Today we visited the Munich branch of the Steelcase company, originally based in Grand Rapids MI. This particular facility was named the Steelcase Learning + Innovation Center, and upon arrival, seemed like an unassuming business place. However, once you entered you immediately knew this was not the case. Instead of having a traditional front desk and reception area, we were greeted with lounge chairs, unconventional furniture and even samples of their products.
Klaus Pronaf was our guide throughout the facility and we were immediately aware that Steelcase was unlike any other. In addition to having three separate buildings, each floor was specifically designed to suit the needs of the business, curated after years of analysis. We were taken on a tour through the cafe floor, where they have an in-house barista and refreshment station, the leadership floor that reversed the idea of traditional hierarchy by having the managers in an accessible and practical place, 3 floors of dynamic work stations and a top floor with plenty of seating for “town hall” discussions and creative exploration.
What immediately caught my eye was just how far they strayed from the traditional, conservative workplace setup. On one floor, I noticed that instead of a desk someone had a couch, a tv screen and a low table with their laptop on it. It’s obvious that Steelcase recognizes that the world is changing and so are people and the one-size-fits-all mentality that has been assumed all these years is no longer producing the results they want. I was also impressed by how they integrated technology into the workplace with the use of consoles outside of meeting rooms that were connected to the building’s server, telling people which rooms were occupied and or reserved and by who.
Overall, I really enjoyed our visit to Steelcase. After seeing and understanding how their facility works, I know why Steelcase is as successful as it is today. By not sticking to the status quo and allowing the core beliefs of the company to guide their direction, Steelcase is a pinnacle of innovation and I only hope that one day I have a business that runs so well.