Paddy Power Betfair’s polished yet playful office was designed to increase productivity
Paddy Power Betfair wanted a polished yet playful office for its customer services team and international helpdesk in Malta. It tasked Morphoza with the challenge of designing a better working environment, while also solving functionality issues, improving productivity, attracting new staff and retaining and engaging current staff.
The new office hosts open spaces, meeting points, flexible meeting rooms, but also private spaces, a cafeteria and a terrace. Every detail is a pretext for comfort and collaborative interactions. And each floor exudes a different theme, inspired by Malta’s landscapes of stone, sea and light and the company’s profile, sports betting.
When was the project completed?
March 2017
How much space?
3,805 square meters
Was this new or renovated space?
Renovated space
How much space per person?
100 square feet; or nine square meters per employee
How many employees?
The office can host up to 446 employees.
Describe work-space types.
Our goal for this office was to keep the space as open as possible with lots of alternative work settings to foster collaboration and bonding. Open work stations are surrounded by a mix of private conference rooms, focused spaces and quiet rooms, open collaboration spaces and meeting rooms enclosed in glass.
What kind of meeting spaces are provided?
There are various meeting spaces. Some are open while some are closed, in a range of sizes.
What other kind of support space or amenity spaces are provided?
We designed many types of support spaces, from breakout rooms, to focus rooms, a spacious cafeteria, a terrace, a Fitness room, multifunctional rooms, for example, a yoga room, game areas to provide staff with an area to relax and chill, or show their competitive side!
What is the project’s location and proximity to public transportation and/or other amenities?
The office is close to various grocery stores and convenience shops, just three minutes, by foot, to the bus station and a quick five-minute walk to a central transportation hub. Also, the company encourages the employees to bike to work, offering a secure place for bike storage and a place for them to shower.
Was the C-suite involved in the project planning and design process? If so, how?
Yes, one executive from the company’s C-suite was included during the project planning and design process, from visioning through project completion, by answering questions, providing feedback, and approving the design directions.
Were any pre-planning surveys conducted to get employee input?
Yes, we have consulted all key stakeholders, including executives and staff through interviews, surveys and employee focus groups.
Was there any emphasis or requirements on programming for health and wellbeing initiatives for employees?
Yes, as the company encourages the employees to bike to work, we’ve designed a place for them to shower. There are also lounge pieces specifically meant to be areas of relaxation.
Were there any special or unusual construction materials or techniques employed in the project?
We hired two artists to create custom, one of a kind, amazing graffiti art pieces both indoor and outdoor, on the terrace. The artwork on the terrace is the biggest of them and it is a warm, fun, and a colorful addition to the office and it was embraced by the company’s employees. It provides an unmatchable energy within the space and has a very big impact as the first thing you see when you enter the terrace.
What were the major furniture products used?
We provided a mix of furnishings to support different meeting styles, including ottomans for quick chats and solo chairs, ergonomic chairs for the meeting rooms and lounge furniture to encourage collaborative meetings.
What kind of branding elements were incorporated into the design?
This is a truly vibrant office that reflects the distinct personality of the Paddy Power Betfair brand. We’ve put a real emphasis on Paddy Power Betfair’s brand and values by using color and communication tools, including sports-related photography and graphic design. For example, many meeting rooms’ names, design and graphics represents a sport related to the company’s profile.
What is the most unique feature of the new space?
We can say that the entire project is unique. Each space looks and feels like its own flavour, alternating Paddy Power Betfair’s passion for sports with Malta’s characteristics and landscapes. The spacious cafeteria, the themed meeting rooms, inspired by the company’s profile (Casino, Tennis, Football), vibrant indoor & outdoor graffiti murals, among others. The office’s floor plan itself, which is open yet allows for private collaboration, all within a relaxed and beautiful setting is an element of surprise.
