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Sanoma is currently undergoing a significant renovation project with a focus on enhancing the employee experience. The main themes of the project are equality, well-being, and supporting diverse work styles. As part of the project, the space in Sanomatalo, located in the heart of Helsinki, is being updated to align with the new working models already partially adopted. It is also recognized that office work will continue to evolve, and the goal is to ensure that the space will support media professionals’ everyday work in the future.
The success of the workplace transformation is ensured by understanding the symbolic and emotional significance of the space for their users, as well as identifying the functional factors crucial to their work. It’s essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the company’s operations. The technical success of the space design is the finishing touch, built upon a great deal of unseen work behind the scenes.
Sanoma’s workplace transformation is an iterative process, with the final solution being developed in phases. The three floors of new space completed thus far represent the first phase of the project, which will provide experience and insights to guide the next steps.
In the first phase of the renovation, the workspace for Ilta-Sanomat and Nelonen Media were renewed, and a shared coworking space was created on the top floor of Sanomatalo.
The new space includes significantly more areas designed to support hybrid working, as well as drop-in spaces. There was a clear desire to create spaces that foster collaboration, and considerable effort was invested in equipping communal areas. The visual design was made unified and inviting. Feedback has highlighted the balanced visual experience, with special praise for the attention to detail and sustainability, such as the reuse of old furniture.
”The coworking floor, in particular, has been received incredibly well. It’s now the best spot in the building with great views open to everyone, and the spaces are being used very actively!”
– Hanna Johde, Sanoma, Director, Communications & Culture
To develop a comprehensive understanding, the project’s definition and ideation phases were conducted in collaboration with various staff groups across the company. The strategic direction was set early on in leadership workshops, followed by a deep dive into the future outlooks of different business units. Insights into practical work and the significance of the office for well-being and community were co-created with the staff. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, service design workshops conducted entirely online were well-received, and the collaborative efforts exceeded expectations.
”Involving the staff was a given from the start. A transformation like this cannot be imposed from the top down; it has to be done together with the people. The team embraced the process and constructively contributed to creating something new.”
– Kari Hintikka, Sanoma, kiinteistöjohtaja
The new facilities are flexible and easily adaptable, also for future changes. This flexibility is supported by furniture and structural solutions, as well as the adaptable work models adopted during the project. Employee-centricity is a core value at Sanoma, and the strong feedback from staff in favor of multi-location work has been taken into account.
Experiences are now being collected for the further planning. The phased approach to the project allows the best findings to be used in the next phases. It is therefore too early to assess what works best and what needs to be done differently. In future phases, the role of technology will probably become even more important.
”The key to a successful outcome was the iterative approach and inclusive design. The pandemic-induced pause in the middle of the project helped us to gain perspective, and it’s been wonderful to see how well the new office spaces have been received.”
– Kari Hintikka, Sanoma, kiinteistöjohtaja
