Gensler delivers an immersive, adaptable office for Munich tech company

Photography: Florian Holzherr

Following a previous collaboration on its New York HQ, Munich-founded tech company Celonis re-approached Gensler to overhaul its Executive Briefing Centre in the Bavarian capital. The global design and architecture firm were presented with a brief centred around transparency, both in terms of customer experience but also the process of data mining itself, which Celonis conducts to reveal key information to its clients. Gensler therefore designed a workplace scheme that was not only collaborative and customer-centric, but also took the concept of transparency quite literally: starting by removing internal walls to reveal the building’s structural elements.

An understated material palette of concrete, rubber and cork therefore sets the tone for the concept, which draws from the brand’s black and white branding to create a simple colour scheme. Despite this neutral palette, Gensler brings a touch of drama to the workspace with a central feature staircase that connects the six floors (three of which are new additions, expanding the office floorplate for a growing workforce). Pursuing LEED Gold standards of sustainability, Gensler took a low intervention, high impact approach to the project, reusing existing structures and configurations where possible; for instance, the staircase is comprised of an existing cladding product, adapted to create a custom design feature of open cell grid-work across the top two floors of the building.

In pursuit of a more collaborative workspace for Celonis’ employees (while keeping intervention to a minimum), the floorplate combines old and new features: original office configurations are joined by ‘incubator spaces’, interactive breakout zones where both customers and employees can meet, brainstorm and collaborate. Here, freestanding furniture such as plush stools, armchairs and Magis Spun rotating chairs are gathered around presentation screens and corkboards, while under the stairs, concealed booth seating offers employees a quiet space for focused work away from the confines of their desk.

These dynamic shared spaces sit alongside more traditional workplace offerings, including a spacious conference room. A bright coworking space is furnished with upholstered booth seating, decorated with the same neutral palette but brightened with pops of green provided by a selection of strategically placed houseplants.