- ‘Green’ building with energy & water savings, operational cost reduction by €1milear and recycling of 30tn of materials yearly
- Contemporary and pleasant working environment, which improves employee experience
- Utilization of digital technologies and tools which enhance flexibility & efficiency and facilitate everyday life
The iconic OTE Headquarters building in Maroussi is entering a new era. Eighty percent of the building has already been fully reconstructed based on the WELL and LEED international standards, and with a new philosophy that focuses on the health and well-being of employees, but also on sustainable development. This major, complex project is implemented by OTEestate, OTE Group’s subsidiary, and is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2024.
The Chairman and CEO of OTE Group, Mr. Michael Tsamaz, noted that “
OTE Headquarters is an iconic building and a landmark for the city of Athens. We undertook a major investment to rebuild it from scratch, with three goals: to create a contemporary work environment, to serve Sustainable Development, and to enhance our efficiency. Thanks to the excellent job of everyone on the project, we have achieved these goals. We already see the improvement of employee experience and the significant reduction of our operational cost and environmental footprint. The new headquarters will be able to meet the needs of the OTE Group for the coming decades, with respect for both people and the environment.”
The new, sustainable OTE Headquarters
The OTE Headquarters renovation project started in October 2020 and includes 36 wings with a total area of 45,600 m2, with 30 wings already renovated. When completed, the building will house 4,200 employees.
OTE Headquarters will receive the internationally recognised LEED and WELL Building Standard certifications. LEED is a ‘green’ buildings certification programme that focuses on sustainable and environmentally friendly construction practices and the improvement of environmental conditions through reduction of energy consumption. Under the WELL Building Standard, for which pre-certification has already been received, ten factors that affect people’s health and wellness in a building have been taken into account (air, water, nourishment, light, fitness and movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind, community). In this context OTE Headquarters is being fitted with ‘smart’ systems for measuring workspace conditions like temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide.
The new ‘green’ OTE Headquarters is projected to bring a cost reduction of over €1 million annually, thanks to reduced energy consumption (3GWh), water consumption, and maintenance expenses. The reduction in energy consumption corresponds to 1,122 tonnes of CO2, bringing the OTE Group closer to the goal of climate neutrality of its operations by 2025. What's more, when the project is completed, 800 recycling bins will have been installed, resulting in recycling of 30 tonnes of material annually. At the same time, the building participates in the programme of the Municipality of Maroussi, using special bins in the kitchens of each wing and in the employees’ restaurant to collect biowaste for composting.
All building materials and furniture being used are non-toxic and recyclable. Despite the fact that a central design line is being applied to all of the wings, each space is adapted to the needs of the teams it accommodates. Special emphasis has been placed on interior design, with the creation of pleasant, bright spaces and the use of earthy colours and motifs, indoor plants, and innovative sound-absorbing materials on ceilings, walls and furniture. The building's entire outer shell is being reconstructed, with the installation of new energy-efficient window frames.
Contemporary and smart work environment
The contemporary office spaces of the new OTE Headquarters offer high-end aesthetics, with new digital and technological capabilities that create a flexible work environment.
Enhancing teamwork and collaboration is a basic design principle, with an open workspace layout, application of a desk-sharing policy, and emphasis on creating a variety of collaboration spaces, including Lounge Meeting Rooms, Meeting Booths and Informal Collaboration Areas. This plan favours the new agile organisational structure implemented by the OTE Group, as well as the hybrid working model, through which remote work has been applied according to the operational needs of each unit.
Daily work becomes ‘smart’, with high-speed WiFi in all areas, video-conference tools in collaboration areas, and cutting-edge IT equipment. The replacement of desktop computers with state-of-the-art laptops has already been completed for employees housed at OTE Headquarters. Thus, everyone has modern equipment and access to digital applications that enable them to work from wherever they want – on or off the company's premises – and easily hold digital meetings, while thanks to VoIP telephony, fixed telephone lines have been transferred to their laptops. This enhances employee flexibility and efficiency, making cooperation between teams easier than ever before.
New common areas are being created to decongest the day-to-day work environment. On each floor there are restorative rooms, which are comfortably furnished for more informal meetings with colleagues and on most floors, there are Quiet Rooms for individual use for reflection and relaxation. Moreover, based on the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion, lactation rooms were created, providing discretion and comfort for all new mothers in order to meet their day-to-day needs, and all of the building's spaces are accessible to persons with mobility problems.
OTE Estate, OTE Group’s subsidiary, is leading the renovation project, with the cooperation of IT, Technology, HR, Health & Safety, Corporate Communication & Sustainability, Finance and Physical Security.