Heijmans’s Virtual Office in Microsoft Mesh
Travel & Transport
Enhancing Collaboration
in a Hybrid Workplace
About Heijmans
Heijmans N.V. is a Dutch construction and development company founded in 1923. What initially started as a road building firm evolved over the years into a construction enterprise. Nowadays Heijmans specialize in property development, construction and technical services, and infrastructure.
Above all, Heijmans’s main mission centers around creating a healthy living environment and they are committed to sustainability and innovation.
The Challenge
After COVID, many employees worked from home but felt the need to return to the office. Heijmans wanted to offer a hybrid solution that balanced the work from home with the need for office space. The goal was that even though people would not physically attend meetings, they would still be in a familiar work environment. That way, the employees working from home and those working in the office would have the same experience.
Moreover, another goal was to explore VR collaboration in a way that felt natural and connected to their daily workspace.
Heijmans’s Solution for Hybrid Work – Microsoft Mesh Custom Environment
To find the hybrid work solution that fits the needs of their employees, Heijmans partnered with Recreate to bring one of their buildings, the Hive, to life in VR. As a result, a custom environment was created in Microsoft Mesh that employees can access and experience the space remotely. Key features include:
- A Realistic Office – The virtual space mirrors The Hive and this provides a familiar environment for employees
- Team Communication – Employees can join meetings, present ideas, and collaborate like they would in person
- Interactive Workspaces – Users can share documents and brainstorm in real time
- Full Mobility – Employees can navigate the office and visit different rooms
- Easy Microsoft Teams Integration – Heijmans already used Teams so integrating Microsoft Mesh was easy. This allowed employees to smoothly transition into the VR workspace
This new Microsoft Mesh Custom Environment for Heijmans made hybrid work into an immersive and engaging experience. Employees can connect, collaborate, and navigate their office space remotely while still feeling at home. This project highlights how VR can enhance remote work and also keep teams engaged while maintaining the familiarity of a physical office.
