Inspiration for the design of this space, an international consulting group’s Digital Center in Shenzhen, came from the center’s location, positioned at a global epicenter of technological innovation and set against the equally stunning back drop of South China’s beautiful mountain and sea landscape. All spaces were designed to empower a range of teams, clients, and other collaborators to work seamlessly at the leading edge of digital innovation. Natural materials like concrete floor and wood veneer are used in the high-tech environment. The design creates a dialogue between tradition and innovation, nature and digitalization, present and future.
Client experiences are essential for the center and not only involve digital exploration but also connections to the local culture and surroundings. The dynamic reception area flows into the center of this state-of-the-art digital center, the “social heart”. This is a buzzing space full of vitality, with a barista bar and various seating groups to enjoy inspiring views of mountain and sea, encouraging serendipitous encounters and social connections, and the sharing of experiences and ideas for both team members and visitors. The 13 meter long LED screen above the barista bar spans through the entire social heart double-height space, providing a showcase for digital art, or the latest innovations. A tea room on the mezzanine, overlooking the social heart, is where traditional, locally sourced oolong tea is served at contemporary tea table and setting.
Highly integrated hubs are interspersed throughout the Digital Center. Multiple team “villages” each comprise of masterclass rooms, meeting rooms, and contain a variety of work settings from private phone booths, height adjustable individual workstations, to collaborative high tables with movable multipurpose whiteboard partitions.
A flexible double height event space can be quickly transformed from hosting a hackathon into an evening reception space. The full height felt curtains can be automatically controlled to enclose the whole space or separate the event space into 2 areas according to different functions. Movable bleachers and agile furniture are flexible to be reconfigured into various settings.
This Digital Center also includes a maker space, a top tier knowledge sharing space and a highly versatile, hands-on environment. There is also a high-tech immersive team space with fully integrated analog and digital tools where agile techniques are used to brainstorm, ideate, and design the future. The ideation space at the mezzanine supports both casual working and team collaboration in an opening, welcoming space.
