Hion Digital’s change of premises focused on ease of everyday life and communality
The new premises of the software company Hion Digital in the centre of Tampere were designed with the company’s values and people in mind. “We are the sum of our employees, and we especially wanted to invest in spaces that support the office’s sense of community. We also wanted our new premises to reflect Hion Digital’s high level of professionalism, and that we could be proud to invite customers to our office,” says Jenni Fredriksson-Bass, Chief People Officer at Hion Digital.
When arriving at the Hion office lounge, the first thing you notice is the large and elegant wine-red three-piece suite, which invites you to have some coffee with your colleagues. Hion employees gather in a lounge painted in a timelessly elegant beige and chat at a large table. The quiet working space, decorated in light colours, has a calm atmosphere and wall-sized windows to provide plenty of natural light.
We want our premises to enable employees to be inspired and implement their ideas
Hion Digital’s culture is based on open, curious and uncomplicated operations. Although location-independent work is commonplace in IT companies, the need for joint brainstorming and grouping is to be supported. One of Hion Digital’s values is inspiring, and the company’s premises should enable employees to be inspired and ideas to be implemented, as well as exude the warmth of the company culture.
The spaces are designed to serve different employees and different forms of work. The functionality and appearance of the furniture have been invested in, not forgetting ergonomics. Diversity has been taken into account in the design of the premises: they must also be suitable for, for example, visually impaired and easily disturbed employees.
“Among other things, we have two spaces dedicated to quiet work where we do not accept calls in order to ensure peace at work. In addition, there are telephone booths and a lounge area where you can relax with your colleagues,” Jenni Fredriksson-Bass says.
Premises reflect a company’s professionalism and values
High-quality premises that support the company’s operations enable everyday encounters and smooth cooperation with customers.
“The office is the business card of the company. Hion Digital sells expert services, and the high level of expertise must be reflected in our premises. We wanted our new premises to reflect our level of professionalism, and that we could be proud to invite customers to our office,” says Fredriksson-Bass.
Fredriksson-Bass mentions that amid the moving arrangements of the old office and the planning of the new office, it has been gratifying that the business premises process has proceeded almost by itself.
“We looked for a stable and reliable partner, and the cooperation with Sponda has been very professional and clear. Deadlines have been well known, and this has allowed me to schedule my own work and focus on, for example, choosing the materials for the new office. The process of changing premises always takes time, so it has been good not to have had to get your hands dirty too much,” Fredriksson-Bass says.
The process of changing business premises always takes time, so it has been good that we haven’t had to get our hands dirty too much!
Central location is essential for a business operating in two cities
The Tulli Business Park office is located in the heart of Tampere, next to the railway station and services. Hion Digital also has an office in Helsinki, and smooth movement between the two cities was an important criterion when choosing the new premises.
“It is important for us to have public transport access to the office. You can quickly reach the office on foot from the railway station, and there is also a tram stop in the immediate vicinity. We encourage our staff to use public transport and exercise. We offer a bike benefit to our employees, which is why it was important that our new premises provide safe bicycle parking,” says Fredriksson-Bass.
Functional and versatile services played a significant role in the choice of premises. Tulli Business Park offers, among other things, lobby and restaurant services, meeting and sauna facilities, and a gym.
“We sought ease of everyday life in our new premises. At Hion, we are used to doing a lot ourselves, but now we needed services to make the working day smoother and to free up more time for each employee’s core tasks. For example, lobby services and the option to rent conference rooms and saunas from the same building brings a little extra and ease to everyday life. It’s also a boon that our old office was just 50 metres away – the employees’ commute remains practically the same,”Fredriksson-Bass smiles.
Sustainability is an important criterion in the choice of premises
Hion Digital is committed to promoting more sustainable digitalisation in all its operations, and sustainable development must also be realised in business premises solutions. Tulli Business Park is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified property that uses green electricity. The certification requires energy efficiency and measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas production.
“Sustainability is an important, cross-cutting value for us, and when choosing our new premises, environmental friendliness was an important criterion. With Sponda, we can be environmentally sustainable, which is supported by, among other things, the property’s LEED eco-certification,” says Fredriksson-Bass.
It pays to listen to your people during the premises process
Hion Digital’s personnel were encouraged to participate in the design process of the new office, and their contributions can be seen in the final result. According to Fredriksson-Bass, it is important to listen to employees’ work-related needs with a sensitive ear, not forgetting the sense of community.
“We are the sum of our employees, and we wanted to invest in making smooth working possible, and also in spaces that support the office’s sense of community. We provide employee breakfast once a month in the lounge, and our employees have hosted a Halloween movie night and a Champion’s League watch party at the office, among other things. We also want to make it possible for the staff to organise private parties at the office. We allow family gatherings and children’s birthdays, or even a cocktail parties for anniversaries, as long as you clean up after yourself,” says Fredriksson-Bass with a chuckle.
