Working at the Warsaw Headquarters of an American Biomedical Company. An Office Like a Laboratory [PHOTOS]
Laboratory design, a raw color palette, and at the same time a large kitchen as the heart of the office and a multifunctional wellness room. These are the contrasts found in the Exact Sciences biomedical company office.
- The Exact Sciences office project in the Lixa building by The Design Group shows that conscious design can turn limitations into value.
- The office covers nearly 700 sqm.
- The functional layout is dominated by open spaces – two open spaces for analytical teams, a third acoustically isolated area for the customer service department.
- The main source of inspiration for TDG architects for the Exact office design was the laboratory environment – its functionality and cleanliness.
- Minimalist aesthetics, a raw palette, laboratory inspirations and a clear functional layout come together here in a coherent whole.
- Instead of a dispersed system of coffee points, the decision was made to have one large kitchen forming the heart of the office.
- The functional layout is complemented by a multifunctional wellness room – a quiet, intimate space serving as a rest room, mother’s room, and quiet zone.
- The letter ‘X’ motif – present in the company’s name – was incorporated into the design, including through the arrangement of custom lighting integrated with acoustic baffles.
The Exact Sciences office, located in the Warsaw Lixa building, is a space where design works like a precisely calibrated laboratory – supporting focus, simplifying daily life, and building trust. Designed by The Design Group, it represents a response to the global guidelines of the American biomedical company, while also proving that limitations can become a source of design strength. Minimalist aesthetics, a raw palette, laboratory inspirations and a clear functional layout come together in a coherent whole – created with concentration, transparency and everyday work efficiency in mind.
Office architecture in service of coherence
The interiors of the Exact Sciences office, one of the leading American biomedical companies specializing in cancer diagnostics, exemplify a space where every detail has its rationale. The project, realized by The Design Group team of architects, was created in the Warsaw Lixa D building on Marcin Kasprzak Street. On nearly 700 m², a work environment was designed that fulfills the organization’s global standards while responding to local user needs and applicable regulations.
The concept and implementation were handled by the TDG team: Konrad Krusiewicz, Marta Konarska, Natalia Sztandor, and Masha Kharchuk. The work was carried out in close cooperation with the American Exact Sciences team responsible for office space development worldwide. The architects received precise aesthetic and functional guidelines. Their task was not only to faithfully replicate these assumptions but above all to skillfully anchor them in the local context.
Exact Sciences is an organization where everyday work is based on precision and responsibility. From the very beginning, we knew the office had to reflect these values – be clear, restrained, but polished in every detail – says Konrad Krusiewicz, architect and CEO of The Design Group.
Office space designed for focus and transparency
The Exact Sciences office was designed as a space supporting efficiency, concentration, and transparent communication. The functional layout is dominated by open spaces – two open spaces for analytical teams, a third acoustically isolated area for the customer service department. Complementary elements include management offices, a closed HR department, a workshop and training zone, and a full set of conference rooms. The whole was planned to avoid distracting users – both visually and acoustically – while supporting the work rhythm of teams.
A key value, emphasized by the client from the very beginning, was transparency – also in the literal sense. Management offices were not physically isolated from the rest of the office. Transparent glazing was used, emphasizing the transparency of the organizational culture. This layout fosters relationship building, shortens distances, and strengthens the sense of community within the team.
The approach to common functions is also noteworthy. Instead of a dispersed system of coffee points, the decision was made to have one large kitchen forming the heart of the office.
It is equally accessible from every part of the floor space, for both operational and management teams. It serves as a true “social hub”. Its design remains faithful to the project’s aesthetics: matte, minimalist fronts, a geometric tile pattern, and a dark stone island create a coherent, elegant composition. A wooden floor and soft seating warm up the space and balance the sterility of the laboratory inspirations.
– We wanted the office not to distract. Every element – from the arrangement of the rooms to the color scheme – was designed to support focus and order in the space – emphasizes Marta Konarska, lead designer of the Exact office.
The functional layout is complemented by a multifunctional wellness room – a quiet, intimate space serving as a rest room, mother’s room, and quiet zone. This is a solution that genuinely supports employees’ psychophysical wellbeing.
Aesthetics of precision in the office design
The main source of inspiration for TDG architects for the Exact office design was the laboratory environment – its functionality and cleanliness. Hence the interiors are dominated by raw yet elegantly finished elements, such as stainless steel and glass partitions with rounded corners. Everything designed with surgical precision, while maintaining balance and aesthetic discipline.
The minimalist palette – based on grays, white, and black – was treated as a compositional frame. TDG architects brought out its full potential, using subtle texture, shade, and reflection variations. Sterility was balanced with the warmth of the finishes and soft light, which translated into an atmosphere of focus.
– Minimalism in this case does not mean coldness. In this project, there is calm and order, but also friendliness. The idea was to create a place where you can focus, but also feel comfortable – adds Natalia Sztandor, lead designer of the Exact office.
In the symbolic layer, subtle references to the brand’s identity were not lacking. The letter “X” motif – present in the company’s name – was incorporated into the design, including through the arrangement of custom lighting integrated with ceiling acoustic baffles. The custom lamps emphasize branding, but in an unobtrusive way – consistent with the elegant discipline of the entire project.
In service of efficiency and flexibility
In an office designed with focus in mind, acoustics is of key importance. Acoustic spray was used throughout the office – visible in the entrance zone, communication areas, open spaces, reception, and cafeteria. Additionally, acoustic islands and ceiling baffles appear, reducing noise and improving work quality in common spaces. Each of these elements is aesthetically integrated into the design.
Moreover, the office operates on a clean desk model – without assigned workstations. Employees have a system of lockers opened with magnetic cards. In workshop rooms, flip-top mobile tables allow flexible space configuration depending on the nature of the meeting.
Office space with the future in mind
The Exact Sciences office project by The Design Group shows that conscious design can turn limitations into value.
– We worked within very restrictive global guidelines and remote process management, yet we managed to create a space that is functional, acoustically refined, and visually consistent with the brand’s identity – summarizes Konrad Krusiewicz.
It is a space that does not dazzle with form, but supports concentration and efficiency – exactly as the nature of work requires for an organization specializing in precision diagnostics.
The outcome of this collaboration is not only the realized space, but also a continuation – Exact Sciences decided to entrust The Design Group with designing the next phase of the office’s development. This is the best proof that quality, competence, and understanding of context have long-term value.
