{"id":812664,"date":"2023-05-25T10:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-25T14:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=812664"},"modified":"2023-05-25T12:25:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T16:25:04","slug":"reinventing-munich-linc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/case-studies\/reinventing-munich-linc\/","title":{"rendered":"Reinventing the Munich LINC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The world of work has changed profoundly in the last three years. The new hybrid era, in which people have more agency than ever over where and how to work, led to a reduction of density in many office spaces across the globe \u2013 and Steelcase\u2019s Munich Learning + Innovation Center (LINC) is no exception. In the six years since opening the LINC, Steelcase created a vibrant community of employees, partners and customers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With a very diverse group of people working alongside each other, this international hub has served as a catalyst for change through rapid learning and creative work. But lately, fewer encounters and informal interaction led to a slow erosion of the feeling of community, remote work affected the mutual trust that is critical to innovation, and the intensification of video conferencing resulted in the emergence of new space needs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was time to challenge our initial assumptions and rethink what a Learning + Innovation Center needs to do in the hybrid era,\u201d says Carlos Gonzalez, EMEA Steelcase Learning team leader. \u201cWe needed different kinds of spaces to deepen our connections through vibrant, innovative work neighborhoods that address the new needs of hybrid work.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This project, known as \u201cLeading with the LINC,\u201d brought together a large, cross-functional team of designers, researchers, product specialists and HR leaders. They decided to bring employees who had previously been distributed across three adjacent buildings into two buildings to increase density and proximity, which invigorates the space and strengthens people\u2019s sense of belonging.<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"print-only\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1684743848\/23-0206719-1.jpg\" \/><div class=\"slick-slider light-slider not-initialized mosaic-slider\" data-type=\"module\">\n\t\t<div class=\"first-slide\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mosaic-right mosaic-standard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-fixed content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-image has-ppp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-image extend-right\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,q_auto,f_auto,h_492,w_875\/v1684743848\/23-0206719-1.jpg);\"role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><span class=\"u-visual-hide\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-saved-state='0' data-item-id='812686' data-type='attachment' class=\"can-save ppp-link icon icon-ppp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/download\/?url=https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743848\/23-0206719-1.jpg\"  data-social-media=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743848\/23-0206719-1.jpg\" data-social-title=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" href=\"#\"><b class=\"u-visual-hide\">Open image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-companion content-well\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image-companion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .slide -->\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mosaic-right mosaic-standard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-fixed content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-image has-ppp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-image extend-right\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,q_auto,f_auto,h_492,w_875\/v1684743706\/23-0206730.jpg);\"role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><span class=\"u-visual-hide\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-saved-state='0' data-item-id='812685' data-type='attachment' class=\"can-save ppp-link icon icon-ppp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/download\/?url=https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743706\/23-0206730.jpg\"  data-social-media=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743706\/23-0206730.jpg\" data-social-title=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" href=\"#\"><b class=\"u-visual-hide\">Open image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-companion content-well\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image-companion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .slide -->\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mosaic-right mosaic-standard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-fixed content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-image has-ppp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-image extend-right\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,q_auto,f_auto,h_492,w_875\/v1684743676\/23-0206726.jpg);\"role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><span class=\"u-visual-hide\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-saved-state='0' data-item-id='812684' data-type='attachment' class=\"can-save ppp-link icon icon-ppp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/download\/?url=https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743676\/23-0206726.jpg\"  data-social-media=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743676\/23-0206726.jpg\" data-social-title=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" href=\"#\"><b class=\"u-visual-hide\">Open image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-companion content-well\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image-companion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .slide -->\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mosaic-right mosaic-standard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-fixed content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-image has-ppp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-image extend-right\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,q_auto,f_auto,h_492,w_875\/v1684743691\/23-0206729.jpg);\"role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><span class=\"u-visual-hide\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-saved-state='0' data-item-id='812683' data-type='attachment' class=\"can-save ppp-link icon icon-ppp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/download\/?url=https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743691\/23-0206729.jpg\"  data-social-media=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684743691\/23-0206729.jpg\" data-social-title=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" href=\"#\"><b class=\"u-visual-hide\">Open image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-companion content-well\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image-companion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .slide -->\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .panel-type-slider -->\n<p>The designers drew inspiration from urban planning to create an array of interconnected neighborhoods that will enable people to easily flow from one work mode to the next and to interact with each other throughout the day. Neighborhoods become a destination where people feel comfort and confidence they can find their teammates and the tools they need to do their work. They are designed to provide a more humanized hybrid experience based on creating spaces that are more equitable, engaging and easy to use.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Designing neighborhoods for hybrid work<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Designers also leveraged four key design principles to create new neighborhoods in the LINC that better support people\u2019s new needs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>New spaces for new work<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe new space was designed with three key goals, explains Jessie Storey, Steelcase design director EMEA. \u201cWe want to <strong>promote learning and innovation, rekindle the sense of community and enable an intuitive hybrid work experience<\/strong> for our employees and guests at the LINC. The best way of achieving this is to reduce our footprint and rethink the existing spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128178\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128178\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-820151 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684745167\/23-0206740.jpg\" alt=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128178\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This informal setting fosters collaboration in a relaxed posture. The Steelcase Work Tent offers psychological comfort and privacy to people.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>1. Promote Learning and Innovation<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote pull-quote-center \"><p> \u201cWe want to promote learning and innovation, rekindle the sense of community and enable an intuitive hybrid work experience.\u201d<\/p><cite>Jessie Storey<span>Steelcase design director EMEA <\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Instill a learning mindset<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Designers intentionally approached the project with a learning and innovation mindset. The aim is to leverage learning as a tool to inform the design of the space, but also to design a space for learning, where people have constant opportunities to learn from each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn an innovation center like ours, learning is very tightly connected to our ability to produce innovation,\u201d explains Storey. \u201cWe\u2019re learning about the way our community now works, what are their preferences, their challenges and their needs,\u201d adds Gonzalez. \u201cThe key is to establish learning more as a mindset than an action, and to always keep in mind that learning should happen everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Encourage circulation<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128179\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128179\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignright\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-812673 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684745235\/23-0206714.jpg\" alt=\"Reinventing Munich LINC\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128179\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">In this informal collaboration space, people are shielded while remaining connected to surrounding teams.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Spaces the team calls \u2018shared attractors\u2019 were created to give employees the freedom to work anywhere in the building, depending on their needs and activities. These include places for focus work or rejuvenation (personal spaces), collaboration and social spaces, and both formal and informal learning spaces. People want to have control over where they work, and this gives them more choices. Use of spaces such as single-person rooms where people can take a video call and hyper-collaborative team neighborhoods which offer a lot of opportunities for cross-pollination, have seen a sharp increase in the hybrid era.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128182\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128182\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-812672 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684745308\/23-0206721.jpg\" alt=\"Reinventing Munich LINC\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128182\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hybrid work has seen a sharp increase in the use of individual enclosed spaces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The new environment helps to activate behaviors that foster interaction with other people and their work, which in turn contribute to innovative ideas. \u201cInnovation doesn\u2019t happen when people are working behind closed doors,\u201d continues Jessie Storey. \u201cIt happens when you accidentally walk by something that makes you suddenly realize there\u2019s an untapped potential for synergies. We thought very carefully about transitions and circulation paths to enable as many creative collisions as possible \u2013 the opportunities that lie in those transitions are amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Make ideas and work visible<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" class=\"print-only\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1684745425\/23-0206720.jpg\" \/><div class=\"slick-slider light-slider not-initialized mosaic-slider\" data-type=\"module\">\n\t\t<div class=\"first-slide\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mosaic-right mosaic-standard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-fixed content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-image has-ppp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-image extend-right\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,q_auto,f_auto,h_492,w_875\/v1684745425\/23-0206720.jpg);\"role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><span class=\"u-visual-hide\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-saved-state='0' data-item-id='812690' data-type='attachment' class=\"can-save ppp-link icon icon-ppp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/download\/?url=https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684745425\/23-0206720.jpg\"  data-social-media=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684745425\/23-0206720.jpg\" data-social-title=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" href=\"#\"><b class=\"u-visual-hide\">Open image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-companion content-well\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>These fully-equipped workstations provide people with a place to do focus work within their team neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image-companion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .slide -->\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"panel-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mosaic-right mosaic-standard\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-fixed content\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"cover-image has-ppp\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"flex-image extend-right\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,q_auto,f_auto,h_492,w_875\/v1684745437\/23-0206733.jpg);\"role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\"><span class=\"u-visual-hide\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a data-saved-state='0' data-item-id='812689' data-type='attachment' class=\"can-save ppp-link icon icon-ppp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/download\/?url=https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684745437\/23-0206733.jpg\"  data-social-media=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/v1684745437\/23-0206733.jpg\" data-social-title=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" href=\"#\"><b class=\"u-visual-hide\">Open image tooltip<\/b><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"cover-image-companion content-well\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Height-adjustable desks enable movement and posture changes. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .cover-image-companion -->\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .slide -->\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .panel-type-slider -->\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The project team strongly believes that space should support multidisciplinary work across all departments. For people to be able to influence each other\u2019s work, they need to be aware of what their colleagues are focusing on, and to intentionally make their own work visible to facilitate co-creation. \u201cWe wanted to promote a different way of thinking about team neighborhoods and designing them: this is not about where teams and people sit, but where their projects live,\u201d says Jessie Storey. \u201cThis is a completely different mindset that breaks down silos and encourages people to engage in cross-functional collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>2. Create a vibrant community<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Engage the community: the power of change management<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The project was expected to have a major impact on the LINC community, and so leaders recognized the need for change management. \u201cWe wanted to engage with our employees to make them agents of change by allowing them to work closely with the designers in an iterative feedback process,\u201d explains Houda Badri, human resources leader. \u201cThe Learning &amp; Development team, the WorkSpace Futures research team and the Design team facilitated several workshops to give our employees the opportunity to express their expectations. It was important to take into account both the needs of teams and individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>During the workshops, people shared their work experiences. Common struggles included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Constant juggling between different work modes, digital platforms and physical environments depending on the ebb and flow of work;<\/li>\n<li>Need for versatility created tension when doing focus work;<\/li>\n<li>Lack of spaces for impromptu conversations. The challenge for the design team was to create spaces to accommodate both expectations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128171\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128171\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-826993 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684743664\/23-0206718.jpg\" alt=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC article image\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128171\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Equipped with analog tools, this setting allows teams to brainstorm and make their work visible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cOne of our main goals was to revive the community feeling and the sense of belonging in the LINC, but we were aware that higher density and the resulting closer proximity could also create some disruptions,\u201d says Steelcase EMEA Interior Design Director Noga Lasser. \u201cTo make sure people could focus in this vibrant environment, we\u2019ve given a lot of thought to psychological, acoustic and visual privacy. Individual desks are more sheltered than they were in the past. We\u2019ve given them a sense of differentiation and more acoustic panels, screens and dividing. Users have control over those screens to signal how much privacy they need. We\u2019ve also made collaboration spaces more sheltered to mitigate distractions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe also organized neighbors\u2019 meetings to discuss rules of engagement,\u201d adds Badri. \u201cDesigning the space is just the beginning. Behaviors and culture transformation are also key.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote pull-quote-center \"><p> \u201cTo make sure people could focus in this vibrant environment, we\u2019ve given a lot of thought to psychological, acoustic and visual privacy.\u201d<\/p><cite>Noga Lasser<span>Steelcase EMEA interior design director<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>A new hub in the heart of the building<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128136\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128136\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignright\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-128136 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684482168\/23-0206738.jpg\" alt=\"People chatting in an open space environment at the Munich LINC\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128136\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This hub in the heart of the building was designed to encourage interaction and collaboration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>When people can choose to work from home or anywhere else, offices will need to be a vibrant destination where people will want to work and where cohesion happens. People come to the office to be a part of a community and to find what they can\u2019t find anywhere else \u2013 people to connect with and high-performing workspaces and technology.<\/p>\n<p>The LINC\u2019s reimagined first floor, just above the WorkCafe, is centrally located within the campus and has been designed to create a sense of togetherness. Originally designed to be used by leaders so they could be more accessible to employees, the space often sat empty. On that floor, the Design team had also created three large meeting rooms \u2013 one to support the leadership community and another two dedicated to large customer groups and to learning.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe old space created two long hallways,\u201d remembers Lasser. \u201cDuring Covid, the three large meeting rooms in that space saw less and less use. And the employees did not feel a sense of permission to be there. To break down those barriers, we dismantled the three meeting rooms, opening up the entire floor. We created a hub for the LINC community where everyone can connect and contribute to a unique experience. Today, a large communal table and a vertical display create a space to host events, support rituals and create the social moments people are craving. We designed this community hub as a multipurpose co-working space \u2014 it\u2019s a hard-working extension of the WorkCafe. Leaders still enjoy a dedicated destination on that floor, intended for focus work. At these desks, they\u2019re signaling their need for privacy. But in the large communal area, they are part of the community and are ready to engage with the teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The first floor is also where the Environment, Social and Governance team has been relocated, as a constant reminder of how important these values are for the community and the company.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote pull-quote-center \"><p> \u201cWe created a hub for the LINC community where everyone can connect and contribute to a unique experience.\u201d<\/p><cite>Noga Lasser<span>Steelcase EMEA interior design director<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<h3>3. Create Hybrid Spaces that Work Better<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Enhance the human experience<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The workplace used to be designed for efficiency, with companies trying to fit as many people in the space as possible. This productivity-driven approach is no longer effective in the hybrid era. Offices need to offer diverse neighborhoods, where people can experience meaningful interactions and where everyone feels included. But the rising importance of technology and video conferencing in day-to-day work brings new challenges. \u201cWe need to lighten the burden of orchestration associated with digital work modes to allow people to enjoy a truly human experience,\u201d underlines Storey.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128188\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128188\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-812668 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684746675\/23-0206711.jpg\" alt=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128188\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">With its two monitors and unique tabletop shape, this hybrid space offers an equitable experience for everyone, no matter where they are.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the LINC, designers adopted several strategies and solutions to create spaces that are more humanizing. \u201cWe have implemented hybrid collaboration solutions across the building,\u201d explains Lasser. \u201cWe\u2019ve installed several Ocular tables* of different dimensions in the space. Their unique curved shape eliminates the bias towards in-room participants and improves sightlines on both sides of the screen. Coupled with the Microsoft Front Row technology, they allow people in the room to see the remote participants\u2019 faces better across the bottom of the monitor, as well as the chat and the content being shared. People sitting around the table can also see one another easier and better decipher facial expressions and body language. Steelcase\u2019s collaboration with tech partners globally allows us to understand where technology is going in the future. These partnerships help us adopt or develop relevant hybrid work solutions.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote pull-quote-center \"><p> \u201cWe need to lighten the burden of orchestration associated with digital work modes to allow people to enjoy a truly human experience.\u201d <\/p><cite>Jessie Storey<span>Steelcase design director EMEA<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Address increasing video conferencing needs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The time when people used to go to the dedicated \u201cvideo room\u201d for video conferencing is far behind us. Today, hybrid collaboration is so ingrained in our habits that we expect to be able to connect with remote colleagues from almost anywhere in the office.<\/p>\n<p>With so many different types of hybrid collaboration happening, people need more choices. A study by the Steelcase WorkSpace Futures research team provided insight into how people use meeting rooms and revealed a gap between intent and behavior. People need more and better private places for one-on-one video meetings and better meeting rooms for robust hybrid work sessions. \u201cWe have transformed our meeting rooms to create a more equitable experience for everyone &#8211; both in-person and remote participants &#8211; and we will continue to learn and adjust,\u201d says Lasser. \u201cWe\u2019ve equipped enclosed one-person rooms with easy-to-use technology for a better hybrid experience and easier connections, and we have refitted medium-sized meeting rooms either for active and generative meetings or for content-sharing. We have been very intentional about the positioning of cameras and furniture so people sit at eye level and their faces are at the right height for natural eye contact.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_128189\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_128189\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-812667 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1684746818\/23-0206737.jpg\" alt=\"Reinventing the Munich LINC\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_128189\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This enclosed space is ideal for smaller hybrid meetings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis transformation offers us a lot of opportunities to innovate,\u201d adds Storey. Steelcase recently partnered with Logitech to explore a concept called Project Ghost, an extended-reality experience that blurs the lines between the physical and digital to create a more human, immersive connection. \u201cWe were very excited to install our first prototype at the LINC. And all this creative energy gives us ideas for future design explorations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Manage occupancy fluctuation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The design team also needed to make the space more flexible to better address occupancy fluctuation for hybrid work. They devised a new way to approach owned and shared spaces: \u201cWe have fewer workstations than team members because they\u2019re rarely all together in the office, but we created several \u2018spillover spaces\u2019 for peak days,\u201d explains Lasser. \u201cThese assets are located at the junction of two team neighborhoods and shared by teams with similar work modes. Their work tools and furniture are specific to the needs of the teams for which they were created. For example, HR and finance engage in focus work at fully-equipped workstations with high-performance task seating, and the Global Accounts team collaborates informally with visiting guests at a communal table. The challenge was to create a sense of permission for the teams to use these shared assets. To make sure this approach would work, we leveraged the desk-booking system of our partner GoBright and established protocols in collaboration with the teams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The LINC evolution goes way beyond real estate and space planning considerations and encompasses all necessary steps to adapt to a rapidly-changing world of work. The result is an ongoing and iterative transformation process that reflects a learning and innovative mindset. \u201cChange never stops, and the LINC is the perfect laboratory to continuously test new ideas, products and spaces,\u201d says Storey. \u201cWe are confident this transformation will help us shape our future by creating spaces that help people work better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Designing a Learning + Innovation Center in the Hybrid Era.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68027,"featured_media":812666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[49134],"class_list":["post-812664","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","industry-workplace","topic-case-studies"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Reinventing the Munich LINC - 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