In the Czech Republic, Aeven employs 400 specialists who are dedicated to the development and management of IT systems. In connection with its expansion and interest in offering its people a truly premium work environment, the company was looking for new premises as well as a partner to support it throughout the entire process of creating new offices.

Colliers completed the 15-month project in August this year. It stands as a prime example of the agency’s (Collier’s) comprehensive services in the field of commercial real estate.

For its new 1,575 square meter offices, Aeven chose the attractive Port7 campus, which offers an innovative concept that promotes employee wellbeing and sustainability. Those two points align well with the company's values.

"The Port7 project, located on the banks of the Vltava River in Prague's Holešovice district, perfectly matches Aeven's corporate culture. It stands out for its sustainable solutions, connection to nature and application of smart, innovative features," explains Jana Vlková, Director of Workplace Advisory and Office Agency at Colliers, adding: "Another big advantage is its excellent transport accessibility. Aeven employees can get to the office quickly and easily in seven different ways – by bike or on foot along cycle paths, by metro, tram or bus, by train, by car, and adventurous types can even take a boat."

A thorough analysis at the outset

At the beginning of the project, the Colliers Workplace Advisory team conducted a detailed analysis of the work environment, which helped define the design and layout of the new premises to meet Aeven employees’ specific needs. Based on the results, the Colliers Design&Build team conceived a flexible environment that combines productivity, collaboration and wellbeing while remaining true to the company's Scandinavian roots and Danish design preferences. The Colliers Building Consultancy team managed the construction and implementation of the entire project in collaboration with the Aeven project team. An important aspect was the space’s flexibility. The premises are ready for the future, support a hybrid work model, and allow for rapid growth in the number of employees.

"Instead of the traditional static office model, we created a dynamic environment with flexible seating, modular meeting rooms and digital tools that allow employees to combine seamlessly remote and office work," describes Lasse Schmidt, Managing Director for Aeven Czech Republic & Hungary. The new offices at Port7 also provide a central community space where employees can meet for lunch, informal conversations, coffee, work discussions or brainstorming. The design supports a smooth transition between different office zones designed for individual work, scheduled meetings and informal gatherings.

Change management for a smooth transition to the new environment

The project’s communication strategy and change management process also proved to be critically important for the relocation process. Throughout the transformation, the Colliers team assisted Aeven with these efforts. Designers concceived the new work environment as a collaborative solution that offered improvements on prior workspaces. The project’s success was evaluated using several key indicators: such as employee satisfaction and engagement, office space and meeting room utilization rates, and attractiveness for recruiting new employees. The data showed significant improvements in satisfaction, collaboration and work-life balance.

"The Aeven project is a prime example of how Colliers can support clients through all stages of such complex processes. Thanks to our integrated approach, which covered everything from property search and design to project management, we were able to minimize risks and ensure the smooth running of this challenging project. The client also did not have to work with multiple suppliers and coordinate efforts among them," summarizes Jana Vlková.