![]() ![]() And what better way to find out what employees needed than by simply asking them directly? Understanding the needs and desires of the staff was critical before moving forward with the design. The team saw only one way to approach the project: employees first. Inside the towers, special attention needed to be paid to integrate technology, increase natural light, and create flow from one building to the next. The exterior, a cement-clad, fortress-like façade did not match Kronos’ desire for a warm, welcoming world headquarters. Built in the 1980s, Cross Point was an industrial-looking structure that posed quite a design challenge. While the new site met the overall space requirements, the building - in its current state - lacked Kronos’ vibrant energy. Touted as a next generation workplace, Cross Point offered 1.2 million square feet to accommodate Kronos’ future growth and a comprehensive study showed that the majority of Kronites would have a shorter commute to the new building. We wanted it to offer some of the comforts of home while supporting work-life balance,” said Jonathan Proffitt, Vice President of Global Real Estate for Kronos. “We were looking for our space to inspire and engage our employees. Multiple sites and buildings were considered over a two year period including locations in Waltham, Burlington, and Lowell in the end Kronos found its new home in Lowell’s Cross Point complex. Kronos needed a great location that worked for their staff, had room for growth, adequate parking, and the right overall feel for their brand and team. Kronos needed to move - finding the right location and space was critical. It was even difficult to effectively incorporate workplace technologies within the existing space. They also desired more quiet focus zones and social community spaces for Kronites to effectively work. Kronos was an early-adopter of the open office concept, but, due to limitations and space constraints in their current buildings, Kronos experienced multiple roadblocks fulfilling workplace strategy goals, including providing ample common amenity space and collaborative meeting space. They needed to create a desired “place” for its current and future workforce. Kronos is keenly aware that its workplace serves as an important tool to attract and retain top talent. The goal of the new space was to consolidate multiple locations to one central location, accommodate tremendous growth, and demonstrate a strong commitment to employees. At the time Kronites were spread out over three buildings - the separation diminished face-to-face meetings, disconnected key functions, and created negative cultural perceptions about the “haves” and “have-nots.” Massachusetts’ largest technology employer needed to bring its 1,700 Massachusetts-based Kronites back together – under one roof – to break down the silos that formed over time and foster the deep connections inherent in their culture. By 2015, with their explosive growth, it was clear that Kronos needed to think strategically about its real estate footprint. The $1.2 billion company occupied a 330,000-square-foot office in Chelmsford, MA that it called home since 2000. Kronos has been recognized eight times as one of the Boston Business Journal’s Best Places to Work and for the second consecutive year as one of the healthiest employers.įounded in 1977 as a manufacturer of time clocks, Kronos has evolved into a global leader providing software and cloud applications for workforce management and now employs over 5,000 people worldwide. And Kronites care about more than just work - they recognize the need to maintain a healthy work-life balance. ![]()
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