Workplace Consulting & User Centric Solutions
We connect people, spaces, and technologies.
Connecting people. Improving their wellbeing. Increasing creativity and productivity. Seamlessly connecting the real and digital worlds. Communicating values and ideas: We firmly believe that spaces and places can do all of these things. For projects ranging from individual office spaces to entire campuses: We advise and enable companies and institutions to think holistically about places they inhabit and fill them with function and feeling.
We help organizations address the following challenges
- Strategic Value: The benefits of modern workplaces, learning environments, and customer spaces are often not always easy to quantify. We help demonstrate how your investment supports business strategy, improves organizational performance, strengthen competitiveness, and enhances the experience for employees, customers, and other users.
- Profitability and ROI: Measuring the success of modern work environments can be complex. We develop business cases, calculate return on investment (ROI) and lifecycle costs, establish KPIs, governance models, and clear accountability to ensure your investment delivers long-term value.
- Space Planning and Investment: Organizations are under increasing pressure to reduce costs while creating flexible, scalable real estate portfolios. We develop space strategies and concepts that maximize efficiency and remain financially sustainable throughout the entire lifecycle.
- Organizational Change and Effectiveness: Modern, hybrid work, learning, and customer environments have a proven to have a positive impact on collaboration, organizational culture, and brand perception. However, many organizations struggle to manage the change required to realize these benefits. We design and lead change management programs that build engagement, encourage adoption, and inspire collaborations because successful transformation depends on as much people as it does data.
- Operations and Sustainability: Rising occupancy costs, inefficient energy use, and inconsistent service delivery can limit organizational performance. We help create models that are efficient, sustainable, and centered on the needs of users.
- Technology and Digitalization: Organizations are under pressure to embrace digital platforms and innovations that will remain relevant in the future. At the same time, they must seamlessly integrate audiovisual systems, IT infrastructure, workplace technologies, AI, and data platforms into existing environments in ways that are secure, scalable, and user-friendly. We help organizations navigate this complexity and implement integrated solutions that support long-term success.
At its core, User Centric Solutions is our approach to consulting, planning, and implementating high performing work, living, and learning environments with people and operations at the center.
NEW WORK - INNOVATIVE WORKING ENVIRONMENTS FOR IMPROVED TEAMWORK, CREATIVITY AND SUCCESS
The world is changing, there is no going back to the old normal. The number of workplace options is expanding to include home offices and third places. Offices are taking on a new significance: they are becoming a touchpoint with the brand, a fuelling station for identity and integrity, a place where employees come together. Modern and future work therefore requires flexible structures and the development of new workplace concepts. It's less about square metres and more about quality. The user's experience is increasingly taking centre stage.
Focus on the user
Drees & Sommer Switzerland develops workplace concepts based on the UX design method. Using co-research techniques, we investigate who the users of the building are, what they do and what their current experience is. We research, study, discover and validate ideas from different angles to gain unique insights. We translate these insights into integrated solutions, focussing on the needs of the client and end users.
Our Approach
Consult, Plan, Deliver
- People
- Technology
- Places
We take an integrated, strategic, and holistic approach partnering with clients from strategy development through implementation and ongoing operations.
People, places, and technology are inseparable and should never be considered in isolation. We take a comprehensive view that integrates people, organizations, environments, digital transformation, and technology to create effective, scalable, and economically sustainable solutions. The result is high-performing environments that deliver exceptional user experiences while supporting long-term business objectives.
Our services
Together with you, we work out the broad outlines of the future world of work in the workshop and develop a vision. The goals to be achieved for the new world of work and the organisation are defined and metrics for evaluating the success of the project are established.
A structured requirements survey is used to determine information relevant to planning. Together with the relevant users, we work out their needs, visions and objectives and translate these requirements into specific service content for planning in the form of framework conditions, functional diagrams and spatial data sheets.
The aim of a holistic change and communication concept is to create a rational and emotional understanding of the entrepreneurially necessary change among the managers and employees of the entire company. To achieve this, we provide the various stakeholders in the project with the right content at the right time.
In a room and function programme, the various rooms and areas required are defined according to criteria such as standard workstation, communication, concentration, infrastructure and special areas and described according to the intended function, for example a retreat for concentrated work. We take into account company-specific features, including occupancy guidelines, and determine the room sizes for each function.
We analyse the company values and culture, brand and corporate identity as part of the basic assessment.Based on the content of the analysis, we conceptualise design approaches and approaches, create and design three-dimensional solutions, not forgetting the communicative mission. This can be an overarching interior design line or specific solutions for separate areas or objects.
We combine interior design services in accordance with SIA, as well as cross-sector and cross-scale design and planning services. In the design planning phase, we create a concept that takes into account all aspects of the basic evaluation and preliminary planning.This includes the graphic representation of the overall design at the required scales of 1:100 or 1:50. The service package also includes negotiations with authorities and other parties involved in the technical planning regarding the eligibility for approval.
A test fit or a feasibility study is an occupancy plan in which the focus is on quickly answering a specific question regarding the possible realisation of a project objective. As a rule, feasibility studies are carried out to quickly determine the maximum number of permissible workstations within a rental space.
The Cradle to Cradle® principles combine economy and ecology: firstly, through the effective use of energy and resources. Secondly, through the planning and use of recyclable, pollutant-free building materials, constructions and technical building systems and thirdly, through the establishment of new business models. This creates added value for everyone involved. The users receive innovative and largely pollutant-free buildings. We can advise you on this topic and plan interiors for you using only certified products.
We transfer the framework conditions developed as part of planning or pilot projects into manuals for transparent information for managers, employees and planners. The aim is to document uniform standards so that they can be used in a binding manner in the further process of operation.
The expertise of user-orientated execution & operation covers all methods, procedures and tools for the commissioning and operation of a property from the user's perspective. The focus here is on space management and space optimisation. This includes both preparatory planning and implementation. The aim is to avoid frictional losses and ensure that employees are able to work and that processes run smoothly. Our range of services extends from the implementation of new working environments and the creation of an associated user handbook to conversion and refurbishment planning, the planning and coordination of relocations, the tendering and contracting of services and space management in day-to-day business.
Your Added Value
- Real Estate and Space Strategy
We provide a clear foundation for decision-making on new construction, modernization, relocations, or portfolio rollouts. Our strategic guidance enables clients to plan with confidence, accelerate decision-making, and optimize investment. - Interior Architecture and Brand Experience
We translate user, customer, and operational requirements into environments that are both functional and inspiring, creating efficient workflows while reinforcing brand identity. - Technology and Digitalization
We integrate modern audiovisual and IT solutions with smart building technologies and data-driven planning to enable better decision making, optimize operations, and create future-ready infrastructure. - Change Management
We support organizational transformation at every stage with clear communication and structured engagement. By involving stakeholders throughout the process, we build understanding, encourage adoption, and help ensure lasting change. - Sustainability and Economic Performance
We align environmental and business objectives across the entire lifecycle to improve sustainability, reduce operating costs, and maximize long-term value. - User Project Management
We manage the entire user-side project lifecycle, from requirements definition and coordination with design and construction teams to change management, relocation, commissioning and operational readiness. This reduces complexity for stakeholders and helps ensure successful project delivery.
Let's talk.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Marianna Maslow, Leading Consultant Workplace Consulting
marianna.maslow(at)dreso.com, +41 79 154 49 79
Michèle Kuhn, Manager Real Estate Consulting
michele.kuhn(at)dreso.com, +41 79 840 99 26
