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interior design, accenture, new location viennastock exchange, vienna - design 1999-2000
With its new location in Vienna, Accenture, the international market leader in consulting, has taken a big step towards a novel office concept. Leslie Bergmann one of the partners of the corporation refers to the new office as "maybe the most interesting and innovative office we have in the firm".
Accenture's new office is located in the heart of Vienna. Situated in a historical building on the Ringstrasse, the available space was extremely interesting but very demanding in terms of a modern workplace concept. Various architectural modifications have given rise to an enhanced sense of space. As a result, a new overall appearance has been created without destroying the historical substance of the building. The main hall is extended through different new views and light elements. These light elements suggest an intuitive openness and change the character of the room drastically. Glass panels and mirrors reflect and expand the surrounding spaces. An “artificial landscape” enhances, through a combination of mirrors and plants, the windowless offices: a highly diffusive light quality generates the perception of openness; light ceilings and indirect light substitute for the missing daylight in those zones without natural light. A daylight simulation in the main hall allows for a stimulating work environment. The light sources are individually controllable and allow for different work situations.
The main hall serves as an interface and communication point for all employees. A “multimedia center”, freely accessible for all managers and consultants, offers state-of-the-art technology for e-business. There is also a zone for special events, exhibitions or lectures within this central area with room for up to 70 people, and special acoustical improvements ensure that the surrounding offices are not disturbed. Flexibility and mobility are the major themes running through the new workplace concept, which also provides for the opportunity to rent certain rooms or working space for specified periods of time. The infrastructure facilitates essential concepts of both storage and meeting space. Some work areas have been specifically designed for short-term use and are equipped with phone booths and a touch-down area. The requirements of a consulting company had to be well thought out. All the workstations are equipped with connections to allow employees access to worldwide information from Andersen Consulting (‘paperless’ office). Visual displays relay current information to employees - infotainment as a form of communication. An art concept made up of different elements creates a special relationship in terms of the Austrian location. The main feature, the “art stripe”, is a 2.5 x 40 m screen for temporary art exhibitions. Every six months an artist is commissioned to come up with a piece of artwork specially designed for this Accenture location. The second feature of the art concept is the so called “delicious display“: this is basically a specially designed vending machine offering local Austrian snacks and drinks, thus presenting a typically Austrian flavour to international visitors.
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