In an era where data drives every strategic decision, physical workplaces need to support data. Cisco recognized its own need to build a data-driven, future-proofed workplace in Austin, TX. This fall, Cisco unveils its latest new workplace, optimizing productivity, well-being, and sustainability, all powered by real-time insights and Cisco technology. It demonstrates how designing for data can revolutionize corporate real estate and set a new standard for intelligent, future-proofed workplaces. Here’s how we did it.
The racecar: A blueprint for the modern office
This fall, F1 racing fanatics from around the world will descend upon Austin, TX to watch their favorite team’s Formula 1 cars compete on the racetrack in the 2025 US Grand Prix. These vehicles serve as symbols of absolute optimization – every component engineered for the sake of efficiency.
On the circuit, Cisco helps power McLaren, arming their vehicles with access to the greatest data and technology on the market. But eleven miles away from the Grand Prix, in the heart of Austin, Cisco has its own new kind of machine, every inch thoughtfully designed and equipped with Cisco technology to carry the enterprise to victory in a different race: The AI race. Engineered to perfection, Cisco’s newest future-proofed workplace debuts this fall: Austin 15.
Built from a smart building blueprint that started with PENN 1, this scalable model has been deployed in major cities worldwide — enabling rapid rollout and consistent experiences for employees and customers across our entire real estate footprint.
Out of alignment: Why our Austin workplace needed a tune-up
For Cisco, our workplaces in Austin were due for a refresh. They did not reflect our innovative culture — designed with the needs of the past in mind, not the needs of today and tomorrow. These office designs suffered several key challenges:
- Suboptimal employee experiences: Outdated technology and environments created friction for users, hindering satisfaction and productivity. Aging collaboration technology, limited meeting room availability, and subpar overall comfort made it difficult for offices to provide a compelling reason for employees to come into the office.
- Lack of actionable data insights: Without granular data on space utilization and employee preferences, it was difficult to strategically optimize office space for collaboration, productivity, and efficiency.
- Poor space utilization and capital expenditure waste: Under-utilized spaces contributed to unnecessary capital expenditures and real estate spend.
- Sustainability challenges: Manual controls for lighting, blinds, and HVAC systems were inefficient, leading to higher energy consumption and costs, and failing to meet corporate sustainability goals.
After years of making do, it became clear: we needed to reallocate resources and redesign the office in a way that would meet the needs of our employees for decades to come. In Spring 2024, we signed a lease on a 24,000 square foot facility that would become Cisco’s crown jewel in Austin: Austin 15.
Precision engineering: Crafting a workplace that wins
Like the Formula 1 car, our pit crew is well-versed in deploying in different locations around the world. Having already manufactured a known and repeatable process for smart offices in New York, Atlanta, Washington DC, San Jose, London, Paris, and more, the team knows how to deliver modern workplaces quickly and efficiently. This crew consists of our Workplace Resources (WPR) and IT teams. Taking inspiration from the racecar, they wanted to design for data in Austin, making data-generating sensors just as much of a necessity as tables and chairs. By taking a platform approach, the team built an agile and resilient workplace that sets a new standard for commercial real estate optimization.
But when we talk about this optimization, what does it actually look like?
Under the hood: The nuts and bolts that carry us to victory
Austin 15 is a showcase of what’s possible with the Cisco portfolio, delivering future-proofed workplaces designed for data. This designing for data approach unlocks outcomes for organizations:
- Revolutionized insights for real estate management: When every Cisco Collaboration device is a sensor, it becomes easy to track room usage, air quality, temperature, humidity, noise, and more. Cisco Spaces turns that data into insights, revolutionizing real estate management in the process. This level of data intelligence enables strategic decision-making, like optimizing our furniture, room layouts, workspace distribution, and HVAC systems for what best suits our employees, turning every space into a smart space. All of this is enabled by Cisco’s Catalyst 9500 and Catalyst 9300X Switches — a high-performance, secure network foundation that powers the entire workplace.
- Frictionless employee experiences and enhanced productivity: Cisco Collaboration devices deliver exceptional experiences for our employees and customers alike. Cisco Desk Series and Cisco Board Pro devices make connections feel seamless, achieving “distance zero” meetings, and supporting all the ways people work. On all these devices, Cisco’s AI Assistant enables more intelligent and informed decision-making, helping users work faster, smarter, and more securely. Cisco Wireless access points deliver fast and secure Wi-Fi 7, offering employees resilient connectivity and enabling Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra Wideband (UWB) to support in-office navigation and other seamless applications.
- Faster deployment and greater operational efficiency: Once the physical network setup took place in Austin, we provisioned and configured every device on the network in 8 minutes — a process that used to take many hours — using the plug and play functionality of Cisco Catalyst Center. Even better, we did it remotely, so our IT experts didn’t even need to be onsite. With every device on the network connected via 90W Power over Ethernet (PoE), every device only needs one cord — streamlining installation and cutting costs.
- Enhanced sustainability, cost savings, and security: We achieved both LEED and WELL certifications in Austin, validating our commitment to energy efficiency, sustainability, and employee wellness. By leveraging smart office technology across digital and physical environments, we get visibility into our energy and water usage, ultimately lowering our operating and maintenance costs.
- Comprehensive security protecting employees everywhere: Across digital and physical environments, Cisco’s robust, secure networking foundation is bolstered by Universal ZTNA and Cisco Identity Services Engine, protecting every user and device. This comprehensive security architecture ensures that Cisco safeguards employees in the office or wherever they work.
By leveraging the full breadth of Cisco’s integrated portfolio, we unify networking with collaboration and security to power future-proofed workplaces. Our architecture isn’t just built for today’s needs — it’s built to adapt and scale, ensuring our workplace is ready for tomorrow’s technology and workforce trends.
Into the fast lane: Accelerating workplace performance
For real estate leaders, every decision can be critical to the business. Stresses mount, and questions arise: How can our real estate portfolio be agile and adaptable to minimize risk? What types of spaces will earn the commute of my employees?
With the real-time utilization data and actionable insights we get from our own Cisco portfolio, our CIO and real estate leaders can see how they can optimize portfolio costs, drive sustainability, and enhance employee experience — all from a single pane of glass. In Austin, the data has already helped our real estate leaders provide a workplace that feels more dynamic and user-centric than anything they’ve ever felt before.
With the breadth of our portfolio, we’ve revolutionized the way we plan, operate, maintain, and grow our office space. From employees, to customers, to IT, and even the planet, everyone benefits from the workplace performance this portfolio delivers. As the AI race continues to unfold, we’ve built a racecar to take us to victory. All powered by Cisco.
Learn more about our journey from our CMO:
“Cisco Bets on Austin: Celebrating Our New Downtown Office”
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