Intel opens new facility in Penang, largest outside US to use new office design
By Digital News Asia February 20, 2013
- New building incorporates Intel Corp’s new plan for office design; more attention to work-life balance
- 153,000 sq ft of office space to house more than 10% of Intel Malaysia’s over 9,000 employees
INTEL Malaysia has officially opened the doors to its PG7 building, Intel’s largest project out of the United States that incorporates its new Corporate Office Standard, a new plan for office design.
Intel’s PG7 building was retrofitted from one of its existing properties in Penang’s Free Industrial Zone and boasts 153,000 sq ft of office space including a brand-new cafeteria, and will house more than 10% of Intel Malaysia’s over 9,000 employees.
“We have been looking forward to the launch of the PG7 building for a while now and I am glad to note that our wait has finally been rewarded with a brand new workspace where the Intel family can come together to continue the great work we’ve been doing since our establishment here in 1972,” said Robin Martin, Intel Malaysia managing director.
“Intel is investing in our work environment to make it more effective, efficient, productive, and enjoyable. Some of the many benefits of this new office design include flexible work areas, more conference rooms, and areas to encourage creativity and collaboration,” he said.
Intel’s new Corporate Office Standard started in 2007 in response to the need to update the company’s office environment to accommodate the latest technology, increase collaboration, provide for the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce, and improve utilization of its office assets.
Some of the new spaces added include community zones where employees can meet for 1:1s and team gatherings, collaboration rooms which are four-person conference rooms, phone booths which are one-to-two-person conference rooms for more private conversations, and new workstations with advanced ergonomic features (click to enlarge infographic).
“In addition to providing the best working environment for our employees, we also made sure that PG7 is eco-friendly as well,” said Alan Schijf, Intel’s Asia Pacific regional general manager for Corporate Services.
“We reused and recycled over 18,000 tons of material in the construction of PG7. That’s equivalent to around 2,570 truckloads of potential waste diverted from landfills towards their new potential,” he added.
Also present to officiate at the opening ceremony was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who said, “I’d like to commend Intel Malaysia for playing its part in spearheading an innovation-based economy in Malaysia.
“In making Malaysia one of Intel’s largest home bases in the world for over four decades, Intel has demonstrated its commitment to the country,” he added.
Intel Malaysia’s operations are conducted out of a high- tech campus with 10 buildings on the island as well as on the mainland in Kulim, Kedah. Today, Intel Malaysia runs its operations with key competencies that support Intel’s various platform challenges, the company said.
This includes its role as one of Intel’s largest Assembly, Test and Manufacturing (ATM) facilities contributing significantly to Intel Corporation’s high volume manufacturing.
In addition, Intel Malaysia has built strong credentials in design and development with two design centers in Malaysia under the Intel Architecture Group: a Chip Design Center in Penang and a Board Design Center in Kulim.
Intel Malaysia also plays a strategic role as the regional and global center for shared services in IT, Finance and Human Resources.
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