It is located a few steps from Central Station, WeWork’s third Milanese building, opened during pandemic, confirming that the demand for temporary and flexible workspaces does not stop, but on the contrary, has seen an acceleration during the health crisis.
As Muhannad Al Salhi, manager of the via Pisani building explains, this solution offers a valid response both to the requests of large companies – especially in times of uncertainty – and to workers who, after having experienced all the hardships of home working, appreciate to collaborate with colleagues, have a coffee together and meet in welcoming, healthy and safe workplace, perhaps with their own dog!
The WeWork at via Pisani 15 offers its members almost 950 workstations on 5915 square meters over nine floors, including three large terraces, very popular for relaxing moments, but also as outdoor offices.
The existing building from the 1970s was redeveloped by the Barreca & La Varra Architects with a focus on sustainability.
The refurbishment included the plant engineering – with choices that make it energy-self-sufficient and aim for LEED Gold certification – and the shell.
A new metric was applied to the glass facades through a movement that reacts to the light and movement perception.The perspective alignment -with an important triple height portico- creates a curtain leading to the Central Station has been enhanced, too.
The porticoed area leads to the elegant reception area, where the person in charge welcomes us with a smile and inviting to wait in the lounge area, located beyond the wooden “portal” that marks the entrance to the first common area where there is the main Community Bar, tables of various sizes to have a meal together with the necessary spacing, bookcases and bench tables on wheels with shared workstations available to coworkers.
Actually, this is the only real coworking area of the entire building while the spaces on the upper floors, configured as open spaces or individual offices, are occupied by companies. WeWork users are for the vast majority large enterprises believing this dynamic and flexible workplace model is the best solution.
The request for new spaces in Milan, in strategic areas from the point of view of business and urban redevelopment, came precisely from the “enterprise sector”. Because more and more companies are choosing not to have a centralized headquarters, but various scattered offices, also to facilitate their employees.
Among the advantages of flexible workspaces, large companies appreciate that the WeWork “member card” allows them to take advantage of a network of approximately 850 offices in 150 cities in 38 different countries around the world.
The interior design, curated by the WeWork Design Team, takes inspiration from the modernist architecture of the 1970s, updated however by the mix of warm and domestic touches and an industrial look with exposed plants and air systems. The bright rooms are enriched on each floor by works of art and break points for a break or an informal meeting over a coffee.
Three terraces are available to members, furnished with sofas, tennis and football table; the one on the fourth floor also has a pantry and a draft beer dispenser.
Consistent with an extremely flexible model in time and space, each of the upper floors of the building provides configurable layouts in various types: in a more traditional way with single offices closed by partitions or space planning functional to activity based working with open space environments more or less large and related support areas (print area, lounge / bar area, phone booth, meeting rooms of various sizes, video-conference room, touch-down workstations and collaborative spaces for teamwork).
The acoustic comfort of the largest open spaces is guaranteed by the application of Caimi Brevetti Snowsound soundproof panels to the ceiling.
Each tenant can define the environment that best matches their organization.
Flexibility is the first keyword of this workplace, immediately followed by what is the second need of companies, Security.
The “heath and safety” that obtained a certification by Bureau Veritas, is in fact a fundamental factor in the quality experience and in people’s perception of wellbeing.
Confirming Wellbeing of people, in the broadest sense, is in fact the third key element in the vision of this workplace. From a perspective of health, environmental comfort and also engagement.
Because the main WeWork desire is to offer members environments that can make people feel happier and part of a whole.
