Due to dynamic development, Campus Warsaw has changed its current office location within the complex of Centrum Praskie Koneser located at Ząbkowska Street in Old Praga District. The new office provides nearly 2,500 sq. m. of modern office space, created for starting and developing business operations in an environment allowing free exchange of knowledge, information and inspiration under the watchful eye of the world’s largest technology company. The project was carried out in cooperation with the real estate advisory agency CBRE (project management), Massive Design (architectural project/design), Dyskret (fit-out/construction works) and Arup (building services design).
The Google Campus initiative is currently located in 6 cities worldwide: Warsaw, London, Madrid, Tel Aviv, Seoul, Sao Paulo. This unique in the CEE region type of project assumes the creation of a modern entrepreneurship incubator supporting the dynamically developing business startups. Campus Warsaw consists of 3 floors, which combine different types of workplaces – coworking office space, social zones, meeting rooms, but also quiet areas created for people needing space to work in isolation. The project is based on the idea of agile type of office, therefore, besides 140 traditional desks, the premises also provide couches, comfortable armchairs, as well as tables in the cafeteria/event area, where 180 people may work at the same time.
From the preparation of the initial space plan, to the conceptual design and preparation of the working drawings, through to project supervision, for Campus Warsaw, Massive Design created an inspiring and nurturing informal space for networking as well as a more formal collaborative work environment in the fully renovated historic building.
Places such as Campus Warsaw contribute to the development of the Polish innovative economy and the worldwide promotion of innovative technology solutions. These types of coworking projects provide space for creativity, stimulate bold ideas and give the opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the leading local and global companies. The Polish economy is strong and Warsaw with its big business potential is an obvious first choice location for these types of projects. Praga is an ideal place for locating a startup business, which for obvious reasons needs efficient cost optimization.
Jonathan Steer, Executive Director, CBRE
Jonathan Steer - LinkedIn
Przemyslaw “Mac” Stopa, founder and president, Massive Design: “The greatest challenge of the Campus Warsaw project was determining how best to bring the contemporary campus function to an historic 19th century brick building - a former vodka factory. We added a glazed roof, custom windows, an elevator and staircases. We designed a flexible open space work environment, enriched with both formal and informal spaces. This entailed designing different collaboration zones: a cafeteria/event area accommodating 180 people; and auditorium for accommodating 200 people; a special training room for up to 40 people; as well as designing several co-working areas, meeting rooms, phone booths, etc. Also challenging was creatively combining new modern materials with the complex renovation works of the existing building and existing finishes and fixtures from the former vodka factory. We are proud to say Massive Design has designed a unique and inspiring space, providing great support for the creative minds working on the next startups at Campus Warsaw.”
Dyskret served as the General Contractor of fit-out works in the Campus Warsaw project. Within the investment execution scope, Dyskret carried out comprehensive construction and installation works as well as finishing and furnishing of the facility.
Mariusz Gawędziński, Project Manager, Dyskret „Campus Warsaw is a unique place. It combines a perfectly designed space in the revitalized building of an old factory with unique surroundings and climate of Praga, a district of Warsaw. The Campus gives young people the opportunity to work and develop by offering them access to the most advanced technologies. It is a place of inspiration promoting creativity and, at the same time, ensuring comfort of work. For us, as the General Contractor, the implementation of the Campus space fit-out represented a very big challenge, and meeting the expectations of such a demanding client as Google was, in turn, a great satisfaction.”
Arup was acting on the project as Google’s consultant, providing the building services design for this unique scheme. The project goals were to create flexible, adaptive to changes, comfortable and user-friendly office areas and mechanical, electrical and public health services were designed to meet these targets. We delivered MEP documentation at all stages, from concept design, through the design development stage, up to the execution design. Moreover, we were supervising the works on site and were supporting the Client during handover and commissioning stages.
Piotr Balas, Lead Engineer and Project Manager, Arup: “As a design team we strongly believe that our work has an impact on the quality of our daily life. Together with the Client and Architects, since the very beginning of the Campus Warsaw project we tried to do our best to shape a better quality office space. Space that drives people to create new and innovative visions that maybe one day will change the world we live in. I think this is the one way our project may possibly affect people’s life in the future. The other one, more tangible and measurable even now, is the building itself. When you realize how this project changes site and the neighbourhood you know it is worth any effort to be a part of the design team that really creates a better world around us. It does not matter for us if this is a fit-out or a macro scale. We believe a value added design is what makes us and this building special.”
Since the opening of Campus Warsaw in November 2015, 600 events were organized for more than 21,000 people, and Google employees carried out mentoring sessions of 120 hours for startup businesses. According to Google research, startup businesses gathered in Campus Warsaw have created more than 621 work places and have gathered funds exceeding PLN 22.6 million. Registration in Campus is free of charge, and its members have limitless access to workshops and meetings organized by Google.
