Client projects: AstraZeneca Austria

Sustainable and inspiring workplace centered around collaboration

When AstraZeneca Austria outgrew their previous office, they saw the chance to do more than simply relocate. They wanted to create a workplace that embodied their values — a space that would support both people and the planet. Together with the architect, Kinnarps was tasked with creating a sustainable interior design solution that supported modern ways of working, while also driving a cultural shift towards a more collaborative workplace.

Spaces inspiring great work

Employees were pleased with the new office right from the start, feeling a sense of pride in their workspace. The new spaces provides a versatile and collaborative environment with better support for the different activities of the working day, while also serving as a showcase of AstraZeneca’s values. It fosters collaboration, and has enabled the hosting of more events – reinforcing a strong community spirit. Looking back, Sebastian Palm is pleased with the result:

“We are very proud of our new office, where both we and our colleagues enjoy a modern and inspiring work environment”, he says.

Putting sustainability into practice

AstraZeneca’s ambitious sustainability goals guided every decision of the project. From choosing a building certified with the platinum level of LEED (the most widely used green building rating system), to reusing as much furniture as possible and selecting new pieces that meets high quality standards – every aspect of sustainability was carefully evaluated.

Designed for diverse needs

With a wide range of stakeholders involved, it was essential for the office to meet diverse needs. An important part of AstraZeneca’s operations is their close connection with health industry professionals, which meant that the new spaces both had to function as an office and as a space for hosting community-building events. In addition, the interior design solution had to align with with AstraZeneca’s international design concept, as well as follow Austria’s strict regulations on ergonomics.

This presented a challenge to the team working on the project, especially because of the building’s unique elliptical shape, and the fact that it was under construction when the interior design was planned. To ensure the final result delivered on all fronts, AstraZeneca engaged its employees through six dedicated working teams. Focusing on the key aspects of sustainability, IT, health and safety, community, ergonomics and office setup, these teams left nothing to chance.

Kinnarps played a central role in managing the project, offering fast, responsive communication and a high level of personal service. To make sure every piece was a good fit, Kinnarps lent ergonomic furniture for AstraZeneca to try out. While the list of requirements was initially complex, the well-managed collaboration made the process of finding the right interior design solution smooth.

A workspace enabling better collaboration

In their previous office, collaboration was not always as seamless as it needed to be. The space did not fully support the variety of ways employees worked together. With the new office, AstraZeneca set out to change this. A particular focus was placed on creating a range of meeting environments – from smaller spaces for focused discussions to rooms and open spaces for larger workshops and events. The result is a flexible workplace that makes both planned and informal collaboration easier, helping to strengthen the company culture.