As we celebrate 35 years of pioneering workplace strategy and innovation, our team spoke with existing customers to discuss their project highlights and insights.

This interview covers the ongoing collaboration with the City of Düsseldorf and their ambitious “New TVG Building” project. A venture that embodies the future of administrative spaces and dynamic, activity-based work environments. 

We sat down with key leaders Christiane Coors and Stefanie Hufenstuhl both who bring years of experience in public administration and are deeply involved in shaping the change management and office space concepts for the new technical administration building.  

Christiane Coors, with a strong background in municipal and state administration, has been managing this project since 2018. Stefanie Hufenstuhl, an administrative officer with a Bachelor of Laws and nearly two decades at Düsseldorf City Council, joined her on the project in 2020. Together, they are driving the evolution of workplace design and ABW (Activity Based Working) principles within the City of Düsseldorf.   

Keep reading to learn how this partnership is creating a transformative, sustainable workspace that aligns with Düsseldorf’s vision and reflects Veldhoen + Company's commitment to modern workplace strategy and change management.

Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf (LHD):  Veldhoen + Company has continuously supported the state capital Düsseldorf since 2019 with the introduction of a new way of working, specifically Activity Based Working (ABW).   

A few key areas that V+C has supported us with are:  

• Introducing ABW
• Developing a change concept
• Identifying stakeholders 
• Delivery of tailored stakeholder communication via workshops, interviews, etc. 

Veldhoen + Company built a crucial bridge that connects the change management and the building team. 

Our change team is active as a cross-functional support within the organisation together with Veldhoen + Company in conceptual workplace consulting. 

LHD: After many decades, Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf (LHD) is building a new administration building for around 3,000 employees. The employees are no longer accommodated in the traditional office structure. We are shifting towards a New Way of Working (NWOW).  

The challenge is to accompany the change process with employees, prepare them, drive adoption, and use the time wisely during the runway between now and move day (slated for 2031).  

Our goal for the change process is to create acceptance and excitement for the new building and the New Way of Working among employees. We are using the long transition period to execute in a meaningful way.

LHD is taking on a pioneering role in the administration - both in the NWoW and in accompanying the change process. However, this brings with it the challenge of setting up the process and involving the key stakeholders strategically.

We must develop a new mindset for the NWoW to best introduce ABW to employees and drive adoption.

LHD: The proximity to the Netherlands means that the wave for New Ways of Working has spilled over from Venlo/Utrecht to Nordrhein-Westfalen.  

The contact with Venlo came about through the building management department and the mayor at the time. This is how we connected with Michel at Veldhoen + Company.

We soon learned that we need to prepare and expand our awareness within our organisational and management culture rather than imposing views. This was a direct result from engaging with V+C on the topic of New Ways of Working.  

Our choice for change management to be centrally implemented to this extent, with a committed team (and not just on the side) was a direct result from V+C's expert advice. 

The building is still a long way off, but we are slowly realising that employees are becoming aware of the vision. They are asking themselves key questions like:

• What is desk sharing?
• What process changes need to be made?
• Does it make sense to implement this now?  

Some departments are now proactively approaching us as a change team to initiate changes even without the new building. 

LHD: In administration, people like to communicate among themselves; there is little exchange with other departments. 

Veldhoen + Company's methodology of engaging and understanding stakeholders, in combination with the appropriate and specific methods for data collection, has had a incredibly positive impact on our organisation.

 
"The most considerable success was engaging openly with the different parties and getting them to talk with each other, which has been an ongoing challenge in the administration until now.

Thanks to the ongoing collaboration with Veldhoen + Company, things are also slowly changing in the organisation towards more exchange. "  

At the beginning of the collaboration, the phrase “it works in the Netherlands, but not here” was often used among the workforce, but now that’s rarer. The unbiased attitude with which Veldhoen + Company treats LHD employees has earned a positive perception by the staff.

LHD: Veldhoen + Company distinguishes itself through its relaxed, open, understanding manner.  

"With decades of international experience in the field of New Ways of Working , V+C is more specialised than other consultancies.

While you can find other workplace consultancies, what makes Veldhoen + Company stand out in the market is their strong partnership-based approach and niche expertise."

Their cooperation is perceived as easy, creative, innovative, and inspiring.

The mindset is constructive. It's always a consultation at eye level, an appreciative and partnership-based interaction. Our input from an administrative perspective is considered and valued by V+C.

LHD: Above all, it’s the motivation towards change. V+C inspires project staff to  think about things differently.  

We appreciate that V+C is openly involved in the topic, no matter what. We have witnessed a unique approach and complete commitment to every project.  V+C succeeds at finding tailored solutions that fit partner goals. 

LHD: Our current project with V+C is already the future for the public administration sector. We believe that the world of work will become even faster, more flexible, and independent in the future. 

Administration trends towards a rigid and inflexible approach typically. The administration is driven by “we've always done it this way.”

It's more comfortable to go with the established, well-worn, and familiar.  

Yet, the administration has a clear mandate to fulfill that is driven by laws and strongly bound by federal and state guidelines.  

The elected head of the city is also the head of the administration and mayors want to be re-elected. This is reflected in internal behaviour (budget, decision-making, etc).  

Providing security is high on the agenda. This means that being  flexible and innovative tends to be directed inwards and towards voluntary tasks.  

What we are doing is already super innovative and future-proof for the administration and we will continue this shift into the future. Stereotypical tasks will tend to decline because of AI and digitalisation, which will help to make the way we work faster and more agile. 

LHD: V + C knows and understands the organisation quickly in all its complexity, both professionally and personally. The team meets the organisation appropriately, openly and with understanding.

Veldhoen + Company brings creativity and innovation. The collaboration is always constructive, inspiring and at eye level which creates a feeling of ease. 

LHD: Continue with an open, unbiased approach towards the new.  

Spread the V+C mindset and the “can do” culture, especially in the German working world, it's urgently needed and fun! 

LHD: Inspiring.