Workspaces of the future appear in Oerlikon
ETH Zurich is growing. To make more space for teaching, research and knowledge and technology transfer on campus, the Executive Board domains of Infrastructure and Personnel Development and Leadership moved to the Octavo building in Oerlikon this month. In this building near the railway station, employees work in open multi-space office premises that facilitate new forms of collaboration.
It's a strategically important step in order to counteract the shortage of space on the two campuses. These sought-after areas will be made available chiefly for the core tasks of teaching, research and knowledge transfer. The Executive Board decided back in mid-2018 to rent the Octavo building, and thus to shift some of the central bodies away from the two campuses in the centre and at Hönggerberg to the peripheral location of Oerlikon.
More than just a move
A total of about 550 employees of the two Executive Board domains moved into their new workspaces this November. But the Octavo project is more than just a move. It's an opportunity to explore different dimensions of new working environments. For the first time, two Executive Board members are moving into premises away from the main building. In addition, new office and furnishing concepts are being tested. They were developed together with the organisational units in a participatory process and will provide insights for future projects. The building stands out thanks to its open multi-space office landscape with differently designed areas that can each be used depending on requirements, such as desk-sharing areas, communication zones for lively exchanges and think-tanks for quiet work or undisturbed telephone calls. If, for example, an employee is preparing for an upcoming virtual meeting, they can move from the open space to a think-tank provided with doors in order not to disturb their colleagues. If the meeting results in a need for dialogue with colleagues who are present, appropriately designed seating areas are available, with no need to book a meeting room. Flexible and efficient workspace models of this type, in particular with open space and desk sharing, will become more common at ETH in the future. Valuable experience can be gained at Octavo in this regard.
“We are already using the insights gained from Project Octavo for our next projects, including in teaching and research. If something works, we will keep doing it. If something does not work, we evaluate and improve it.”Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure
Gallery (pictures: ETH Zurich / Tom Kawara)
New forms of collaboration
It is the remit of the two Executive Board domains to provide infrastructure and services for teaching, research and knowledge and technology transfer. Increasingly often, these tasks can be achieved only through interdisciplinary, flexible teams. Cross-departmental collaboration and the involvement of the academy are needed. The spatial proximity of the organisational units at Octavo and the flexible infrastructure are intended to support this process in order to offer the most efficient and effective service.
ETH Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership Julia Dannath is particularly pleased with the open office space and the many new opportunities to make contacts.
“We have all become familiar with new ways of working and different forms of collaboration in the past months. I look forward to exploring these further with ETH members inside and outside Octavo, and to establishing them in our daily work.”Julia Dannath, Vice President for Personnel Development and Leadership
A place to come together
Like most ETH members, the majority of employees at Octavo are currently working from home due to the pandemic. As soon as the situation allows, however, the building will become a meeting place. Ideally located between the two campuses of Hönggerberg and Zentrum, Octavo welcomes all ETH members. Visitors will be able to work in co-working zones before or after meetings, or eat in the public staff restaurant, which opens its doors next year.