Aruba Customer Experience Center: A New Paradigm in Interior Design

Blending Human Relationships and Technology in a Unique Interactive Space

What sets the Aruba Customer Experience Center apart is its inspiration - human relationships. The design aims to create a space that supports the flourishing of human connections, making the space an active tool in the development of diverse customer and employee relationships. The result is a wireless mobility park that is open to everyone, regardless of labels, ranks, or technical know-how.

The purpose of the Aruba Customer Experience Center is to create customized experiences for visitors. The space allows Aruba experts and executives to share their company story, build relationships, and highlight key products and solutions, all while leaving an impression that is both educational and memorable. The experience of the space focuses not only on providing connectivity but also on demonstrating and bridging the gap between the digital and physical environments.

Realizing this design required a close collaboration with Aruba engineers. The team identified necessary technology to showcase and created a list of smart technology needs to physical product demonstrative needs. Instead of conventional product displays, interactive vignettes were created where guests experience the real uses of Aruba technology. This provides Aruba customers with two integral experiences - the end-user public-facing journey and the back-end daily technology uses of network administrators.

The design covers approximately 3,100 square meters or over 10,000 square feet of space. It offers a variety of physical spaces where technology is showcased in real-world applications. Each area has its own nuanced way of showcasing technology that demonstrates the entire process. The project started in April 2016 and was completed in March 2017, with the grand opening held in April 2017 at the Aruba facility in Santa Clara, California.

Designing the Aruba Customer Experience Center was not without its challenges. The building was under construction when the design process began, requiring reliance on architectural drawings and imagination to create the overall tone and atmosphere of the space. The second challenge was to fulfill and address the company wish list and concerns without ending up in an incoherent hodgepodge of spatial elements. However, these challenges were successfully overcome, resulting in a design that not only reflects the culture of Aruba but also meets the needs of its staff and visitors.

The Aruba Customer Experience Center is a testament to the power of design in shaping human experiences. It is a space that not only provides connectivity but also adds the context of Identity, Location, and Security – demonstrating and bridging the gap between digital and physical environments. It is no surprise that this design was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2018, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.