Office

New work environments for Siemens Healthineers: Multifunctional office concept meets contemporary design

For the global medical technology company Siemens Healthineers, Dittel Architekten are realising a pioneering and user-centred work environment at the new High Energy Photonics (HEP) Centre at the Forchheim site. The 57,000-square-metre building is considered one of the most modern facilities for medical technology components in Europe and brings together production, research, development and logistics under one roof. The design concept focussed on efficient spatial solutions, simplified workflows and long-term employee satisfaction.

The office landscape of the new HEP Centre that DIA created for Siemens Healthineers presents itself as innovative and dynamic. The listed company has been doing pioneering work in the healthcare sector for more than 125 years and currently employs 71,000 people in around 70 countries worldwide. As the largest single new building investment for Siemens Healthineers, the sustainably designed building complex provides state-of-the-art work environments, fully networked production and capacities for further growth.

As part of an preliminary consulting service, the architecture and design firm held a workshop series that incorporated users for the development of a future-oriented work environment. The resulting needs assessment served as the basis for the development of a unique design concept, which was implemented on six floors with a total of 15,000 square metres. This is implemented within the neutral technical shell that connects the production and office sections of the building.

The design concept is essentially derived from the CI colours Healthy Orange and Siemens Petrol, as well as the portmanteau word Healthineers in the company name (a combination of Healthcare, Pioneer and Engineer). This transfers the corporate identity onto the space and makes the dynamic welcoming culture tangible for employees and visitors. The realisation of an innovative, highly efficient work environment that combines flexible spatial solutions, a healthy work culture and comfort was at the heart of the project. Another overarching objective was to link office and production in order to spatially reflect the diversity, equality and togetherness of employees that Siemens Healthineers values.

Photographer Martin Baitinger

With its all-glass façade, the strikingly open reception area on the ground floor creates maximum transparency and intuitively guides visitors and employees into the interior. The porch roof at the main entrance with its distinctive design acts as a link between the interior and exterior and emphasises the welcoming culture.

In the entrance foyer, there is a direct view towards the centrally positioned reception desk, with a striking free-flowing contour. The adjoining café and bistro area offers the possibility of having together, as well as being a temporary workspace, and is an informal and relaxing meeting place. In addition to a spacious lounge area, functional work and lunch tables and smaller seating areas provide a variety of places to spend time. The imposing character of the publicly accessible entrance area is highlighted by the use of unusual lighting installations. A guiding strip of light in the access areas supports intuitive orientation in the interior and leads to the other office floors.

The structure of the long office wings is largely identical: The individual floors, each spanning 2,500 square metres, are divided into three zones of equal size, separated by a central stairwell. The office units consist of a recurring spatial layout, which is based on the needs assessment and consists of five differently scaled functional modules. These include desk-sharing workstations, meeting rooms, community and teamwork areas, as well as modular focus zones that can be customised to the respective user group. This ensures flexible utilisation of the space and a varied workplace design that breaks up rigid room structures and meets the needs of the different departments.

The interactive Meet & Talk area in the respective office units forms the central and communicative focal point. It features a work lounge with a wide range of table and seating options, offering space for temporary work, offsite meetings and informal gatherings. Recurring elements across all areas, such as tea kitchens and communication areas, act as common design features that link the production and office areas with each other.

Specifically positioned meeting rooms, niches and creative spaces zone the open, flexible office units and create retreats for focussed and project work, video calls or small group discussions. In addition, translucent partition walls, functional furniture and digital work equipment help to optimise the use of space, as well as physical and mental freedom of movement. Acoustically effective wall and ceiling elements, as well as accent lights with warm light, help to create a holistic feel-good atmosphere.

The company-related healthcare theme is realised within the design concept by DIA through the spatial translation of imaging processes. The X-ray theme is reflected throughout the office areas in the form of transparent and structured materials such as mesh and glass, along with colour contrasts. Material and surface structures evoke the tissue structures of the human body and lend the rooms a special quality through their haptics. The engineering concept is reflected in the form of a multifunctional room structure and a well thought-out use of space in flexibly adaptable modules. Workbenches placed here and there reflect the manufacturing concept and allow production and office areas to merge meaningfully. The pioneering spirit is represented by the overarching themes of digitisation and networking. This includes the integration of digital elements, as well as the distinctive, analogue signage system in CI colours. The latter extends across all units, links the areas into a whole and thereby forges a sense of identity and belonging.

The use of high-quality materials, a modern colour and design language, as well as of digital media, represents the company’s striving for quality and innovation. Light, neutral surfaces and floor coverings contrast with colour accents and create an atmospheric ambience. Green plants and wooden furniture round off the design concept and, in addition to the aesthetic aspect, contribute to a feel-good atmosphere in the interior and a positive work environment. The individual areas are presented with a harmonious colour scheme that reflects the spectrum of the colour canon of orange meets petrol and creates a visual association with the Siemens Healthineers brand.

The result is a contemporary work atmosphere as a response to the complex and diverse needs of users and a new way of working. With the intelligent linking of production and offices, the hybrid spatial concept emphasises the global orientation and corporate philosophy of Siemens Healthineers, which stands for a pioneering spirit, sustainability and inclusion.