Client projects: OMNES Education Cœur Défense

Cœur Défense: OMNES Education delivers a state-of-the-art campus

A high-profile project by OMNES Education – a genuine flagship of the reconstitution of the Inseec group under a new name – Cœur Défense covers an area of 13,500 m2 and hosts three different schools. Concerned about the well-being of its students, OMNES Education called on our expertise to provide them with flexible, fully ergonomic and environmentally-friendly spaces – current issues which form the basis of our values.

Generating learning dynamism

Located in the Cœur Défense 2 building, the strategic location for such an organisation, the aim was simply to create a new campus by moving existing schools. There was also a desire to transform the way lessons are conveyed which is why we took the time to listen to the customer’s needs, in order to meet their needs in the best possible way, by offering workspaces that can be adapted to the interdisciplinary nature of the courses offered by all schools. The introduction of new ways of working and the ever-increasing use of technology have made Kinnarps a key player in these developments.

Linking utility to comfort

Students who moved into the premises on 5 September 2022 immediately saw the difference: the era of partitioned managed work rooms and lecture halls as we know them is over and has now made way for the digitalisation of group activities where students must interact, exchange ideas and brainstorm in order to implement projects. The remit was to represent OMNES Education’s values through the furnishings offered and to provide the incoming students with spaces that stimulate them and allow them to develop their skills in faultless working conditions.

Rethinking the workspace

The customer’s objective was to base these fittings and furnishings on the new coworking spaces that are usually seen in new generation offices. Following a pandemic, doubts are allowed: how can you motivate students who have stayed at home for a year to reconnect with their teachers and regain the taste for in-person working after losing it in favour of remote working? These questions were the backbone of this project, which was to be huge. Therefore, we had to think about furniture that was both durable, i.e. able to support the hundreds of students who will use it each year, and ergonomic for the reasons we mentioned, yet also modular to meet everyone’s needs and desires.

“Quality of life at work”, these were words that were important to the customer. Students’ success and investment directly depends on how they feel when they study. While the presence of a play area where they can congregate around funny flipper games always makes a small difference, the introduction of alcoves, for example, allowed some to gather together to talk informally while working without disturbing others.

We therefore took the time to inform the customer about the importance of ergonomics, one of the pillars of our business. This not only translates into high-quality furnishings, but also into a pleasant sound environment, the right room temperature and ideal lighting for optimal school activities.

Administrative staff also benefited from new spaces with sit-stand workstations ideal for daytime movement and comfortable office chairs along with spacious meeting rooms for both formal and informal meetings.