Case Study

The Key to a Productivity-Centric Workspace: Inside Tekion India HQ, Bengaluru

What it takes to build an IT Giants’ office in the Silicon Valley of India.

By  

Minak Daspriya

October 27, 2023

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Summary

Tekion, the leading end-to-end cloud-native automotive platform company, recognized the need to expand its talented workforce. To achieve this, they chose Bengaluru, the vibrant tech hub of India, as their destination. As a company committed to fostering employee creativity, innovation, and success, Tekion sought a workspace that would offer ample room for these qualities to thrive.

With an expansive 110,000 sq. ft. canvas at our disposal, we embarked on a comprehensive journey, encompassing meticulous planning, thoughtful design, and impeccable construction. The result? A state-of-the-art productivity powerhouse that goes above and beyond, prioritizing the well-being of its occupants and sustainability. Our commitment to wellness and sustainability aligns with Tekion's core values and showcases their dedication to creating a thriving work environment.


Join us as we delve into the evolution of this extraordinary workspace—a place where ideas gain traction, innovation takes shape, and dreams transform into tangible reality.

The Client

Tekion is a Cloud Technology company providing SaaS to the Automotive retail industry globally. Founded by ex-Tesla CIO Jay Vijayan in 2016, Tekion is constantly innovating and inventing new technology to overcome business barriers and solve big problems. 

Their work culture is progressive, always evolving, and promotes employees to fall in love with working collaboratively and accomplish great things! 

The key values at Tekion are 

  • Creativity
  • Authenticity
  • Integrity
  • Collaboration
  • Empathy 
  • Fearlessness 

These values endow Tekion with the ability to adapt, move fast, and take chances to solve big problems.

As a global enterprise, Tekion has multiple campuses. Their Bengaluru office - the hub for any technology company - is the prime location for its India operations.

A rapidly growing organization needs a workspace that not only meets their expectation but exceeds it. 

The Brief

Tekion was looking for a workspace in Bengaluru that not only met the requirements of their global stakeholders but was also 

  • Tailored for high productivity
  • Customized to meet the local requirements
  • Able to Enhance inter-team collaboration
  • Promoting creativity at the workplace
  • Providing for employees holistically, throughout their work lifecycle; and
  • Designed to allow focused work. 

Our Strategic Blueprint

Within the confines of 2gethr, a remarkable synergy unfolded as our team of Workspace Strategists, visionary Interior Designers, and eminent Architects, each adorned with WELL AP certification, embarked upon an immersive brainstorming session. Their collective expertise converged upon the task of crafting an ideal layout for the expansive workspace, spanning two exquisite floors and encompassing an awe-inspiring expanse of over 110,000 square feet.

With unwavering passion and dedication, we weaved together a strategic blueprint that forms the very foundation of our expertise in workspace design. Every inch of the canvas was thoughtfully curated, ensuring a symphony of functionality, aesthetics, and innovation that would elevate the client's aspirations to soaring new heights.

The Design

The space we envisioned served as a catalyst for the organization—a haven where employees could surpass their limits and find solace akin to a second home during their well-deserved breaks.

Aligned with the ever-evolving trends in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) industry, our design philosophy harmoniously blends modern-minimalism with an eclectic touch.

Inspired by Tekion’s logo, ethos, and brand colors, we arrived at a primary palette of whites and grays which are accentuated by a secondary palette with shades of blue and green. 

What do these colors symbolize? 

White looks minimal and classy and stands for purity and possibility like a blank canvas. 

Gray provides contrast to the white elegantly and stands for neutrality and intellect. 

Hues of Teal in the space provide a calming and relaxed feel to the space and stands for stability. 

The natural green in the space helps people unlock their creativity and stands for success.

By thoughtfully incorporating these hues, we have crafted an environment that not only aesthetically pleases but also enhances productivity, fosters innovation, and encapsulates the core principles of our design philosophy.

As a growing tech company, a large chunk of Tekion’s employees are young and dynamic techies  - the Millenials and GenZ. Keeping this in mind, we ensured that the design of the space is able to help unlock the pools of potential the employees bring with them. 

It is truly a space that provides everyone with the space to dream, ideate, innovate, and convert their dreams into reality. 

Some of the key design decisions we made

  • Most of the workstations are placed close to the windows and provide natural light while working. (According to a study, 75% of people prefer working in natural lighting)
  • All the workstations are perpendicular to the windows ensuring optimum lighting and less screen glare during the day. 
  • We designed the workspace with the formula - 

         Workstations + Co-creation space + Meeting Rooms + Pods = Cluster

  • Cluster of workstations is dedicated to each team, promoting teamwork and productivity. 
  • Co-creation Spaces are placed between clusters to provide opportunities for cross-team collaboration. 
  • Meeting Rooms of varied sizes are present near each cluster for quick catchups and ideation. 
  • Pods are present in each cluster that help teammates discuss ideas and inventions. 
  • A separate, sound-proof space for the tech support team for clear and crisp conversations with clients.
  • An amphitheater was designed at the center of one of the floors which doubles up as a library as well as a mini all-hands area. 
  • There are 4 pantries (2 each on both floors) to ensure short breaks are never more than a few steps away.
  • The pantry on one of the floors also houses the cafeteria and has 450 seats, and can accommodate up to 1,000 people. 
  • The area that houses separate nap rooms for males and females is centrally located on one of the floors and acts as a multipurpose area with co-creation space and an informal meeting room setting. 

Even though the workspace is divided into clusters, each cluster provides for any and all requirements that might come up during work - providing employees with the benefit of Activity-Based Workstyle.  

Highlights

The Tekion Bengaluru office stands as an exemplar of cutting-edge workspace design, boasting a host of unique highlights that set it apart from the rest. While key design decisions were pivotal, let us shed light on some distinctive features that elevate this workspace to unparalleled heights:

  • A purposefully built specialized Mother’s Room to make sure that the joy of being a mother does not pose a challenge to anyone’s ambitions and goals. 
  • For those looking to burn off calories after savoring the delectable meals provided by Tekion, a well-equipped Gym awaits, offering an opportunity to stay fit and energized.
  • To cater to the needs of individuals who require a quick refreshment, a convenient shower cum changing room is thoughtfully incorporated, enabling seamless transitions throughout the workday..
  • The presence of meticulously selected real plants within the office not only adds a touch of natural beauty but also contributes to enhancing the air quality, creating a healthier and more invigorating environment.
  • Leveraging the power of IoT-based sensors, the entire workspace is intelligently monitored to minimize electricity wastage, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.
  • Our commitment to sustainability shines through in the selection of furniture sourced exclusively from accredited manufacturers, accompanied by best-in-class Life Cycle Analysis, guaranteeing the highest standards of quality and environmental responsibility.
  • The materials utilized within the space are consciously chosen, favoring natural, nature-identical, or recycled elements, further reducing the ecological footprint and promoting a harmonious coexistence with nature.
  • Strategically positioned Height Adjustable Tables cater to the holistic well-being of employees, enabling ergonomic flexibility and adaptability in their work environment.

Furthermore, the entirety of this remarkable workspace has been meticulously designed and constructed to be compliant with the stringent guidelines set forth by the International Well Building Institute's WELL Building Standards. With an impressive array of 108 important features spanning 10 categories, this WELL-compliant workspace symbolizes a people-first approach, aligning perfectly with the ethos of a company that places its employees' well-being at the forefront.

The crown jewel of the Tekion Bengaluru office are the people - and the workspace ensures that they shine bright!

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