As the world's largest travel and logistics software company, Sabre's rapid growth led to construction of a new headquarters campus in Dallas for 7,000 employees. Sabre seized the opportunity to create a new working environment that both reinforces its business model and encourages the behaviors necessary for success. As consultant, Christner developed the 'Workstrategy Model' that helped Sabre think through its reinvention process. Sabre chose three critical employee groups, product designers and software developers, to pilot new working models.
We used an array of tools to understand the work at Sabre and to develop possibilities for new work settings. Among the most useful were visual mapping of key ideas and then testing of workplace options through full-scale mock-ups. Each mock-up represented a specific point along a continuum of workplace options. Real data about 'what works and what doesn't' helped bring order to what is typically a subjective process and helped answer rigourous questions about productivity and performance. As a result, new working models were devised that respond to diversity in work patterns and needs across groups for this world class corporate campus.
Size: Conceptual planning for 7000-employee corporate campus
Status: Completed 2000
Design Architect: HKS, Inc.
LEED-NC Silver Certified
The final workspace plan for Sabre's new campus resulted from the testing of several work setting options.
This Workstrategy Model revealed that Sabre needed to invest the appropriate time and money to move away from their Standard operating model toward a working environment that more closely aligned with business needs.
These concepts respond to Sabre's need for flexible work stations that would allow employees to easily transition from individual concentrated work to group collaboration.
Used in the decision-making process, this office layout outlines the varied types of working groups Sabre required.
This workspace plan was tested with mock-ups to determine suitability for Sabre. This plan was 2800 sf with space for 19 people (147 sf/person including teaming areas).
This workspace plan provided more flexibility than the first plan. It was 3000 sf for 15 people (200 sf/person including teaming areas).
The final workspace plan option was the most flexible and included 3500 sf of space for 21 people (167 sf/person including teaming areas).
The final workspace layout gave maximum flexibility and access to daylight and ventilation.
