Case Study DaVita - Denver

A Culture of Well-Being in a Space That Flexes

In the 1970s, who would have known the impact the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Program would have on healthcare today? With near universal coverage for every patient suffering from kidney failure, healthcare providers have been challenged by a growing need. Fueled by projected growth, DaVita decided to relocate its world headquarters from El Segundo, California, to Denver, Colorado. The move would make them more centrally situated to serve patients, with access to a talented pool of employees, mass transit, and affordable living.

DaVita executives took the opportunity to build a new facility—located in a burgeoning neighborhood near Denver’s Union Station—that would include elements of the organization’s distinct culture. Having already outgrown Tower 1 (Casa del Mundo) since its construction, DaVita focused on their next project: Tower 2, which they would name Casa Vida—a flexible workplace that fosters well-being.

Community First

DaVita is an adaptation of an Italian phrase that means “giving life.” The essence of this concept underscores not only the organization’s mission but also its culture. They call it The DaVita Way—a passion for caring for fellow employees as much as patients. This community-focused, democratic approach takes everyone into consideration—which is why the new building needed to be so much more than an office space.

At the same time, Casa Vida would provide the flexibility—in both the function of the space and its aesthetics—to change as the organization evolves and expands. Leadership deliberately challenged the design team to create this flexible footprint using a kit of parts from a single source for the sake of simplicity. Freestanding furnishings adapt to future needs and floorplate reconfigurations through integrated functionality and consistent aesthetic.

The DaVita Way

When you’ve got 19 floors to work with and a culture of inclusivity, you get lots of input on design layout and materials. DaVita engaged more than 1,000 of its employees in the design process. Located across the country, teammates weighed in on floorplans and colors. Each floor supports its own subculture, conveyed by the different collaborative spaces throughout Casa Vida and expressed by the warm, friendly theme, “Colorful Colorado.” Social and high impression spaces offer unique branding opportunities, like a ski-lodge motif in the first-floor lobby and signage that conveys its commitment to employees, customers, and heritage.

Well-being was a strong driver for this organization, laying the foundation for Casa Vida’s role in the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of teammates. On the top floor is a dining area with views of the Rocky Mountains. Open stairways encourage walking and atriums bring the natural elements inside. Everyone has a view from their desk, with 98 percent of teammates enjoying direct access to sunlight. Three outdoor terraces offer places for fresh air and workspaces outside, furnished with elegant yet resilient JANUS et Cie products from Haworth Collection.

Easy to Reconfigure as Needs Evolve

One lesson DaVita learned from the Casa del Mundo project was that future spaces need built-in flexibility—from the walls to the furniture. This led to a design solution employing Haworth’s Integrated Palette™ product platform, which includes the modularity of Enclose® demountable walls, Compose® systems furniture, and other furnishings. Designed to work together, they offer the integrated function and aesthetic cohesion required to reconfigure floorplans in the future—and that means every component, from private offices to open-plan workstations and collaborative spaces. Accent colors were deliberately designed into the architectural elements and ancillary furnishings in social spaces to complement the palette.

A Model Headquarters Where People Can Thrive

The move to Denver positioned DaVita to grow while providing superior healthcare outcomes—and so much more. In a community that aligns with its corporate values, DaVita is empowered to pursue its mission as the provider, partner, and employer of choice. Now an iconic element of the Denver skyline, DaVita’s new world-class headquarters is a model for promoting well-being and conveying culture—and poised for future expansion.