In addition to providing efficient and flexible workspace for the organisation, the JetBrains campus creates a sense of belonging to its occupants, not just to the industry, but also to the community and the city.
The campus has been designed in full detail, including JetBrains’ specific approach to work culture, which led to custom made healthy workstations for all 1,000 newly housed employees.
Central to the design is the large, vertically stepped, indoor atrium. This generous open space, which connects to an outdoor courtyard and outdoor terraces, simultaneously provides clear and expansive views of the Gulf of Finland.
The atrium forms the core of the new JetBrains community, as it creates the conditions for physical, mental, social and environmental health. This ample open space contrasts with the office floors, which are based on team and individual focus, rather than an open plan approach.
Central meeting rooms, breakout spaces, auditoriums and the central restaurant are all organised along the stepped atrium. Bridges span the large open areas, while carefully designed and intertwined biophilia forms the natural backdrop for all activities.
Acting as a vestibule, the imposing lobby creates the first views towards the atrium, while providing cloakroom facilities, showers and exercise spaces.
The courtyard on the podium level provides an intimate outdoor overflow space that is embraced by an active gallery connected to the existing office buildings. In UNStudio’s proposal the galleries are used as an orangery and winter garden for outdoor plants, which can then be placed outdoors in the Summer months.
The facade design embraces a sustainable approach, blocking heat gain while providing daylight. For the large atrium, a highly transparent stable zigzag glazed facade was chosen, at times spanning five floors.
In addition to a soft acoustic shading device on the inside of the glazed skin, cantilevers shade the facade. The lower and upper volumes use a rational grid facade, composed of unitised elements. Protruding glazed ceramic elements provide shading, reflect light, and create a tactility and reflection that will play with the constantly changing light of the skies over St. Petersburg and the Gulf.
UNStudio won the contract to design the JetBrains office via an international competition at the end of 2019. The firm further developed the design in 2020 and construction is scheduled to begin later in 2021.