Details
Winning the war for talent. How do you design an office so compelling that a predominantly remote tech team actually wants to commute? For Sopra Steria Polska, the ambition was clear: abandon outdated corporate layouts and build one of the most attractive IT workplaces in the country to actively attract and retain top talent. Instead of forcing a return to the office, we turned to deep behavioural research to understand what the team truly missed. We completely shattered the "dark IT" stereotypes, looking instead to local heritage. By interweaving Katowice’s modernist architecture with geological metaphors and Silesian culture, we designed a timeless, magnetic ecosystem. It is a space that doesn't just support hybrid work — it elevates it, balancing deep focus with a profound sense of belonging.
4000
Square meters of area
1000+
Employees
300
Workstations
29
Months of work
1
The hybrid challenge and real estate strategy
For years, Sopra Steria operated from an older Katowice office that no longer reflected the expectations of a modern technology organisation. To strengthen its competitiveness in the fierce IT talent market, the company set out to build a highly attractive, future-proof workplace.
With an organisation of over 1,000 employees, the strategic challenge was mathematical as well as architectural: how large should the new office actually be? To ensure the foundation was perfect, our role began long before the lease was signed. Our comprehensive scope spanned the entire process, starting with real estate advisory and test fits, moving through workplace strategy and space planning, and culminating in the final design concept and environmental branding. We actively guided the real estate strategy to help the client select the absolute optimal site: the Grundmanna Office Park.
Data-driven insights
Before drawing any plans, we launched an intensive, multi-layered workplace strategy phase. To ensure our design was rooted in actual needs, our research scale was massive: we surveyed 693 employees, conducted 14 in-depth leadership interviews, and hosted co-creative workshops with 22 departmental representatives. The data confirmed a massive shift: over 90% of employees preferred working from home, and 69% wanted to visit the office no more than twice a month.
Through visual moodboard testing, the team completely rejected the stereotype of a dark, "scenographic" tech environment. Instead, they demanded bright, warm, and natural spaces rich in greenery and welcoming materials. The research also revealed that when employees did visit the office, they primarily needed superior acoustic comfort for deep focus work, alongside vibrant spaces for social integration and mental regeneration.
2
The activity-based ecosystem
To translate insights from our research into a physical layout, we developed an activity-based spatial program that optimised the footprint without sacrificing comfort. We designed a highly efficient model featuring 300 workstations capable of seamlessly supporting the 1,000+ person hybrid team.
The heart of the office
A large social and networking area forms the vibrant heart of the workplace. Designed with extreme adaptability in mind, this space utilises flexible furniture and movable partitions. In minutes, it can effortlessly transform from a casual daily dining and networking area into a massive townhall venue, perfectly equipped for large company gatherings, workshops, and internal events.
The client suite
To support external business relationships, we designed a dedicated premium client meeting suite. Acting as a highly representative space for visitors, this zone elevates the professional experience, offering a refined, comfortable, and visually striking environment tailored specifically for hosting key partners and clients.
Neighbourhoods of focus
The workplace was strategically structured into modular team zones, typically accommodating 10–16 workstations. To answer the demand for acoustic comfort and collaboration, the layout features an ecosystem of over forty collaboration spaces, including diverse meeting rooms and focus rooms, immediately supporting each neighbourhood. This modular approach ensures the office can effortlessly adapt as the company's team structures and work patterns continue to evolve.
3
A three-layered narrative
The aesthetic concept was built on three interconnected pillars that reflect both the company's tech DNA and its deep roots in the Silesian region:
Katowice Modernism
Serving as the architectural foundation, this layer introduces simple geometric compositions, soft rounded forms, a restrained colour palette, and natural materials like wood, glass, and steel to create a calm, timeless interior.
Mineral Structures
As a metaphor for technology (computer processors are made from silicon, tying into regional extraction processes), the design language incorporates layered material compositions. Elements like hammered metal panels, tectonic tile compositions, and ceramic wall finishes in earthy geological tones evoke the industrial heritage of the region.
The Katowice Story
The environmental branding embeds the city's identity directly into the workspace. Graphics subtly reference iconic landmarks like Spodek and Planetarium Śląskie, drawing inspiration from 1950s Silesian naïve art. Signature details act as recognisable visual anchors throughout the space, including a handcrafted wooden mosaic wall and a custom neon sign referencing the iconic Kosmos cinema.
4
Spaces that breathe and connect
The design's visual intensity purposefully shifts across the floorplan: work zones utilise calm tones to support deep concentration, while social areas feature expressive textures and vibrant graphics to stimulate interaction. These highly energetic spaces host dedicated relaxation zones and vibrant game rooms that act as natural social icebreakers. Rather than just being passive places to sit, they are intentionally crafted to encourage spontaneous conversations, team integration, and short, energising breaks. By blending comfortable lounge seating for mental recovery with interactive gaming elements for active play, these spaces foster a relaxed, community-driven atmosphere that simply cannot be replicated on a video call.
The staircase gallery
To further emphasise community and belonging, we reimagined an internal staircase connecting the two floors. Instead of serving as a simple circulation route, it was specifically conceived as a "future employee art gallery." This transforms an everyday architectural element into a unique platform for creativity, self-expression, and community building. Even the aesthetic experience is designed to evolve over time, ensuring the space will continuously transform as the community grows and leaves its creative mark on the office.
Dedicated regeneration zones
Understanding that deep focus requires proper recovery, we implemented dedicated regeneration zones to support employee well-being throughout the workday. These areas offer a vital duality: quiet relaxation spaces for mental rest, and active areas that encourage short, energising breaks and spontaneous social interaction.
Scope
Research
Design
Team
Board
Bogusz Parzyszek
CEO I Founder
Workplace Strategy and Research
Barbara Majerska
Research & Strategic Design Director
Aleksandra Piotrowicz
Architect
Igor Łysiuk
RESEARCHER & ARCHITECT
Design
Zofia Kurczych
Design Director
Antonina Wójtowicz-Kruk
Architect
Rafał Mikulski
Senior Architect
Paweł Kołodziej
COO & PM
Barbara Majerska
Research & Strategic Design Director
Client
Sopra Steria
Polska
Sylwia Tausznik
Sopra Steria team
Agata Chmielewska-Chodzicka
Sopra Steria team
Marek Mazur
Sopra Steria team
Suppliers & partners
Studio Wydmy
visualisations
Space Wizard
Space branding & wayfinding
Nai Reina
Real Estate Agency
Profen
Project Management
Bianka Gajdzińska
Photos
