The challenge
The municipality of Lievegem was created through the merger of the former municipalities of Lovendegem, Waarschoot and Zomergem. Although plans already existed for a new administrative building in Lovendegem, these had been developed prior to the merger. As a result, the building did not fully align with the new organizational reality.
Municipal services were spread across multiple locations, leading to limited collaboration, fragmented knowledge sharing and a lack of an integrated organizational culture. At the same time, there was a clear ambition to transition towards activity-based working, which requires a fundamental behavioral shift from both employees and leadership.
The key question was therefore how to integrate the different services and teams into a single building in a way that strengthens collaboration, accommodates diverse work needs and supports the broader merger ambition.
brainmove approach
brainmove initiated the project with an in-depth analysis phase, based on a combination of profile analyses, occupancy measurements and interactive workshops. These insights enabled the development of a well-founded workplace concept aligned with the activities, needs and dynamics of the different services.
In parallel, a functional analysis of the existing building plans was carried out. This focused on optimizing the building into a differentiated work environment, with dedicated spaces for collaboration, focus, meetings and confidentiality.
In a second phase, brainmove supported the development of a shared vision on collaboration and the work environment, explicitly linked to the merger context of Lievegem. The workplace was positioned as a strategic lever to strengthen integration and collaboration.
This was followed by a comprehensive change program, including user training, the co-creation of behavioral agreements with an ambassador group and a leadership trajectory to prepare managers for their new role within an activity-based work environment.
Strong emphasis was also placed on internal communication, aimed at increasing awareness and engagement. Through a mix of intranet, brochures, information sessions and inspiration sessions, employees were informed and guided through the impact of the change.
Finally, brainmove supports the communication around the move and foresees an evaluation phase to structurally assess the impact on collaboration, usage and behavior.
Result
The integration of the different services into a single building acts as a lever for stronger collaboration and knowledge sharing. Employees connect more easily, build new relationships and develop a better understanding of each other’s expertise.
The new work environment supports different work modes and stimulates activity-based behavior, contributing to a more efficient and flexible organization.
At an organizational level, this results in a more integrated culture, aligned with Lievegem’s merger ambition. The workplace thus functions not only as a physical environment, but as a catalyst for structural behavioral change and sustainable collaboration.
