Groton, CT – SLAM recently completed a 200,000 sf project at Pfizer’s Groton site that has helped them to completely change their workplace environment to become leaner, more competitive, more productive and better positioned to attract the new workforce of the future. The mandate to reduce corporate costs and footprint was counterbalanced with the need to increase knowledge worker productivity. Pfizer’s goal was to reduce its footprint by 30 percent and convert to a new workplace design and standards that include new policies on unassigned workstations. Pfizer needed to redefine work, give control to colleagues by providing choices about where and how they work when they chose to be on-site, and promote a cultural change in the workforce to a flex work style.
SLAM worked with Pfizer to help them better understand the profile of knowledge workers and the impact on space planning. Behavior benchmarks and the amount of time and types of activities knowledge workers are typically engaged in during the course of the day were analyzed. How knowledge workers learn and share information and the types of spaces required to support knowledge worker productivity were also examined.
The overall process included extensive internal communication structures, including informational meetings and feedback sessions, newsletters, move website, exhibit boards, furniture vignettes and various workshops ranging from technology integration to etiquette training for working in the new space. A 7,000 sf pilot space provided colleagues the opportunity to view and experience the alternative work settings and choices available in a flex work environment. Systems, including raised flooring, typical space types and furnishing were mocked up, reviewed and adjusted as appropriate in response to colleague feedback.
SLAM’s design team that was led by Principal Workplace Designer Terri Frink, IIDA and Senior Workplace Designer Monika Avery, IIDA, LEED considered their partnership with Pfizer key to the project’s success. “We partnered with Pfizer to create an environment that promotes greater teamwork and collaboration, accommodates diverse workstyles and encourages results orientated performance.” The Pfizer B260 project now successfully serves as a 200,000 sf flagship project for the new culture that has provided the company with a venue to promote face-to-face collaboration, and build culture and personal networks; aligning work settings with the most productive work activities that will provide the greatest return on investment. The success of the project was recently noted by Pfizer’s PDM Group Lead who noted “I have witnessed amazing teamwork and collaboration… Issues being identified, discussed and resolved within an hour without an email being sent…The open plan environment plays a huge role in this team’s success and I get to see my team and peers on a regular basis.”
An additional beneficial outcome of the new design of the space is that is has had a large impact reducing Pfizer’s carbon emissions and energy use. This was accomplished through the use of natural light that is provided to every workspace and their ability to save on printing paper and other resources by supporting digital storage.