ABN AMRO wants to help clients make a sustainable transition and lead by example. The sustainable workplace concept INFINITY is part of that commitment.

Moniek: ABN AMRO currently uses the Yello workplace concept, for which Zwartwoud provided custom furniture. Initially, we wanted to further develop this concept based on feedback from our colleagues. But then COVID-19 hit, which changed our requirements. We therefore decided to come up with an entirely new concept. Sustainability is one of the core elements of our strategy. Our purpose is ‘Banking for better, for generations to come’. We want to help our clients make a sustainable transition and lead by example ourselves. This also includes making our buildings and our workplace concept more sustainable. Fokkema & Partners is helping us with this.

Ruud: We were very enthusiastic about ABN AMRO’s brief because it is highly ambitious: it addressed a number of social themes that you hear about on the evening news, such as well-being, circularity, healthy working, and inclusivity. As an architectural firm, we are eager to help lead the way on these issues.

Moniek: The floor we are currently sitting on is the pilot. The insights gained here are being used to further develop the final workplace concept. A major task will be the Foppingadreef, our 80,000-square-meter office building that is currently being sustainably redeveloped and will subsequently be furnished. The pilot allowed us to see if the concept is feasible, meets our stated ambitions, and is applicable to larger projects, but also to see what our employees think of it and whether it fits their needs. Various workspaces have been created. Sometimes you prefer to work individually in a spot of your own, sometimes you join a Teams meeting, or you use a space to collaborate quietly.

Ruud: That aligns with the needs we are currently seeing regarding workplace concepts. People today want two things: to meet and collaborate in a team for a while, and then to be able to withdraw. When you walk in here, you enter the ‘home zone’, the place where you can chat about your weekend. Then there is the co-work zone for large teams, and there is a focus zone. In that last zone, you might expect small offices, but we took a different approach: we redesigned a Yello piece of furniture with benches and created a space for yourself where you can work with concentration. In this way, the office becomes “a place better than home.” You need a reason to come to the office.

Moniek: We want our colleagues to feel, "I belong here. This is my company." The concept also incorporates features that ensure it is a true ABN AMRO workplace: the piggy bank wall, for example, heritage pieces, and the triangles from our logo, which are applied in various ways in the privacy films.

Jochem: For employees who work from home a lot, it is important to create a place where they feel they belong.

Moniek: We have high ambitions when it comes to Employee Experience. For instance, we believe the connection between the digital and physical worlds is important. Now that many meetings take place via Teams, the connection to the digital side needs to be stronger. To this end, we are testing innovative equipment and adapted meeting setups, such as cameras that film multiple people at once so that you have everyone clearly in view. We also have a meeting room with a semi-oval table and a screen that you can adjust so that you have people at eye level. This makes it feel as if you are sitting at the same table.

Ruud: It is good that ABN AMRO wants to be a leader in the field of circularity. As a client, you can make an impact in this area.

Moniek: Sustainability is absolutely expected of us, and it is completely at the core of our company. That is also what I think is great about this workplace concept: it is highly circular. There is a lot of reuse of furniture and materials, and what isn't reused is either bio-based, second-hand, or at the very least demountable so it can be used elsewhere at a later date.

‍