Cathedral to the Lyhdynkantajat sculptures of Helsinki Central Railway Station and the tower of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium,” says Riikka Kuukka, AD, who led the graphic spatial and signage concept and curated the office art.

“The Helsinki office is truly impressive — the outcome exceeded our expectations, offering both a great aesthetic and enhanced comfort for work. Its unique design sets it apart from conventional offices, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the final result”, Tara says.

Art offers a moment of relaxation

The emphasis on locality can also be seen in the works of art selected for the office, mainly by rising local artists, which makes the office more attractive as an inspiring alternative to hectic days at the home office. “Unity has really understood the importance of art in promoting the well-being of its employees. They invest in it in all their offices around the world. The materials, colours and message of the works selected for the Helsinki office support the overall concept of nature at the heart of the Helsinki,” Riikka explains. “The aim was to make people feel their best at the office. They get a moment of relaxation by looking out the window or admiring the works of art,” Riina continues.

Unity’s employees could vote for their favourites among the works of art suggested by Rune & Berg Design. For the Helsinki office, the team chose, for example, imaginative sculptures for the Tori working café, a mobile sculpture by Jenni Rope for the interior staircase that connects the two floors, and textile art for the library to create perfect silence. “The fusion of art and graphics was monumental, and the curation was executed with excellence. Its quirky nature resonates with the Helsinki team and our cultural identity, underscoring our desire to cultivate offices that embody a distinctive local flair.” Tara adds.

“All in all, the new Helsinki office is fresh, functional and cosier than before – a good place for people and shared moments,” Riina concludes.  The users agree: “Everyone was really excited to see how the Helsinki office was transformed – how subtle changes make such a big impact. Everyone is going to be ecstatic, feedback has been positive,” Tara concludes.

Versowood

New Eurosaha plant crowns 12 years of cooperation

The revamped plant of sawn timber pioneer Versowood lets the forest be seen and heard. “Versowood’s revamped Eurosaha plant represents not only the forestry sector, but also the company’s modern identity and willingness to take good care of its employees. The largest privately owned sawmill in Finland has been turned into an experiential forest environment with a contemporary twist,” says Jenni Herkama, Lead Designer for the client.

The future grows in forests

The extension of the Eurosaha plant in Vierumäki was an investment in a top-notch saw production line, job satisfaction, well-being and a great visitor experience.  “In the last 20 years, employee satisfaction and motivation have been playing a more important role. The aim was to motivate employees and make the workplace a nice place to work in,” says Ville Kopra, Versowood CEO. Another important perspective in designing the plant extension was Versowood’s updated brand message, “tomorrow is renewable”.

The design drivers for the project were:

  • being a pioneer in the forestry sector
  • promoting employee well-being
  • updating the visitor experience to match the new brand message

Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the interior architecture and graphic design of the Eurosaha extension and for project management. We also worked on the internal communication of the head office together with the Versowood team.

Well-being and quality from forests for the next generations

The user experience of the Eurosaha extension and the various spaces were carefully analysed from the point of view of the well-being and experience of both Versowood employees and visitors. Elements that enhance well-being include the forest-like lobby and soundscape that welcome visitors and the new changing rooms and break room where people can relax or even exercise while waiting for their coffee to brew. The high-quality break room and kitchen also serve as a visitors’ centre, and the supervisor’s room can be used for meetings and workshops.

“We wanted to show that we care and live up to our values. We went beyond the ordinary in this revamping process,” says Mia Kärkkäinen, Marketing Manager at Versowood, describing the background of the carefully executed development of Eurosaha. The revamped Eurosaha will serve as a benchmark for the development of other units. “Eurosaha looks great, and we are proud to present it. When I visit the plant, I see smiling faces all around me,” Ville says.

Cooperation since 2012

Rune & Berg Design and Versowood have been cooperating extensively since 2012. The two companies have had all kinds of shared projects over the years: from facilitating the new vision for the head office to extensive work environment design and culture projects and individual graphic designs. Rune & Berg Design has designed, for example, the renovation of the current Versowood head office in Vierumäki, the “forest office” or ground-floor customer service space in Mikkeli, the yard areas, a fair stand and various truck decals and workwear.

One of the largest work culture and graphic design projects was the occupational safety project, the aims of which were to integrate safety thinking into daily work and achieve the target of zero occupational accidents. The posters created during the project can also be seen in the revamped Eurosaha plant, at carefully selected points along the workday path. The aim is to use the material for many years to come to promote occupational safety across Versowood’s offices.

The Versowood team is happy with the long cooperation that is characterised by joy and playfulness and the courage to think about the future: “You are extremely kind, positive and helpful. You have excellent professional skills, relevant experience, a future-oriented approach and new tools for utilising research-based information,” says Mia. “You are easy to work with. You work approach is positive, and you know how things are done in our company. This makes it easier to get things started,” Ville adds.

Voyantic

Hybrid-age office that strengthens the sense of community

The rapidly growing tech company Voyantic wanted to improve the functionality and visual look of its premises. The company had outgrown its previous office, and the personnel had to work in two separate locations. The aim was to work together with the personnel to design an office that would reflect Voyantic as a company while strengthening the work community and collaboration. The end result was a space that employees can proudly call their own, which also serves as an asset in recruitment. People have returned to the office, and the office attendance rate has increased by approximately 35 percentage points.

An inspiring working day experience

As you enter the office, the first space you step into is the working café, Voyantic’s inviting and cosy shared living room. You are greeted by music, the lovely aroma of coffee and cheerful chatter, setting the perfect mood for your working day. Flexible solutions enable the versatile use of the space without compromising on the atmosphere. The new heart of the office provides a setting for conversations, meetings, events, game nights and after-work activities.

A variety of new spaces were created to support different modes of working. For hybrid work, the office has quiet spaces and meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art AV solutions. The open-plan coworking space and multipurpose space were designed to support various forms of collaboration, such as working together, team meetups and brainstorming. The ad hoc space is perfect for spontaneous moments of collaboration. It was important to create a suitable space for collaborative activities for every employee at the office.

Jennie Laine, People and Culture Specialist at Voyantic, is happy with the excellent end result: “Our new office is cheerful, surprising and well-functioning. It’s full of functional and visual candy. We wanted to have a space that people can enjoy, and it truly lifts everyone’s spirits. People have learned to use the new spaces well, fully embracing them.”

A key goal in the development work was to give everyone the opportunity to participate and express their opinions. The new office was designed for the employees, with the employees.

Designing together

The design process started with identifying the teams’ needs, with the aim of creating better conditions for hybrid work. Employees were involved in the process through various means, including a needs assessment survey, key personnel interviews and collaborative planning of new practices. Using the collected user insight as a foundation, Voyantic’s new office was designed by incorporating functional and spatial solutions to facilitate smooth hybrid work and collaboration between teams. We were responsible for the interior architectural design and the design of the fixtures, graphic elements and signage.

The goal of the renewal was to enable seamless interaction in hybrid work. The project was guided by the following design drivers:

  • Strengthening the work community: the sense of community and social relations between colleagues are strengthened through informal encounters
  • Supporting collaboration: continuous, seamless interaction between team members
  • Efficient and equal meetings: smooth hybrid meetings provide both on-site and online participants with equal opportunities to participate and have their voice heard

“Compared to the old office, the new premises facilitate meetings and conversations in an entirely new way,” Jennie says happily.

Cooperation began already before the design stage, with Rune & Berg Design preparing a listing of Voyantic’s interior standards to support the lease agreement negotiations. Listings of interior standards play a key role in the design process as they enable more user-oriented design and make the implementation of changes more straightforward, cost-effective and eco-friendly.

“Cooperation with Rune & Berg was rewarding from the very beginning. We received expert and practical assistance every step of the way, and we couldn’t have succeeded in this alone. Finding an excellent partner led to an excellent end result,” Jennie says.

Visual boldness and quality

Voyantic wanted the new office to reflect quality, technology and innovation. Sustainability and the circular economy were also taken into account in the design, and existing elements were utilised and repaired efficiently.

“Voyantic had the courage to stand out, and there was a deliberate intention to do something bold. As a designer, it was great to gain the client’s full trust and have the opportunity to design such a delightful concept,” says Aino Keto, Lead Designer at Rune & Berg Design.

The design process started with an exploration of the colours of Voyantic’s brand identity and how they could be used to create a functional spatial experience that takes into account materials, shades, structures and patterns. The graphic elements on the walls of the space mimic a report graph typical of Voyantic’s products. The holistic design of the spatial experience also factored in the sound environment, which is particularly crucial in the hybrid age.

“The quality and details of the design have sparked discussion that paints an accurate picture of our company. The space is memorable, which supports our brand. Daring to trust the designer’s vision leads to the best possible end result. We wouldn’t have been able to pay attention to all the small details or design features such as lighting, microphones or the sound environment ourselves,” Jennie says.

Downsizing did not apply to Voyantic

The trend of office downsizing accelerated by the pandemic did not apply to Voyantic. Instead, the company was worried that the pandemic would change how people come together and interact, resulting in a sense of disconnection among people. Compared to the old premises, the new office has a better location in Pitäjänmäki and more square metres. “Now we have space, design and a cosy atmosphere,” Jennie says.

“In the old premises, everyone used to work remotely quite often, but the new office is frequently packed. I’d say that before, around 50% of the personnel were working remotely, whereas now, 85% come to the office. We no longer have to worry about people drifting apart,” Jennie says.

Voyantic carries out regular personnel surveys and has received excellent feedback on the work atmosphere and the office. “Now we have a great and well-functioning place to come together. We’re very proud of our new, functional premises,” Jennie says.

Fastems

Head office that enhances links to production

The office and training facilities of Fastems that span multiple floors were harmonised, and now both floors have views over the production facilities. The space was inspired not only by the bright colours used in the production rooms, but also by the “Space of Fastems” concept that emphasises space and modern technology.

Advanced technology meets human-friendliness

The head office and production facilities of Fastems, a company specialised in intelligent CNC automation, are located in the same building in Tampere. The property was built at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s and has been the heart of Fastems’ operations for a long time. The aim of the project was to modernise the office and training spaces on the first and second floors and make their use smoother, in addition to strengthening the links to the factory. “In many companies, the head office is housed in a business park while the production site is elsewhere. Fastems wanted to strengthen the links between the head office and production,” says Sara Tuohikumpu, Lead Designer for the project, describing the starting point. “After the renewal, the production and office facilities will be directly connected. For example, if you are designing and thinking about a future product, you can see the robot right next to you,” Johanna Happonen, Interior Architect, adds.

The following design drivers guided the design process:

  • modern and technically advanced
  • warm and human-friendly
  • unforgettable and recognisable

Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the interior architecture and graphic design of the office and training facilities. “We designed an interesting space by juxtaposing the futuristic space theme with a soft, human approach,” Sara says. The office was renewed in three stages, and the project also included designing temporary premises at Farmi in the Hermia business park. The design was based on a work environment needs assessment by CBRE.

Mothership for the Fastems crew

The office became a meeting place for the international Fastems community. The biggest change was the impressive lobby with its self-service functions and the cosy café that invites people to chat and play board games. In addition, to support the increasingly mobile work culture, the company adopted a home base model, where the first floor is allocated to administration and sales and the second to experts, such as coders.

Even the visual elements of the space underline the links between the office and production. “We were inspired by the colour palette of the production facilities. We used the bright yellow, blue and orange we saw in the factory,” Sara says. “The end result is bold but well justified for a large-scale industrial company. Galaxy epoxy flooring, glazed wall decals that look like code and a general sci-fi vibe,” says Johanna, sumning up the recognisable elements of the revamped Fastems office.

Relex

Work environment concept for a growing company

Technology company RELEX was founded in 2005, and has grown fast from a start-up into a group of 1,800 employees while its working methods have been in a constant state of change. We helped RELEX to define scenarios and focus areas for its future work and designed a work environment concept that supports its future growth and changing ways of working. The current RELEX office in Ilmala was renovated in autumn 2022, and is serving as a test environment for ways of working and changes before the company moves to the new premises in Otaniemi.

The project helped the team to recognise the key policies of the work environment strategy:

  • the role and location of the headquarters
  • future ways of working
  • types of premises that support the working methods
  • supporting the planning of change communication

Needs assessment determines direction and scope of change

We started our cooperation with a needs assessment that helped us to analyse the needs of the future work environment in an employee-centred manner. The needs assessment included an employee survey, interviews in pairs with key persons, and workshops on future working scenarios for the project team. The assessment helped to identify the role of the office in the future, the ways of using it and spatial needs. The decision on the number of spaces needed in the future was based on the needs assessment. The outcome was building a recognisable RELEX experience in the new premises. Because the new office will not be completed until 2026, the company decided to renovate the current Ilmala office as well, to make it better support the changed working methods.

“You led us in the right direction with your expertise and enthusiasm, providing us with scenarios and plans from the start. The atmosphere within the project team was warm and welcoming, and working together with you was easy,” says Nanna Tuomi-Nikula, Specialist in Work Environment Design and Team Leader at RELEX, describing the cooperation with Rune & Berg Design.

In addition to the needs assessment and scenarios, we were responsible for the work environment design and graphic design of the renovated Ilmala office and concept design for the first floor of the new headquarters. We also supported the RELEX project team in change communication. CBRE acted as commercial advisor for the search for headquarters. “Cooperation with you was extremely smooth, the result is a success and the workshops you held were well prepared. With your help, we optimised the use of the premises. You also supported us in decision-making,” says Tiia Rapeli, HR Director at RELEX.

Work environment concept sums up future needs

The needs assessment and the scenarios were used as the basis for the new office and its preliminary work environment concept. The concept covers the different spaces and zones that the company needs, their number and visual look and feel. The design was driven by the wishes and opinions of the employees concerning work in the future. Finding a balance between efficient hybrid work and fun was important. “We encouraged the client to think about what kind of a work environment and ways of working RELEX employees have, which helped them to manage the work environment strategy. In an uncertain situation, staying put is not the wisest thing to do. Instead, the best way is to make a decision and choose the direction based on the best available information, just like RELEX did,” says Sini Ala-Nikula, Lead Designer for the project, sharing valuable tips with other companies in a similar situation.

An example of new types of spaces introduced to the Ilmala concept are the restorative and quiet spaces that have become more important in the hectic world of hybrid work. The aim is also to transfer these types of spaces to the new headquarters. In the work environment concept of the future office, the space is divided into visitor areas and areas for internal concentration and collaboration. The purpose of this division is to make work as smooth as possible. The number of workstations needed by the personnel is based on both the ratio of in-office work to remote work and the type of tasks performed at the office.

“This is a great concept with different zones and working areas. It serves as an excellent foundation for designing the new headquarters. The revamped Ilmala office allows us to test the new working culture and premises,” Tiia says.

The spatial solutions and uses of the 5,000-m2 premises in Ilmala were renewed according to the new work environment concept. The RELEX employees get to test a more flexible working model, where they can reserve the versatile spaces based on needs. There are no dedicated workstations. “Working at the Ilmala office allows our employees to practise new ways of working and test new kinds of facilities. We also prepared a communications plan for the work environment change: what information should be shared, on what channels and how,” Sini says.  “I feel like this has been a big change for the better. From our point of view, the best features are the different types of areas and modular structure – the space can be modified and used for a variety of purposes. This has helped our employees find different ways of working,” concludes Nanna.

“Thanks to the successful renovation, the Ilmala office really resembles us. Bringing in natural elements, offering opportunities for refreshment, the working cafe, various meeting rooms and Octacells have changed the ways in which we use the space. The new Ilmala office is cosy, and our employees love it. The office feels warm and home-like,” Tiia says happily.

Ilmala as a test environment for change

The renovation of the Ilmala office is complete, but RELEX employees are continuing to test the premises. The employees are also involved in the development of the office: “We are currently preparing a user’s guide on the purposes of each space, and we are collecting feedback from the RELEX team on the functionality of the spatial solutions in Ilmala. The idea is to enable the employees to influence the development and test the concept in Ilmala for the new office,” Nanna says, describing the future.

Would you like to read more about the new RELEX headquarters?

Check out the press release by RELEX.

Smartly.io Event Space

Adaptable Event Space for live and hybrid events

The head office of software house Smartly.io in Helsinki has received a new Event Space on its ground floor. The magical space reflects the identity of the company and is suitable for a wide range of events, from globally streamed seminars to local and cosy team meetups. The spatial experience starts even before entering the space, with light art that is also visible on the outside, representing power animals that reflect the company’s values. The most prominent of the power animals, the Smartly unicorn, greets visitors near the entrance. The head of the unicorn also serves as a camera stand for live streaming. The creative space can accommodate over 100 people, but it is also ideal for organising virtual events for participants from all over the world, thanks to its adaptability and easy-to-use AV technology.

360 spatial experience is the essence of Smartly.io

Smartly.io operates in several offices globally, and its culture is all about equality and a strong sense of community. The Event Space was designed as a communal hub that supports hybrid work and represents the company’s core values for colleagues and visitors from different countries. “Smartly.io values innovation and does not take work too seriously. At the same time, it is also a large-scale IT company with high security standards. The aim of the Event Space was to make the Smartly.io culture and values visible without letting visitors enter the actual working spaces,” says Aino Keto, Project Lead Designer.

The design of the Event Space was guided by the following design drivers that were specified with the client:

  • networking
  • Smartly.io’s brand awareness and visibility
  • personnel satisfaction and well-being

The Event Space was designed in cooperation with experts from various fields. The idea was to create the multimedia experience of the future that would make even virtual participants feel like they are genuinely present at the event. Rune & Berg Design was responsible for the conceptual design, interior architecture design and the graphic look and feel of the project. OiOi was responsible for audiovisual content production and Granlund for audiovisual design. Akukon was the consulting partner for acoustics.

Versatile and playful Event Space that supports creativity

The Event Space was designed as a surprising space that supports Smartly.io’s innovative brand image and the outside-the-box thinking of different target groups. Thanks to the adjustable sound system, lighting and furniture, the atmosphere can be adapted to casual get-togethers, more business-like meetings with customers and training events alike. “The Event Space supports working smartly and loving one’s job. Employees can freely reserve it for casual get-togethers or use it as a yoga room. Thanks to the electrically controlled curtains, the atmosphere is easy to change. The space also has a kitchen for large-scale events that require catering. There is plenty of storage space under the rising auditorium for furniture that make the space adaptable,” says Aino.

The Smartly.io way of working involves various internal events, as well as many events with stakeholders, such as customer meetings, training, demos, product launches and presentations to students. The functions and visual look and feel were designed in cooperation with Smarty.io’s marketing team. The human-sized unicorn that sits in the audience, inviting visitors to take selfies for social media, is the emblem of the Smartly.io spatial experience.

Whatever the event may be, the audiovisual solutions and furniture make even remote participants feel like they are part of the audience. The numerous streaming cameras and plug-in-and-play connections enable smooth presenting and listening to presentations everywhere in the space. “The Smartly.io Event Space is unique. It is the first completed space of the company’s new work environment concept. It supports hybrid work, and the modern technology enables multisensory experiences,” explains Heidi Linkka, Design Strategist from the Smartly project team.

Would you like to know more about our collaboration with Smartly.io?

See the global work environment concept we designed for them.