The atmosphere is that of a university campus. Relaxed, engaged in conversation and with a laptop under their arm, employees move between islands of seating, greeting colleagues, holding spontaneous discussions, attending meetings. Or they retreat to a desk to concentrate on their daily work. In the spacious and bright rooms, there is nothing reminiscent of the separate one- or two-room offices of DMK's old headquarters. In the new building, the emphasis is on encounters, including personal exchanges with customers, partners and other guests. The office as a hub for social contacts and a self-determined workflow. 

Emily Reil is impressed by the new working environment. She is training to become an industrial clerk. As a young employee, it is very important for her to feel integrated. The best way to learn is “on the job”. “You see each other regularly,” says the 21-year-old. “This creates an open atmosphere and makes my work much more enjoyable and exciting.”  

In early summer this year, 700 administrative staff moved into the rented building opposite Bremen airport. The team from the previous IT location in Seckenhausen and the accounting team from Zeven also moved into the new building. 500 workstations and 500 additional work options in 18 meeting rooms are spread over 14,700 square metres and five floors.  

The building is based entirely on the “New Work” principles, with state-of-the-art technology, a conference zone, quiet areas and communication zones such as the so-called work cafés. The outdoor areas are also equipped with Wi-Fi so that people can work outside. The building took three years to build. The decision to introduce the new working environments was an integral part of the initial planning. 

...says Lydia Heckmann, the Head Architect. “The biggest challenge was to achieve the desired sound insulation in the different areas.” The building also meets the highest standards of energy efficiency and climate protection with a combined heat and power plant, a green roof and a photovoltaic system. The move will also reduce rental and service charges and give DMK the flexibility to sublet the building - an economic advantage. At the inauguration ceremony, Bremen's Senator for Economic Affairs, Kristina Vogt, was enthusiastic about the new building and praised DMK's clear commitment to the Hanseatic city as well as the new building's “innovative power and future viability”.   

This includes the possibility of working from home. DMK took this into account when planning the building and opted for a 60% occupancy rate. This means that employees are free to choose their workstations according to the Clean Desk principle, and at the end of the day they can lock their materials away in a locker, freeing up space for a colleague. This flexible arrangement makes it easier to combine home and office work. This is a principle that also appeals to IT professional Carsten Büttemeier. His initial concern that the large open spaces would leave little room to retreat for concentrated work was quickly dispelled.   

“I think the building suits us very well.” He particularly likes the parent-child room, as he has little space for himself, his young daughter and her toys when he works from home. The family-friendly office space in the new headquarters is a place with child-friendly furniture, large cushions and plenty of toys. It's a welcome alternative when day care is cancelled. “Here I can attend the scheduled on-site appointments.” The participants join him in the room with his child.   

“The world of work is becoming more flexible and collaborative,” says Ines Krummacker, Chief Human Resources Officer. New Work is a logical step in making DMK fit for the future and driving the company's transformation process. The courage to embrace change is rewarded with increased loyalty. Engagement scores in the Buzzer employee survey have risen significantly since last year. And after six months in the new headquarters, a lot has changed in the workforce. “We have become much more interdepartmental and process-oriented in such a short time.” This makes DMK an attractive employer if people are given meaningful tasks and goals. 

Emily Reil likes to take advantage of opportunities such as “Friends” to exchange ideas with other trainees over lunch. “Friends” is the catering area that is open to everyone. “It's a nice opportunity for us all to get together from time to time.”