"Perkins+Will’s design met our team’s objectives in the areas of: technology, setting new standards for working more collaboratively, flexibility of design and a workspace that incorporates sustainability throughout the building."
-Steve Raiteri, AVP HR Planning and Operations, L'Oreal US
We have been working with L’Oreal USA over the past few years on a number of projects intended to improve their workplace and strengthen their brand in their United States real estate portfolio. One of the first initiatives was an examination of their regional and US headquarters with the goal of optimizing the alignment of physical work environment with the direction of the business. New workplace standards were developed that reflect and enhance their efforts at building a connected and collaborative organization, one whose spaces convey values of technology, innovation, teamwork, creativity and a consumer and brand focus.
In the 2nd quarter of 2009, L’Oreal USA implemented the real estate decision to co-locate shared service departments (such as human resources, accounting, and information technology) into a new headquarters building in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. More than 600 employees from a dozen buildings in the New York Metro area moved into the new location. The move was a significant change for employees because of the implementation of new standards, new commuting considerations, shifting from an urban setting to a suburban environment and moving from old buildings to a new office development.
Despite the many changes occurring, L'Oreal's primary objective was and is to better align its workplace with the organization’s culture and business objectives. This meant a shift from an office intensive environment to a primarily open plan with many different types of meeting spaces.
We also designed a new executive floor at the New York headquarters including offices, boardroom, conference rooms and support spaces. The project showcases artwork, formerly scattered throughout L’Oreal’s facilities, that reflects the very qualities that make L’Oreal unique as a company in its modernity and beauty.
In addition, we renovated an auditorium, training and office spaces for Redken, one of L’Oreal’s brands. These spaces incorporate the new workplace standards while embodying the distinct qualities that mark Redken as a separate brand.
