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KEYTRADE BANK
Brussels
This project aimed to create a modern and flexible workspace for Keytrade’s rapidly growing team. Following the OFFICE in MOTION philosophy, Meraki focused on identifying key interactions between the different energies in the building to foster, support and encourage teamwork and synergies between teams. The objective was to achieve this while, emphasising comfort and efficiency in a sustainable manner.
Taking a practical approach to the project, Meraki designed a workspace that adapts to Keytrade’s evolving needs. The goal was to address the current requirements of the growing team while laying the foundation for future growth and collaboration.
700 m2
Think, Design & Build
What Keytrade has to say!
Katrien Berghs, HR Director @ Keytrade Bank
When a working environment no longer meets needs, you can move to a new location or tackle the office layout. Meraki applied its Office in Motion concept to Keytrade Bank’s headquarters. This allowed the team to continue working there, but in much better conditions.
An office layout tailored to a new working method
More space, more comfort and more functionalities: these were our priorities for the headquarters. “The bank introduced an agile way of working about four years ago and we wanted to evolve towards more activity-based working,” says Katrien.
“Multidisciplinary teams go looking for solutions together within our organisation. That requires regular meetings (stand-ups, reviews, planning, etc). So you need an adapted working environment for that.” At the time of the study, almost everyone at Keytrade Bank was still working full-time in the office. An external partner mapped the needs and looked at possible alternatives (such as moving). In the end, Keytrade Bank chose to stay, but with expanded space and better office layout.
Enthusiastic and professional
“Many internal change projects were already running. Moving on top of that would put too much of a burden on the teams. So we decided to rent an additional 700 m2 of space in the same building.” Keytrade Bank spoke to about four parties to develop a proposal for the new office layout. That shortlist included names of relations with positive experiences. Three of the potential partners submitted bids.
“We made a choice based on our predefined criteria. Meraki’s Office in Motion proposal stood out, but certainly also their way of working. They are very communicative, respond quickly, actively listen to our comments and take them into account. A fine combination of enthusiasm and professionalism that convinced us. Meraki also quickly saw where improvement suggestions were still possible in the process, which we had not seen ourselves initially.”
A future-proof office layout
What also caught Katrien’s eye: Meraki insisted on conducting another needs analysis among internal stakeholders/ “That turned out to be a wise move. It took some time initially, but quickly brought us closer to our ultimate goal. Remember, at that time, COVID-19 was racing through the world and teleworking was rapidly taking hold. That changed our view of the future and how we looked at work organisation at headquarters.”
Based on the updated analysis, Meraki was able to propose a new office layout, grafted onto the real needs of today and tomorrow. The reactions to the first adjustments already sound particularly enthusiastic. The more limited but comfortable open spaces, the meeting rooms and concentration bubbles, the multifunctional space (lounge, bar, kitchen, coffee corners), the well thought-out walking routes… “You can already clearly see that people are looking for the rooms to meet and work together.”
“So Meraki has succeeded perfectly!”
