Q2 2024
Dear Readers,
I am pleased to introduce our first newsletter in Europe focusing on facility management and real estate within our company. Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest developments, initiatives, and best practices in these crucial areas. As we continue to innovate and improve our workspaces, we remain committed to creating environments that foster productivity, collaboration, and sustainability.
I encourage you to stay engaged with these updates and be an active part of our efforts to enhance our facilities. Your dedication and contributions are vital to our collective success.
Best regards,
Mario A. Libonati
Head of Operations Europe
New Europe IOPS Organization Chart
We are excited to share with you our updated organization chart, which reflects recent changes and strategic realignments within our team. This new structure is designed to enhance collaboration and streamline decision-making.
Our offices: What’s happening?
Latest updates and insights on the activities and developments taking place across our office locations. From new projects and space enhancements to office moves, stay informed about how we’re continually working to create a productive and comfortable work environment for everyone.
Arbor building to become new Wipro headquarters in London
Wipro will establish its new London headquarters in the Arbor building, with a 15-year lease on 24,500 sq ft over the top floors of the building. Read full article here.
About Arbor
Situated within Bankside Yards, Arbor is a 28,000m luxury office space that was completed in 2024, and Wipro will be among its first tenants. We will occupy the top floors of this 19 storey high-rise - half of the 17th floor and the entire 18th and 19th floors.
The development comprises 8 diverse public spaces, 3 cultural areas, 14 arches with wellness programs and social activities; all of which links into London’s cultural network along the Thames’ South Bank.
It is easily accessible by public transport - the closest mainline and TfL stations being Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Waterloo East, Southwark and London Bridge.
Arbor is an all-electric building, powered by renewable energy and has been operating at carbon net zero from day one. It utilises the wider 5th generation energy network, which means that it uses 30% less energy than current best practice standards. Each building within Bankside Yards operates on this system, which extracts energy into the low-temperature network and utilises heat pump technology to exchange ambient thermal energy. This network (on a scale not yet seen in the UK) could be up to 60% more energy efficient than the earlier networks typically used.
Construction of the building began in 2020. To minimize the impact on the environment, Arbor's construction was powered through a renewable energy tariff, which saved more than 480 tonnes of CO2(e) each year - equivalent to 588 acres of forest. On its surface, smart self-adjusting closed cavity façade units have been installed which further minimizes the building’s environmental load. Arbor also benefits from a bio-diverse green roof, which encourages local wildlife and promotes ecology.
New office opening in Warsaw – Varso Tower
Varso Tower, Warsaw’s tallest skyscraper offers numerous advantages and stunning features. This state-of-the-art building provides breathtaking panoramic views of the city, ensuring an inspiring work environment. Its modern design and cutting-edge facilities, including high-speed elevators and advanced security systems, enhance efficiency and convenience. Located in the heart of Warsaw, Varso Tower offers excellent connectivity with public transport and easy access to the city’s business hubs, restaurants, and cultural attractions. The tower also includes amenities like fitness centers, green spaces, and dining options, promoting a balanced and vibrant work-life experience.
Warsaw exciting office is on the 39th floor and has 39 workstations, 1 board room with 10 seats and 2 phone booths.
With an inviting reception, the space also features a kitchen with dinning and lounge space.
Wipro moved to Capco office in Frankfurt
With the closure of the WestendGate office in Frankfurt, the Wipro team moved to the existing Capco office in Opernplatz 14, 60313 Frankfurt am Main.
Events Highlights
Your go-to spot for information on Q1 activities and gatherings within our facilities. Whether it's community-building events, training sessions, or important meetings, you'll get a peek of what happened in the last months across Europe.
Amsterdam - Advisory event hosted by Bart de Vaan
Stockholm - Welcome gathering for Sarat Chand as the new SMU for Northern Europe
Stockholm - Eid al-Fitr celebration
Paris - Café Gourmand
Paris - Tea Tasting
London - Gaydio Programme in partnership with Wipro & The Princes Trust – LGBTQ+ Month
London - Culture Day
London - Berkeley Networking
Reading - Culture Diversity event
Zurich - Return To Office – Lunch Break Catchup
Zurich - Farewell to René Mulder, Country Head & Managing Director for Switzerland for the past 4 years
Maia - Visit of the Commercial Representative at the Embassy of India in Lisbon, Mr. Ronnie Spurgeon
Facility Focus – Key Insights for Operations
Navigating New Normal: The Impact of Remote Work on Facility Management
Let’s get straight to the point: Remote work is fundamentally altering the landscape of facility management, and not always for the better. What was once a well-oiled machine is now riddled with inefficiencies and unpredictability.
The reality: The shift to remote work has disrupted traditional space utilization patterns, leading to underused facilities and escalating operational costs. These issues are not minor, they are significant disruptions that undermine the efficiency of our facility management practices.
Why it matters: Facility management is about more than just maintaining physical spaces; it’s about optimizing those spaces to drive productivity, collaboration, and community. Remote work is diluting these objectives, fragmenting the workplace, and making it harder to maintain cohesive and effective environments.
The hard truth: If we don’t address this issue now, we’re setting ourselves up for operational inefficiencies and a fractured workplace experience. Remote work might be here to stay, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore the chaos it’s causing in our facilities.
Why settle for a disjointed approach when we can rethink and reclaim control over our facilities? Facility management professionals must lead the charge in adapting to this new reality, ensuring our spaces continue to deliver value, even as the work landscape evolves.
