Creatively fostering workplace connection

Creatively fostering workplace connection HQ design features bottom-to-top collaborative programming woven amid private workspaces by

Victor Vizgaitis |

April 2020

Around the globe, businesses seek to attract top talent

class headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts – a

in efforts to fuel the growth of their company. In the 21st

headquarters that would retain and attract a talented

century, this has proved a great challenge as employee

workforce.

preferences have changed with regard to office culture, work/life balance, and workplace environment. But one thing remains true: A physical workplace speaks volumes about the brand of a business and can help or hinder that business when it’s time to recruit, retain, and recharge its employees while striving to boost productivity.

At the onset of the project, Akamai came to us with the challenge of fostering a sense of connection across a fragmented local real estate portfolio. It wanted its new office to reflect the company culture, showcase its brand, and address the wishes of employees in a meaningful and very “Akamai” way – one that spoke to their values as a

Sasaki is an international design firm that has worked on

humble yet innovative company. We tailored our approach

planning and built projects across the globe, from urban

and design to implement those objectives.

planning and development to embassy and educational institution design. Sasaki was hired by international technology company Akamai to develop a world-

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Working with Sasaki, Akamai generated a vision statement for the project: to connect the world, we must first connect to each other. Moving from six different buildings located

THE LEADER | Creatively fostering WORKPLACE connection

throughout the bustling Kendall Square community in Cambridge allowed Akamai to consolidate employees to a new headquarters under one roof, aiming to improve both culture and productivity.

But with that move came change, and with change came concern around a new office environment. During an era when many debate the merits and downfalls of the open-office strategy, Sasaki redefined the concept by designing smaller, more intimate “neighborhood” areas within the larger floorplate to address the apprehension of employees as it also worked to improve the efficiency of the company.

Striking the right balance creatively Every detail of Akamai’s new headquarters was methodically planned by Sasaki to meet the project’s goals and vision statement. Akamai leaders understood the new headquarters needed to provide quiet workspaces for individual data analysis and coding work, alongside spaces encouraging collaboration across account teams. Sasaki actualized that mandate and struck the perfect balance between individual and group work spaces by developing a mile-long stretch of centralized, collaborative spaces away from individuals’ desks.

Dubbed the “Aka-mile” for its length, the concept is a vertical, continuous path of programmed spaces throughout Akamai’s headquarters. It begins at the street-level lobby and ends with dining on the 19th floor. Sprinkled throughout is a plethora of different communal programs like game rooms, libraries, and cafes, as well as more insular places where employees can break away from

and communicate across floors.

While the Aka-mile is used as a connector, it also serves as a wayfinding and behavioral tool. Beginning on the groundfloor lobby level, with Akamai’s primary branding color of orange integrated into the palette, each floor takes on a distinct color in the spectrum, from orange at the base to blue, Akamai’s second branding color, at the top.

Though each floor maintains a specific color palette throughout, colors are more vibrant within the Aka-mile, contrasting with the more subdued tones in individual work areas. This palette shift is meant to be a behavioral signal for employees seeking to either collaborate or engage in more focused activity.

The building is tailored to Akamai’s culture, not the latest trend. The Aka-mile dovetails nicely with the company’s goal of creating an ideological and innovative environment.

Everyone here has continuous access to tools for success in a world-class facility. Most important, employees now have choice and variety when looking for a place to be collaborative or to do some quiet, focused work.

their desks for a change in scenery without a disruption in

The length of the Aka-mile provides employees with

focus. Through this variety and choice, paired with multiple

various locations to take a break, in dining areas, cafes,

interconnecting stairs, the Aka-mile increases interactions

game rooms, libraries, or ample collaborative workspaces

by encouraging employees to walk throughout the building

and high-tech conference rooms that are housed along

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THE LEADER | Creatively fostering WORKPLACE connection

the path. Each unique “program” offers a destination to

the use of the elevators, boosting their wellness and

draw employees away from the comfort of their desks

their energy. Through its leadership and commitment to

and toward a workspace that encourages them to engage

employee health and wellness, Akamai is working toward

with each other, and that fosters an environment ripe for

achieving a high level of WELL Building certification.

innovation and inclusion. For example, the cafeteria is on

Through the leading tool to advance the health and wellness

the top floor, a prominent location often reserved for C-Suite

of building occupants, the WELL Building Standard, Akamai

executives and corner offices. Instead, locating dining on

has pursued credits that support employee comfort and

the top floor signifies Akamai’s commitment to connectivity,

productivity through enhanced ergonomics, acoustics,

workplace culture, and inclusion, creating a democratic

lighting and thermal comfort. Support of employee fitness

space everyone in the company can enjoy. It also serves

and nutrition are also key factors addressed.

as a reminder of Akamai’s history, as the space overlooks Cambridge, Boston, and MIT, where founders Danny Lewin and Dr. Tom Leighton began the company.

Other goals met on the ‘mile’ The thread of technology also runs through this collaborative space of the new headquarters, which, in addition to serving as a home for the Cambridge-based community also supports the broader global Akamai workforce around the world. State-of-the-art conferencing systems in every room enable remote workers and satellite teams to partake in the day-to-day collaborative activities within the new headquarters to minimize the pitfalls created by physical distance. Digital whiteboards ensure content can be shared through the video-conference system the same as it is in the room. High-tech cameras and dual monitor setups keep everyone visible through the screen and at the table. Frictionless, one-touch technology reduces hours spent setting up for meetings and increases

The design of the Aka-mile, paired with creation of quiet neighborhoods for team and individual work, speaks to the values of a company known for leading at the cutting edge of the tech industry and recognized for a distinctive culture of transparency and honesty. Akamai is committed to the employee experience as a cornerstone of its business operations and this headquarters design process was every bit in keeping with Akamai’s value system. All of the design touches – from the space programming to the colors to the names of conference rooms – were enhanced through an intensive employee-engagement process, garnering feedback from the entire workforce and giving Sasaki the opportunity to lead a cohesive communication strategy.

Ultimately, the new headquarters design was a fully inclusive team effort, from design to real estate and to the voice of the people of Akamai.

Akamai’s new Kendall Square headquarters officially opened its doors on November 1, 2019.

time spent collaborating and communicating ideas.

These thoughtful touches add up to an overall seamless experience that extends beyond the walls of the building and underscores Akamai’s employee-connectivity aims.

The Aka-mile also serves as a physical reminder of the importance of employee health and wellness. Twelve new feature stairs connect the many floors, encouraging

Victor Vizgaitis, AIA, LEED AP, is principal, architect and interior designer at Sasaki.

Akamai’s employees to move about the building without

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THE LEADER | Creatively fostering WORKPLACE connection