Background
Since its founding in 1992 CAE Technology Services has experienced continuous growth. By 2019 it had outgrown its Watford headquarters and a larger space was needed to accommodate its expanding operations. The leadership team saw this as an opportunity to create a workspace that truly reflected CAE’s values. After securing a site in Hemel Hempstead in April 2020, just days into the COVID-19 lockdown, CAE faced the challenge of designing a headquarters that not only supported hybrid working but also reinforced its commitment to collaboration, wellbeing and a vibrant culture.
Approach
The move for CAE out of Watford into their wholly owned space, allowed the company the fresh canvas to create the built environment the company always wanted to give its people. The leadership team partnered with design firm Woodhouse and engaged employees through surveys, workshops and interviews to meet their needs. The feedback revealed that staff valued spaces for collaboration, wellbeing and relaxation, and wanted to eliminate siloed working.
“CAE’s new headquarters has become a vibrant hub where people, culture and collaboration thrive, setting the standard for future workplaces”
The result was a design that embodied CAE’s core values: loving your job, working together, doing things differently and advocating belonging. The new headquarters, which opened in September 2021, features a large central atrium with a colourful mural representing CAE’s purpose, values and behaviours. Flexible workspaces incllude hot desks, collaborative meeting hubs, solo desk booths, soundproof phone pods and a library for quiet work. For downtime employees can enjoy a communal café, a wellbeing space, a prayer room and even a games room.
The office design with high ceilings, open spaces and biophilic design elements such as natural light and greenery aimed to create a destination employees wanted to return to especially as the world emerged from the lockdown.
Outcome
The new CAE headquarters quickly became a hub where employees, partners and the wider community could thrive. The flexible working environment helped ease the transition back to office life, with staff excited to return. Employee feedback was particularly positive about the enhanced collaboration spaces which allow teams to work more closely together.
The success of the Hemel Hempstead office led CAE to replicate the model in its Northern Hub in Warrington, which opened in 2023. Both spaces have proved instrumental in supporting hybrid working, fostering belonging and promoting CAE’s culture.
The new headquarters has also become a valuable asset for CAE’s partners and the local community, with organisations such as the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and charity One YMCA using the space for meetings and events, strengthening CAE’s community ties.