WHAT'S UP Blog

The Novu Campus at Zurich Airport is a forward-looking workplace that sets new standards for flexibility, collaboration and user experience. Since opening in 2025, the modern working environment at The Circle has offered an inspiring setting for a wide variety of working styles across more than 4,000 m² and three floors – from quiet co-working spaces and dynamic team offices to spacious meeting and event areas for up to 240 people. Around 300 workstations, 200 of which are in dedicated areas and membership-based, are available to users.

The SA8000 standard is an international standard that sets binding requirements for social responsibility within companies and throughout the entire supply chain. For Sedus, it is much more than just a certificate – it is an expression of lived values, ethical principles and a clear commitment to fairness, safety and transparency. But what does this mean in concrete terms for employees? Which aspects of the standard are particularly important to them in their everyday work?

With the introduction of the SA8000 standard for social responsibility in the workplace, Sedus took another important step towards transparency and sustainable corporate management in 2023. However, the implementation of this internationally recognised standard not only had an impact on processes and structures – above all, it changed the way people communicate and collaborate within the company.

The introduction of the SA8000 standard brings numerous positive changes, but it can also pose significant challenges for companies. At Sedus, these were successfully overcome through cross-departmental collaboration, process optimisation, and active knowledge sharing.

The introduction of the SA8000 standard has brought about noticeable changes at Sedus. Today, it influences work processes, strengthens supply chain management and promotes awareness of fair working conditions throughout the company and along the supply chain. This is not just about compliance with standards, but also about a more conscious and transparent corporate culture.

As the modern workplace continues to evolve, spaces that are more than merely functional are growing in importance - spaces that inspire, connect and invite people to linger. Work cafés fulfil exactly this role: fostering interaction, offering retreats and encouraging creativity. Yet not every work café is identical. Depending on use and ambience, different spatial typologies - or archetypes - offer guidance for design.

In partnership with the agency Zukunftstil, Sedus has identified four such archetypes: Hub, Club, Library and Garden. Each embodies a distinct atmosphere and addresses specific needs. When combined with suitable furniture, colour palettes and flexible modules, a work café emerges that is not simply visually appealing, but feels like a second home.

Once again, a new participation record was set at the Sedus RUN: with around 530 registrations, more running enthusiasts than ever before took to the starting line this year. In perfect late summer weather, they mastered the 5 and 10 km courses. And even the youngest participants had the chance to show off their speed in the Kids RUN.

Fire protection is a key issue in public buildings, offices and commercial properties – and it's not just about the structural measures. Furnishings also play an important role and often have to meet specific requirements. Sedus takes this responsibility seriously with clear quality standards and offers furniture fabrics that are not only functional and attractive, but also safe.

When people picture a traditional staff break room, images of a small kitchenette, a coffee machine and perhaps a standing table. Yet forward-thinking organisations have moved well beyond that idea. In today’s increasingly hybrid, flexible, and people-centred working world, new spatial concepts are gaining significance. One in particular is attracting attention: the Work Café.

In the age of hybrid working, the physical workplace is not becoming redundant – on the contrary, it is becoming a valuable resource. However, we need to rethink it. The office has long been more than just a place for concentrated work. It is a space where intellectual, physical and emotional aspects come together, and which reflects the social and cultural DNA of a company.

How is our working environment changing, and what role does colour play in this? Jutta Werner, founder of the Zukunftstil agency, brings more than just colour expertise to interior design—her trend research is deeply rooted in social change and awareness. In collaboration with Sedus, she develops working environments that inspire, connect and make the future possible – with style, substance and the courage to use colour.

Work has changed dramatically in recent years. Hybrid working is now the norm, blending the best of both worlds: the focus and flexibility of working from home with the social connection and structure of the office. But with this freedom comes a new challenge.

Our days are saturated with digital tools, endless communication channels, and constant stimuli. Always-on availability, long hours in front of screens, and multitasking have become standard. The result? Digital fatigue. Mental strain builds up quietly, showing up as poor concentration, restlessness, and disrupted sleep.

That’s why forward-thinking workplaces are taking a holistic approach to wellbeing – creating spaces that encourage mindfulness, recovery, and movement. The Work Café is more than a spot for coffee. It’s a counterbalance to sensory overload. A place to pause, breathe, and recharge.

Surrounded by greenery – yet right in the middle of your working day: the Garden Work Café archetype brings nature into the office and opens up new perspectives on productive working. Inspired by biophilic design principles, it strengthens the connection between people and nature – with positive effects on well-being, creativity and concentration. Whether for quiet individual work or informal team meetings, the garden is a versatile space that naturally combines all working modes.

In June 2025, the Sedus Hub Berlin hosted the official launch event of Women in Office Design Germany—an evening defined by depth of content, personal conversations, and the courage to take a stance. The event, curated and led by WOD Germany, marked a significant step toward amplifying female voices in architecture, design and workplace strategy.

Although at first glance it is associated with quiet reading rooms or public libraries, the library has a very unique, contemporary role in the modern office: it is a place of retreat – a place where concentrated work, tranquillity and discretion are the focus. The Work Café archetype 'Library' represents a calm and understated atmosphere that is ideal for all modes of work while offering privacy and structure.

In modern office life, places to retreat are just as important as inspiring meeting places. This requires spaces that combine tranquillity, elegance and discretion – exactly where the Work Café archetype 'Club' comes into play. As a versatile room type, it offers a relaxed, stylish environment for all working modes and creates a special atmosphere reminiscent of an exclusive business lounge.

In the modern working world, the boundaries between formal work, social interaction and individual fulfilment are becoming blurred. This is precisely where the Hub Work Café comes in - as a lively meeting point and functional all-rounder, it is the central place in the office where all the threads come together - communicative, collaborative and unconventional. In this article, you will learn more about the Hub archetype and see examples for use in practice.

In a working world that is increasingly focusing on flexibility, creativity and collaboration, work cafés are becoming more and more important as hybrid meeting zones in the office. They combine an informal atmosphere with functional design and create spaces that invite people to work, exchange ideas and linger. However, not every work café is the same - different environments are required depending on the mood, task or needs of the employees.

Sedus Stoll AG has officially committed to the Science Based Targets (SBTs) of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), thereby committing itself to short and medium-term climate targets that are in line with the 1.5-degree target of the Paris Climate Agreement. With this step, the company is emphasising its responsibility for climate protection and sending a strong signal for sustainable business practices within the office furniture industry.

Our working world is changing - and so is the office environment. Instead of rigid structures and a constant obligation to be present, we are experiencing a new flexibility. Home offices, remote working and hybrid working models have long been established. It's not just the places where we work that are changing, but also our expectations of the office. Today's employees are looking for inspiring, flexible and welcoming spaces - spaces that are more than just a desk.