Armstrong World Industries Campus Strategy

Project Type: Strategy

Lancaster, PA
2021

Role
Lead Strategist, Change Management Lead

Description
Armstrong World Industries partnered with Gensler to transform their existing campus to reflect their forward-thinking culture and innovative design and manufacturing heritage. Optimized for workplace flexibility and digitalization, the workplace will reflect AWI’s unflinching leadership and pioneering spirit on a campus that is as bold and innovative as the AWI brand.

Outcome
When renovations are complete, the Lancaster, PA headquarters will boldly celebrate the AWI brand with innovative labs and healthy spaces that demonstrate a commitment to resilience in a post-COVID-19 world. These living labs will elevate wellness and sustainability while spearheading the launch of new products, test driving mock-ups, and connecting with customers in unique ways.

Following the conclusion of the strategy effort, AWI committed to a 10,000 square foot pilot workplace to beta test new health-focused solutions and emerging innovations in workplace design.

The Gensler team gathered and analyzed multiple data points (engagement survey, vision session, focus groups, trend research, benchmark comparison) to understand AWI culture, business practices, and core values. The following discovery activities provided a strong foundation upon which to build recommendations for the headquarters workplace strategy and program recommendations

The Gensler team built out an action plan to address the goals identified as a result of in-depth research. In order for AWI to manage a substantial change to their campus, the design recommendation needed to be phased over 3 years, to better align with budget, and ensure adoption with an extended transition period. This elongated project timeline allowed AWI to accommodate a fluctuating headcount and address long-term sustainability and environmental concerns.

Our Gensler team worked together, both strategists and designers, to create a comprehensive programming and design scenario to illustrate the scale, impact and cost of the effort. The final campus strategy combined company priorities, design strategies, sustainable practices and a comprehensive change management program to support the transition. AWI approved the long term overhaul, but because of the large scale investment required, the organization identified a 10,000 SF area on campus to pilot the new workplace strategies and change management practices. That effort became Phase 2.