The Leader - March/April 2009 - (Page 31) HEADQUARTERS THAT SERVE AND SELL: CREATING COMPANY IDENTITY AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH SITE DESIGN HEADQUARTERS THAT SERVE AND SELL: CREATING COMPANY IDENTITY AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH SITE DESIGN a huge campus, fast-growing Google soon moved in in part because the space reflected its own creative culture – which includes the official motto, Do No Evil. Google virtually gutted the building interiors to reformat the open, collaborative design to be even more supportive of employee productivity but the land planning was largely untouched. The campus’ original design created external spaces that flowed seamlessly from the buildings, with large and small green spaces, nooks and gathering areas functioning as integral parts of the workplace. Google has added and extended the concepts – for example, whimsical pink flamingos found their way onto the site, and a new array of solar panels cover the parking lot to power the building’s energy needs. A workplace study commissioned by the California Energy Commission found 7 percent to 12 percent higher productivity among workers with green and daylit views over control groups. dards, as well as its respect and commitment to social and environmental responsibility. Conceived before LEED accreditation, the project included the first green roof envisioned and built by a private corporation in Taipei. Garden spaces, a series of stepped fountains and a light well opening into a courtyard and cafeteria bring natural systems in direct connection to employees and visitors. These somewhat intangible benefits are complemented by the facility’s tangible green attributes recorded in 2007: equivalent reduction in emissions by around 675 tons of CO2, a savings of approximately 2.3 million KWH of electricity per year and conservation of 14,000 tons of water through water conservation and recovery measures. Electronic Arts: HQ Game-Scape Effective site planning anticipates needs that serve the core business as well. Electronic Arts, a video-game firm, wanted a headquarters campus with both programmable and flexible spaces to allow employees ample opportunities for mixing, sharing ideas and gamesmanship. At other times, the facility had to accommodate investor/analyst meetings, gubernatorial visits and multi-milliondollar product-launches. EA’s headquarters has a park-like open space which at times seems underutilized, until a large gathering is required. Reflecting the company’s game and entertainment culture, new product-launches are often held there. The recent roll-out of a new iteration of its successful Madden Football game transformed the greenspace into the perfect business venue as throngs of employees, media, football players and fans created an atmosphere better than any interior space could accomplish. ditional Chinese culture and to its success in modern digital technology. Embraced by mountains and lying alongside the river, the building works in tandem with architecture and environment. The building, a 25-story structure atop outstretched podium levels, is shaped like palm-to-palm hands pointing to the sky symbolizing Lite-On’s business philosophy of devotion to high stanSGI/Google Headquarters Campus The Irvine Company: The Outdoor Meeting is In One of the keys to the success of Silicon Valley is the collaborative nature of ideasharing, in which company executives talk easily with engineers, venture capitalists brainstorm on the back of napkins, and people of all walks mingle and share thoughts. The pleasant year-round weather is one attraction Lite-On: A Green Campus as Corporate Identity In Taiwan, global technology firm Lite-On wanted its new corporate campus to reflect the significance of technology, culture, and the environment in respect to its roots in tra- 2 0 0 9 THE LE ADE R 31 MARCH / APRIL
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