Two moves – one company

Thanks to the support of many KWS colleagues, KWS Berlin GmbH accomplished its move to the KWS branch at Bülowstraße 78 in Berlin smoothly in two stages at the beginning of February 2020. Our Berlin crew also deserves further thanks for how coolly they coped with the fact that the tradesmen still had quite of bit of work to do in the building after the move: As is usual at building sites, a number of surprises disrupted the schedule and not all the work had been finished by the time of the move. A forward-looking, modern office environment has been created at the KWS branch at Bülowstraße 78 in a project that took just over one-and-a-half years to complete. The move to the offices was celebrated at a key handover ceremony and with the one or other bottle of Einbeck Bier.

The technology works

Our colleagues at KWS Berlin GmbH, who worked temporarily at two different leased locations (office space at the Leipziger Platz square and a co-working space at Stresemannstraße), moved to the KWS branch in two stages at the beginning of February. The first stage was initiated because technical reasons made it necessary to relocate the telephone system from Leipziger Platz to the new building. Our network technicians from Einbeck had already been working at Bülowstraße for weeks to make sure the technology was up and running for everyone. The final cables were laid on the weekend of the move and an on-site support team helped resolve problems that arose on the day of the move.

The big day arrived on the first Monday in February and the first employees were able to explore their new workplaces in the KWS branch office. Of course, there was some chaos to begin with after all that effort, just like when you move into a new home. But thanks to the support of many helping hands, everyone was able to start working in their new surroundings. As soon as the laptop was plugged into the docking station, it was – as usual – connected to KWS’ network. Our colleagues soon began working, even though not everything had been unpacked and waste paper baskets, for example, were in short supply.

250 employees, 40 nationalities

The office workplaces were then filled further after the second stage of the move a week later. The packing boxes, which until recently had lined every office wing, gradually disappeared. Animated discussions or a neighbor typing away at the keyboard could be heard in the once quiet offices. In order to alleviate bottlenecks in the kitchens, employees were provided with crates of water and fruit stations for their daily vitamins from day one. The small bistro opposite is also enjoying an increase in sales of coffee. It will take a few days before the final touches are added to the informal zones of KWS’ branch office, too.

After the total of some 250 employees – representing about forty different nationalities – had moved in, the official key handover ceremony was held at a get-together on Friday, February 14, 2020.

Small party with a great significance

The guests were able to view pictures of the construction phases over a glass of sparkling wine or a bottle of cold Einbeck beer. The photo documentation illustrates how much the building has changed in the past more than one-and-a-half years. “I’m delighted that all our Berlin colleagues are now together in one place. That has laid the foundation for our future here. The modern environment, which unites KWS’ culture with the capital’s characteristic flair, offers completely new possibilities for the way we work – both informal and formal work areas have been integrated in the building with the help of the Kinzo architectural office from Berlin and the many tradesmen,” said Peter Hofmann, the project’s sponsor on the Executive Board, when the keys were handed over in the presence of the KWS team in Berlin, the project managers, the architects from Kinzo and his fellow board member Eva Kienle.

The evening was rounded out in culinary style with wonderful soul food dishes from Maiden, Mother & Crone, which is about a five-minute walk from the KWS branch office. Its midday meals are usually served in North African tajines (clay pots) on a wooden board, but on this occasion finger food with and without meat was served in palm leaf bowls. |