Pfizer, Building 260, Workplace of the Future

the story

Building 260, a 200,000 SF traditional office environment on the Pfizer Groton campus, was converted to a culture changing, open, flexible environment where space is unassigned and allocated by utilization. Work processes were redefined to give control to colleagues, providing choices about where and how they work and when they choose to be on site. The results promote teamwork and collaboration, accommodate diverse work styles and encourage results oriented performance.

at-a-glance

TYPE:

Renovation

SERVICES:

Architecture

Interior Design

Programming & Planning

LOCATION:

Groton, CT

STATUS:

Completed 2011

SIZE:

200,000 SF

Pfizer needed to consolidate a 761,000 SF New London property comprised of 3 six-story tower buildings onto their Groton campus without adding new buildings or temporary facilities. The goal was to reduce corporate costs and footprint by 30% while increasing knowledge worker productivity.

Process

A significant Change Management process helped colleagues convert to this new environment. The process consisted of informational meetings, workshops and feedback sessions; newsletters, online support, exhibit boards, and furniture vignettes. A 7,500 SF pilot space was built to test design, branding, and furniture standards and to allow end users to experience the future workplace by utilizing the space for reserved periods of time, over several days.

Design

The building is comprised of two floors at 100,000 SF each. The existing cellular office layout of the infrastructure was near maximum capacity and offered minimal natural light and wayfinding challenges. Design solutions for the new flex environment include: Visual contact to exterior and light penetration; Lower panel heights to encourage visual access, promote communication; Integration of collaborative technology; Design areas for private conversations for individual and small group; Variety of formal and informal collaborative opportunities; Incorporate branding throughout the environment; Consolidation of personal storage to a single mobile unit; Neighborhoods not owned by any single business unit.

Floor Plan Before

First Floor Plan After :

The building structure presented natural breaks in the overall floor plate identified as zones. The design clusters formal conference rooms in the core along with other hard wall program components. Open work settings are focused along the perimeter to take full advantage of daylight and views. Informal collaborative areas are developed along the building concourse, naturally lit by skylights, offering a variety of settings including a café on the south side of both floors.

Second Floor Plan After :

Neighborhoods or hubs are assigned for each of the business units occupying the building. The hubs include any specialty requirements for the business units such as files, reference materials and areas for administrative staff (the only colleagues with assigned space in the building). Parking spaces for mobile file pedestals, to be assigned to each colleague, were planned to park along the perimeter. The overall design accommodates 1598 staff in 1191 individual work settings, provides 666 informal collaborative seats and 676 formal collaborative seats for a total of 2450 choices in work settings.

This project has completely transformed Pfizer’s workplace environment to become leaner, more competitive, and productive to better position Pfizer to retain and attract its workforce.

Gary Annino

Director, Global Operations – Facility Solutions, Pfizer

AIA Connecticut Business
Design Award Winner

CT Real Estate Exchange
Blue Ribbon Award Winner
Best Interior Design

Sustainable Features: Perimeter windows (existing) and new fenestration system on the south side of the building allow daylight into collaborative space. Connection stairs, railings, toilet rooms and main circulation ceilings as well as some furnishings were reused. New workstations are Greenguard Certified. Finish materials have recycled content or can be reclaimed and are produced within sustainable facilities. Energy-efficient flourescent light fixtures and occupancy sensors are used throughout.

Pfizer, Building 260

the story

at-a-glance

Process

Design

Project Contacts