How do you picture your work space in 2040? This subject, which is at the same time simple and complex, was the focus of the hackathon organized by the GA Group in partnership with La Mêlée and Bertin Ergonomie on 22 and 23 June in Toulouse. The participatory marathon lasted 48 hours and drew about 40 architects, designers and even students. The goal was to delight the office by adapting to changing work methods and to the connectivity of individuals, buildings and objects.
From well-being at work to reception in the building: 5 challenges
Several weeks prior to the hackathon, participants in the BarCamp put themselves in the shoes of employees, visitors and coworking staff of the future, projecting themselves into the year 2040. During this first stage of the hackathon the following list of challenges was compiled:
- How can we be #HappyAtWork ?
- How can comfort and efficiency at work be fostered?
- How can we optimize our time and increase our productivity?
- How can we imagine a smart & simple daily routine at the office?
- How can we make reception an unforgettable experience?
After a quick warm-up, the teams were formed and everyone got down to work for two days.
Three winners were selected for their creativity
Using concepts, business plans and even prototypes as a basis, the teams joined forces to provide practical responses to the challenges of tomorrow’s office, some of them working late into the night.
When the 48 hours were up, each team presented its solution to the jury, in the form of pitches and questions-and-answers. And the winner is…
- The “Smeet” project won first prize (€10,000), This connected box in the “Smart & Simple” category offers employees the basic tools necessary for a meeting (projector, speaker, webcam, etc.). Connected to a mobile application, it enables users to organize meetings by identifying the space available in a building in real time.
- The “Qualia” project won second prize (€5,000). This project in the “Comfort & Efficiency” category uses personalized data (temperature, light, software, music, etc.) and a modular work space solution to enable employees to create their own worlds in any office whatsoever.
- The “GA Smart Welcoming” project, in the “Reception” category, won third prize (€3,000). At the core of the solution is a boarding pass that offers a host of services, including accommodation, transport and concierge services, to all visitors to a company.
The GA Group will now give the winning teams ongoing help with a view to developing their ideas, with the support of the group’s employees in the different departments, including IT, legal, R&D and communication. A new objective has been set – to launch these solutions in 2016. And to that end, what could be better than tackling them right away, starting the day after the hackathon?
