START Global

START Global is a student organisation for the promotion of entrepreneurial talent.
Among other initiatives, the association hosts the START Summit and START Hack, the largest events in the Swiss startup ecosystem. START Global also maintains a network of local START chapters at universities worldwide and is committed to supporting young entrepreneurs with a fellowship programme.

For the new offices, it was decided that only second-hand furniture would be used, primarily for reasons of sustainability but also due to cost considerations. Together with Novu Office, Vitra took on this challenge with the aim of creating a high-quality, well-planned and contemporary office environment – not just a collection of whatever second-hand furniture was nearest at hand.

Many different sources were involved, including previous Vitra and Novu Office contract customers in Switzerland and Germany who no longer needed the furniture. The unpredictable nature of this type of procurement required complex logistics with interim storage in St. Gallen and an iterative method to implementation: the interior was planned room by room as furnishings arrived, defining a coherent overall concept that was discussed with START Global and subsequently installed. This approach required a great deal of trust from the client.

The result is an office landscape that consists of approximately 95% used furniture, and yet is in no way a compromise solution. The users are delighted with how inspiring, productive and functional a second-hand furniture project can be.

What was the top priority when you decided to plan a new campus?

As a student organisation, START Global had rented multiple spaces in various buildings at the University of St. Gallen. The main objective was to have our own premises with sufficient space and flexibility for different events. And because long-term, sustainable entrepreneurial thinking and action is one of START Global's core values, we furnished the campus almost exclusively with second-hand furniture.

How did you approach the design of the new campus? What were the requirements of the project?

It was clear from the outset that we were not planning a classic office building with a certain number of tables per square metre. Membership in the student association fluctuates considerably over the course of the year, which is why we modelled the concept more on the operations of seasonal hotels and event locations.

Did you ever question whether the target of 'over 90% circular furniture' for your campus might be too ambitious?

We quickly realised that a circular furniture project of this size could only be managed with professional partners, not least because of the logistics involved. In order to be able to handle the logistics of furniture delivery in addition to the ambitious conversion plan, renting a central, easily accessible warehouse made the process much easier.

How is START Global organised and run?

Although START Global is a student association, it is structured on the scale of a mid-sized company with over 100 students, with classic organisational units and responsibilities.

Why did you opt to work with Novu Office and Vitra when furnishing the new campus? What ultimately convinced you?

Novu Office understood us and our concerns from the very beginning. In our view, this and Vitra's experience and professionalism has been and remains a winning combination.

What feedback have you received from users and visitors to the space so far?

The users immediately felt at home and visitors have been very enthusiastic and like to come by for a coffee in addition to official events. That makes us happy because we've tried to create a place that people also enjoy using in their free time. The boundaries between work, eating, learning, relaxing, socialising, partying ... are very fluid.

What is your personal highlight on campus – what's your favourite spot?

As an amateur barista at the bar, behind the coffee machine - that's where everyone comes round.