The Space Log: Creating a collaborative community hub at The Beacon in Antwerp
How do you transform a traditional office structure into a catalyst for innovation? This was the question The Beacon, an established innovation hub located in the heart of Antwerp, wanted to solve through a workspace redesign. Their office challenge was about creating more areas where their community members could naturally interact, collaborate, and feel welcome.
The Challenge: Creating connection spaces within a traditional layout
The Beacon houses approximately 40 companies in their 10,000 square meter building, with a broader community of around 100 technology companies. It is an innovation hub formed by City of Antwerp, the Port of Antwerp, Lantis, University of Antwerp, and Imec. As the Inés Sylverans, General Manager at The Beacon, explains, the team already had a traditional office structure but wanted to create a more inviting environment: "We wanted to create a cozier space. One of our main goals is connecting with people, so it's important to have a space on every floor where people can just sit down, relax, and have an informal chat with each other."
Before the redesign, the third floor needed functional improvements. There were acoustic challenges with the existing thin walls, and residents asked for a flexible workshop and presentation area. The space was about to become the go-to spot for connection and collaboration.
The Vision: Combining functionality with community-building spaces
The Beacon approached their office redesign with specific goals:
- Create informal gathering spaces where community members could naturally connect
- Develop a flexible workshop area to support presentations and collaborative work
- Add additional office spaces while improving acoustic performance
- Maintain a warm, welcoming atmosphere that encourages community building
The team was already familiar with Space Refinery's work from another floor in the building where Start it @KBC is located and appreciated the atmosphere we created for community building of the incubator’s various startups.
Collaborative approach: Involving the community in design decisions
The Beacon team took a thoughtful approach to incorporate resident feedback into the design process. "We did a small inquiry with some of our residents," Inés explains. "We sent them a questionnaire on what they think is important when they work together and what kind of look and feel they would like."
After receiving the initial design concepts, The Beacon went back to these stakeholders for feedback, which led to important adjustments. In one revealing instance, both Inés and the design team had initially been excited about including a tribune in the workshop area. However, after further consideration and observation of how the space would actually be used, they realized this would eliminate a wall the residents needed for presentations. This iteration allowed us to refine the space for optimal functionality before implementation.
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The Result: Functional spaces that encourage connection
The completed redesign addressed all of The Beacon's goals, creating a versatile third floor with:
- A cozy lounge area with a high table where people naturally gather for informal chats and lunches
- A flexible workshop space with movable furniture and colorful walls that has quickly become a favorite booking for residents
- New office spaces with improved acoustics for the existing companies
- A unified design language that complements the building's existing aesthetic while adding unique character
For Inés, the rust-colored sofa in the lounge area stands out as a personal favorite: "I always get happy when I see this color." The residents, as she notices, tend to book the workshop area because they like its atmosphere. “The fact that everything is used immediately is a very positive feedback,” Inés shares.
Measurable impact: A space people want to use
The best validation of the design success has been immediate adoption by the community. Inés notes with satisfaction that the members made the new areas truly theirs, particularly the workshop space, which has become one of the most requested bookings due to its inviting atmosphere and functionality. The design's impact extends beyond formal workspaces to the casual gathering areas, just as Inés hoped. The high table in the lounge area has organically evolved into a social hub where people enjoy relaxed conversations and shared meals.
For organizations considering their own office transformation, she offers this advice: "Get people involved in thinking about how a space looks. If you want them to use it, ask for feedback, starting from what they need, before designing. That's the most important thing."
For The Beacon, their new third-floor spaces have become vital connection points that support their mission of bringing together innovators and technology players to shape the future. We’re proud to have been part of their evolution and growth!
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“Space Refinery is a company that you can trust. Throughout our collaboration, they were attentive to our needs, responsive to questions, and genuinely committed to finding the right solutions. When exploring different design options, they always listened and thought together with us to ensure we made the best decisions for our space.”
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