Pfizer Digital Hub | Digital Innovation Center in Thessaloniki

Modern locality

The Digital Innovation Center of Pfizer in Thessaloniki is the first of its kind globally. The concept is built around the idea of localism, using the city’s unique culture, distinctive features, dominant colors, and materials as inspiration. These elements are seamlessly integrated into a modern, interactive workspace that reflects the essence of Thessaloniki.

Design Philosophy

The 7,000m² campus, focused on developing innovative digital solutions, is organized into workstations, breakout areas, and collaboration zones. It also features a cafeteria, wellness center, and fitness rooms for all employees. The layout is designed to promote close proximity, fostering interaction and strengthening social connections. Around the perimeter of the main building, “working neighborhoods” have been established, with shared spaces strategically placed next to the offices to encourage teamwork.

Spatial Layout

The heart of the campus is the “Agora,” a large, flexible workspace featuring rooms of various sizes and shapes. These spaces are separated by sliding writing surfaces, eco-friendly cork boards, and acoustic felt panels. Designed with the principles of flexible architecture, the layout allows for quick modification and adaptation to the needs of different groups. Connecting the central space to the private meeting rooms is the “Arcade” –a corridor adorned with hanging acoustic panels, illuminated signs, and a floor that evokes the charm of cobbled alleys. This corridor links the northern and southern “neighborhoods.” The interior design draws heavily from the cultural identity of Thessaloniki, incorporating sustainable, local materials and bold graffiti art. This fusion of heritage, contemporary culture, and technology is evident from the entrance colonnades, known as “Meet & Greet.”

Material Palette & Furniture

Natural timber is paired with perforated, colored terracotta bricks, reminiscent of the red brick found in Thessaloniki’s architecture. These organic materials are contrasted with the project’s core element -technology- highlighted by digital images displayed in a suspended lightbox above the entrance gates. From here, visitors are guided to an amphitheatrical “Square,” with a capacity of 260 people, serving as the primary gathering and presentation space. Work cafés, designed to resemble traditional Greek cafés, and a large central kitchen create a collaborative environment for work and dining, emphasizing this aspect of Greek culture.

The importance of feeling “at home” is immediately evident in the choice of furnishings and the harmonious materials on the lower level, which houses a wellness center complete with a gym, workout rooms, and massage areas. In the open space of this level, game “corners” and a reading room are also incorporated. The project stands as a successful example of a modern, inclusive work environment that encourages people to meet, connect, co-create, and interact.