Company culture, meaning the shared set of values, behaviors, attitudes, and standards that define how an organization operates and interacts, is becoming more and more relevant, especially for the Gen Z: working for a good salary is not enough. Gen Z chooses based on benefits and the ‘general vibe’ of the company. So what about the headquarters?

Is it well known that a company must attract employees and act to make them the company’s best representatives. Today, working for a salary is not the only reason why people choose to work and continue to work in a company: many new emerging factors are crucial, from the welfare offered, to the team building moments, to the headquarters in which one works. In fact, the headquarter is the ID of a company. It is not just a block of concrete and a few furniture elements, but it is the reflected image of a company, shaped like a building. 

Around the world, many huge companies have implemented their buildings to make them attractive and to faithfully display their values, by using colors, furniture, shapes, making their employees feel the company at 360°.

Airbnb, whose mission is ‘to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere’, is an excellent example. The San Francisco HQ takes the mission as a main pillar, both ideally and practically. In fact, spaces are designed to look like the houses on the App, creating pretty different environments. Offices and conference rooms are inspired by the listings, making them both unique and immersive, so that you can also travel to Airbnb iconic locations while being at work. 

Lego’s HQ, instead, represents its company through a colorful, Lego-inspired design. The LEGO® Campus is indeed built to be a creative workplace where people can enjoy working, transpiring the real lego soul. Colorful shapes and furniture create a warm space, where Lego’s playful soul becomes visible. 

Located in Mountain View, California, Google’s HQ is another example of how the company culture can be translated in the HQ. By adding some details to the building, like the Android sculptures in the outdoor spaces, the colorful Google Bikes to travel in the campus, and many other installations make it clear what Google is and how the environment should be lived by its employees: a relaxed space where employees can spend their time also enjoying the outdoor spaces.

Why are HQ becoming the centre of attention?

Great buildings deliver great commitment, both internally and externally. In today’s society, wellness and work-life balance are fundamental and companies are starting to put the employee’s wellness at the centre of their policies, so that they can become the first fans, making them loyal to the firm they are working for. This means being able to have a solid and expert team, aligned on multiple fronts, enabling the creation of added value, both for the firm and the workers, which results in more motivation, attachment, and happiness. Headquarters are proven not to be only buildings, but places where great stories start and where people can enjoy what they do. 

Viola Spreafico