The money transfer service established as a startup in 2011 is now, after nearly 15 years in business, a global brand worth 10 billion euros, while retaining a strong connection to its country of origin. This year, Wise opened its largest offices, covering almost 20,000 m2, in the Krulli complex in Tallinn.
The former Franz Krull factory was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th century. The interior architecture brief called for the existing limestone building to be retrofitted with workstations for at least 2200 employees. Befitting an innovative and modern tech firm, the new offices are bright and dynamic, with various entertainment and dining areas and lounges.
A contemporary office has to offer not only just a working environment but also a user experience. Accordingly, the room layout at Wise is exciting and sometimes surprising: there are nine kitchens, including a smoothie joint and a karaoke bar, a band room and sauna complex. The floor plan derived from the historical building is supported by different colour spectrums, themes and main materials, which rotate by floor. The leitmotif is the slogan “Going places!”, associated with the Wise brand – bold, international and in constant motion.
The old production building gained two additional storeys, but the existing shell confronted the interior architects with a number of challenging conditions. As the reconstruction design did not include enough office space, the utility systems, and above all the ventilation, had to be modified. That meant a complicated design development process, where the layout of work areas and utility rooms had to be continually redesigned and problem areas resolved in parallel. The work areas in the finished office are positioned along the perimeter of the building to provide them as much natural light as possible. The seating and meeting areas are in the centre, penetrated by four deep light shafts.
Graphic elements play an important role, these being created by the design agencies Velvet and Kosmos. The building also has a comprehensive system of signage to make it easier to navigate. Not everything is brand-new, though, as 30% of the furniture in the new office was previously used. That was one of many interior architecture and project management hybrid solutions that helped the interior architects from Lävi keep the budget under control and deliver on time. The employees of Wise are thrilled, and home offices would have a hard time competing with such a location that includes just about everything.
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