{"id":881033,"date":"2026-03-02T20:01:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T01:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=881033"},"modified":"2026-03-17T13:09:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T17:09:44","slug":"how-arkema-built-a-workplace-designed-to-bring-people-back-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/learning\/how-arkema-built-a-workplace-designed-to-bring-people-back-together\/","title":{"rendered":"How Arkema Built a Workplace Designed to Bring People Back Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Arkema began planning a new North American headquarters, the goal was clear: consolidate teams scattered across an aging campus, improve collaboration and create a workplace that could support recruitment and retention in a competitive talent market. The French-based global specialty materials company, whose administrative staff had long worked in outdated buildings in King of Prussia, Pa., wanted a space that better reflects how its people work \u2014 and how the company wants to be perceived.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could work there for years and barely know people outside your own building,\u201d says Marie Juliana, who leads strategic projects for Arkema North America and oversaw the project. \u201cPeople went from the parking lot to their building and back again. There wasn\u2019t much reason \u2014 or opportunity \u2014 to cross paths.\u201d<\/p>\n

That physical separation shaped daily behavior. In winter or bad weather, employees avoided walking between buildings altogether. Informal conversations were rare. Teams operated in silos. Even shared amenities, like the cafeteria, went underused. Over time, leaders began to see that the layout was quietly eroding the sense of community that supports innovation, engagement and retention.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the interiors themselves were aging. Many employees worked in high-walled cubicles more than 30 years old, originally designed for paper-based work and individual tasks. Perimeter offices blocked natural light and privacy was inconsistent. \u201cIt was very compartmentalized,\u201d says architect and Stantec principal Jessica Kavanagh, whose team led the design of the new headquarters. \u201cThe space didn\u2019t reflect how people actually work today, or how Arkema wants people to feel when they come into the office.\u201d<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
More public square than lobby, the first floor brings people together around a caf\u00e9, innovation spaces and leadership that\u2019s visibly accessible.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designing for community, not just efficiency<\/h3>\n

When Arkema committed to creating a new headquarters, the goal was not simply to consolidate space. It was to rebuild connections. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about aesthetics,\u201d says Juliana. \u201cIt was about whether the space helped or hindered how we want to operate as a company.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the outset, leaders defined success in human terms:<\/p>\n

\u2022 bring people together across functions to foster community
\n\u2022 make collaboration visible and natural
\n\u2022 create a workplace that would appeal to current employees and future talent alike.<\/p>\n

The new building brings employees under one roof for the first time, organizing spaces into team neighborhoods while also allowing flexibility in where people sit. \u201cWe wanted the space to encourage movement and chance encounters,\u201d says Kavanagh. \u201cNot just because that\u2019s healthier, but because that\u2019s how relationships form.\u201d<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n\"\"

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On the 2nd and 3rd floors, team neighborhoods support different types of work people do throughout the day with shared meeting spaces, quiet rooms, and spaces for rejuvenation. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t

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On the 2nd and 3rd floors, team neighborhoods support different types of work people do throughout the day with shared meeting spaces, quiet rooms, and spaces for rejuvenation. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t

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On the 2nd and 3rd floors, team neighborhoods support different types of work people do throughout the day with shared meeting spaces, quiet rooms, and spaces for rejuvenation. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t

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On the 2nd and 3rd floors, team neighborhoods support different types of work people do throughout the day with shared meeting spaces, quiet rooms, and spaces for rejuvenation. <\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

The building\u2019s first floor functions almost like a public square. Alongside the main caf\u00e9, which serves as the social heart of the building, are conference spaces and an innovation lab that showcase Arkema\u2019s research and materials. Executive offices sit on the main floor, near communal spaces, signaling accessibility rather than hierarchy. \u201cThat was a big signal,\u201d adds Kavanagh. \u201cIt says that leadership is part of the community, not separate from it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Above, the second and third floors are the team neighborhoods. Multiple teams can access height-adjustable workstations<\/a>, quiet rooms for focused work, enclosed spaces for video calls, and shared meeting rooms. The result, employees say, is a workplace that feels more social \u2014 and more alive. People linger longer, meet more often in person, and report a stronger sense of belonging.<\/p>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Meeting spaces are equipped with video conferencing equipment and Ocular tables, allowing in-person and remote employees to participate equally.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

.<\/span><\/p>\n

Preparing people, not just the building<\/h3>\n

Still, leaders understood a new building alone would not change how people work. Moving from assigned offices and paper-heavy work to a more open, digital and flexible environment required careful preparation. Arkema partnered with Steelcase\u2019s Applied Research and Consulting team to support a comprehensive change management process. That work began months before move-in day and focused as much on mindset as on logistics. \u201cThis was a big shift for people,\u201d Juliana says. \u201cWe knew we couldn\u2019t just hand them a new building and expect everything to fall into place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Workshops with senior leaders came first, helping them understand their role in modeling new behaviors \u2014 holding informal meetings in shared spaces, being visible and reassuring teams about privacy and focus. Those leaders then became ambassadors, equipped to answer questions and address concerns within their departments.<\/p>\n

Hands-on pilot spaces set up in the old campus invited employees into the process. They tested new furniture, technology and layouts, practiced using shared workstations, and offered feedback that informed final decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal was to make the change feel familiar before it was official,\u201d says CBRE\u2019s Sammie Sukonick. \u201cWhen people walked into the new building on day one, they already knew how it worked.\u201d A dedicated internal website, town halls and frequent communications reinforced the idea that the move was not being done to employees, but with them.<\/p>\n

From the beginning, the project was treated as a shared effort between Arkema\u2019s internal teams, design firm Stantec, CBRE, Steelcase and Corporate Interiors \u2014 the local Steelcase dealer that helped execute Arkema\u2019s vision. \u201cThis was never just a facilities project,\u201d says Sukonick, who worked closely on coordinating between teams.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe collaboration was constant. Everyone had a voice \u2014 facilities, HR, leadership, employees. That made a huge difference in how the change was received. It was about people, culture and how different groups could come together to shape the outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

A workplace that reflects Arkema\u2019s future<\/h3>\n

Today, leaders say the new headquarters has become a tangible expression of Arkema\u2019s culture \u2014 and a powerful tool for attracting talent. \u201cWhen candidates visit, they immediately understand who we are,\u201d Juliana explains. \u201cThe space reflects collaboration, innovation and care for our people. We didn\u2019t just change the building. We changed how we come together as a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Arkema\u2019s new North American headquarters brings employees under one roof for the first time, encouraging movement and chance encounters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At a Glance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Industry<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Specialty chemicals and advanced materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Location<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Radnor, Pennsylvania<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Size<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • 120,000 sq. ft.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Number of employees<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • 500<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Design Intent<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Create a vibrant destination that brings people together across functions to foster community<\/li>\n
          • Transform how people work, collaborate and innovate<\/li>\n
          • Make collaboration visible and natural<\/li>\n
          • Create a workplace that appeals to current employees and future talent<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Design Firm: Stantec<\/li>\n
            • Commercial Real Estate Services and Investment Firm: CBRE<\/li>\n
            • Dealer: Corporate Interiors<\/li>\n
            • Change Management: Steelcase Applied Research + Consulting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

               <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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