A Global Brand, A Local Hub
Nokia is a global technology leader shaping the future of connectivity and innovation. Its Bangalore workplace is a major R&D and office hub, and one of the earliest organizations to establish the business park as a thriving corporate destination. As the workplace evolved, Nokia saw an opportunity to refresh its common spaces to better support collaboration, wellbeing, and employee engagement.
Revitalizing Spaces Across Operational Floors
Nokia partnered with Unispace to refurbish key Connect Zones—including, breakout areas, training rooms, and multipurpose spaces—spread across four operational floors. The intent was not just to upgrade interiors, but to build synergy across floors, activate underutilized areas, and create spaces that employees could truly connect with and enjoy.
One of the primary challenges was delivering the refurbishment within fully functional office floors. The work took place at central locations, requiring careful planning to ensure business continuity. Existing building services had to align seamlessly with new interventions, demanding precision, coordination, and a deep understanding of the existing infrastructure—an approach Unispace executed with minimal disruption to daily operations.
Regenerative Design with Nokia’s Podcast Room
The design concept was driven by the idea of regeneration—bringing renewed energy into the workplace by reconnecting people with light, nature, air, food, and community. The spaces reflect Nokia’s forward-looking, employee-centric culture, supporting wellbeing, productivity, and meaningful interaction through thoughtful planning and human centric design.
Flexibility was central to the design outcome. Connect Zones were transformed into vibrant collaboration and gaming areas, while sections of the Open Zone were converted into two large, collapsible training rooms. On the ground floor, a multipurpose room was designed to effortlessly transform from a yoga or dance studio into a movie night venue, enabled by smart storage solutions concealed behind curtains. The tinted glass serves both functional and aesthetic purposes catering to specific activity being conducted.
Nokia’s podcast facility was carefully integrated without compromising the overall design intent. Designed to host interviews and conversations that encourage knowledge-sharing, the space now serves as a benchmark for future podcast rooms across Nokia’s global portfolio.
Sustainability and Material Responsibility
Sustainability was a clear priority for Nokia. Waste segregation initiatives were incorporated as part of the design, while material selections focused on natural and enduring choices such as solid wood finishes and live plants. These elements not only support environmental responsibility but also contribute to a warmer, more restorative workplace atmosphere.
A Rejuvenated Workplace Experience
The impact of the refurbishment has been strongly felt across the workplace. Previously underutilized spaces are now active and vibrant, with a noticeable increase in employee engagement. There has been a surge in requests from employees to move to refurbished floors, highlighting the success of the design in supporting rejuvenation, collaboration, and talent retention.
