Sandoz: Recentering growth: Relocating headquarters post-spinoff for strategic expansion – Basel
As part of the separation process, Sandoz decided to establish its independent HQ in Basel, Switzerland, and continue its operations in the Campus of Holzkirchen as well as its worldwide locations.
In the meantime, in May 2023, Sandoz communicated to all Basel-based associates the move to a temporary office, located in Novartis campus, providing an opportunity to define and test the new model and work dynamic that they wanted to implement in the future.
Basel, Switzerland / Prague, Czech Republic
M²: 3.200 m² / 3.200 m²
Sector: Pharma – Generics and Biosimilars
Year: 2023-2024
Associates were accompanied through initiatives and workshops based on a change management roadmap for the short-term solution and move to the interim location. In June 2023, the day of the move to this interim site, Sandoz announced the move to a new independent HQ in Basel planned for mid-2024.
The temporary office already showed some of the challenges that Sandoz faced prior to the permanent move:
- Sandoz spatial strategy was based on an Activity-Based Office model, which implied a non-assigned desks policy that needed to be embraced by all profiles.
- New space typologies required a set of office guidelines co-designed and adopted by the teams to assure their acceptance and compliance.
- The move to the headquarters demanded an accompaniment similar to the one followed in the previous phase, assuring a good experience for all associates.
The 13-months period in the interim space were key to define the future HQ for Sandoz. During that time, the project team collected specific requirements for the future space. The design and construction phases were coordinated and executed in time in order to ensure that the permanent HQ was ready for use from day one, emphasizing the team’s commitment to delivering a fully functional and optimized workspace.
The new office is a completely reformed space with Sandoz branding incorporated. The presence of greenery, the natural light facilitated by a transparent façade, and the fact that it occupies just one floor contribute to a pleasant and productive atmosphere. The office set-up encourages both formal and informal encounters among associates.
bicg has become the transformation partner for Sandoz, providing insights into the interim solution and accompanying associates in the transition to the temporary and permanent sites in Basel. As part of the process, bicg has designed the change management approach for the co-design of the future space and the preparation of associates for the moves. bicg spearheaded all activities with change ambassadors, as well as the communication strategy towards all associates based in Basel.
The key to the success relied on the constant communication and alignment with the different stakeholders involved throughout the process (design team, real estate, human capital, communication, technology, etc.).
