This year marks Green Park’s twenty-first anniversary as a premium business park, specialising in our occupiers’ health and wellbeing.
Share some memories, and see how we’ve all grown.
What were
we thinking?…
We all change over time — how we look, how we think — so we thought we would see how twenty-one years has changed us...
Click on the images below to see who and how.
“The vision for Green Park 21 years ago was to transform what was low quality grazing land into a world class business park. We wanted visitors to say “wow – how did they get permission to build there in that beautiful park”. I think this has been achieved, we do have an exceptionally beautiful environment. But its so much more. Green Park has set the standard in many ways, particularly around our community offer. We are incredibly proud to be continuing this tradition with our Wellbeing at Home offer during the crisis, which is an extension of our unbelievable programme of 465 on park events each year.”
Duncan Campbell | Campbell Gordon
“I was half way through an undergraduate degree in Theology in 1999, pondering the existence of God and drinking too much red wine. I loved feeling part of the community at a small Oxford college, which is one of the reasons I’m so pleased that the community aspects of life at Green Park are flourishing.”
Rory Carson | Mapletree
“21 years ago, I didn’t understand offices at all. I thought they were either big glass buildings in the City for accountants and bankers or pretty period buildings in market towns for local law firms.
I had no idea that they could be a place that connects you with a community, enlivens you and improves your mental and physical health. Green Park has always done these things and been at the forefront of what’s next, always putting the lives of its occupiers at the centre of its thinking.”
I had no idea that they could be a place that connects you with a community, enlivens you and improves your mental and physical health. Green Park has always done these things and been at the forefront of what’s next, always putting the lives of its occupiers at the centre of its thinking.”
Henry Harrison | Cushman & Wakefield
“21 years ago I had just started my career in London and every day and evening was spent meeting and connecting to new people to forge relationships and craft deals. I hope to continue the same, even as the way in which we work evolves, in the future.”
Paul Bailey | Mapletree
“Green Park has evolved for me over the last 21 years from a wind turbine seen out of a window, to a huge feature of my working life which I’m proud to be a part of, and it continues to grow and change today.”
Jake Booth | Campbell Gordon
“21 years ago I always remember my Dad going to work in a suit every day and a ‘day at the office’ would seem so serious, dull and intimidating. 21 years on and my view of where I go to work couldn’t be more opposite!”
Amy Burbage | Mapletree
“I have been involved in Green Park for 25 years. A lot has changed since then! One thing hasn’t.
Green Park is at the forefront of change and development in the office environment. That is as true today as when it was launched to the market 21 years ago. The name speaks for itself.”
Green Park is at the forefront of change and development in the office environment. That is as true today as when it was launched to the market 21 years ago. The name speaks for itself.”
Keith Wise | Campbell Gordon
“My favourite memory from 21 years ago is meeting with friends at lunchtime, and running around the school field, playing rounders and netball. You can enjoy all of this at Green Park in-between business meetings.”
Nicole Coulson | Mapletree
“21 years ago, I was only 5 years old and didn’t know much about working! Now though, I’m proud to be part of the team that helps make Green Park one of the most amazing places to work!”
Madison White | Mapletree
“Green Park has certainly matured a lot more in the last 21 years than I have.”
Cameron Frazer | Cushman & Wakefield
“21 years ago, I was carrying a one year old on my back (just out of shot).
I see the biggest changes in the workplace over this time as; Smart Phones have replaced Filofaxes; email has replaced the fax machine. Everything is now ‘on demand’. And Wellbeing and sustainability have replaced the pub on a Friday afternoon (it’s not all progress!). Green Park has evolved from an out of town business park into a vibrant community of offices, residential, leisure and retail uses, served by its own railway station. Over the next 21 years it will be at the forefront of a health & wellbeing revolution, leading the response to changing occupier demand.”
I see the biggest changes in the workplace over this time as; Smart Phones have replaced Filofaxes; email has replaced the fax machine. Everything is now ‘on demand’. And Wellbeing and sustainability have replaced the pub on a Friday afternoon (it’s not all progress!). Green Park has evolved from an out of town business park into a vibrant community of offices, residential, leisure and retail uses, served by its own railway station. Over the next 21 years it will be at the forefront of a health & wellbeing revolution, leading the response to changing occupier demand.”
Charles Dady | Cushman & Wakefield
“I think the biggest change to the workplace has to be technology, both the sophistication and access to hardware and software which allows us all to work so much more effectively and efficiently. We’ve gone from dictaphones and tapes, which were issued to me as standard kit on my first day in the 2000’s, to smart offices, digital assistants and machine learning!”
Ed Smee | Mapletree
Over the past twenty-one years we’ve watched business evolve.
THE NATURE OF HOW WE WORK HAS CHANGED.
The well workplace is now high on every corporate agenda. And while others race to catch up with the needs of employees, our route to goal began 21 years ago when the first foundations were laid at Green Park.
In 1999, a workplace was born that empowered people – a business park where the latest social and environmental thinking would be used to promote both happiness and productivity.
I’M CURRENTLY AWAY FROM MY DESK.
These days, with advancing technology, work doesn’t stop when you step away from your desk. So we give you a huge variety of spaces where you can keep doing what you do. From cafés and breakout spaces to comfy seating areas in our buildings or outside.
And there’s our collaborative workspace, HIVE and our wifi-enabled deckchairs.
FACE TIME.
There are so many opportunities at Green Park for people to get out from behind their desks and interact with each other. From working and learning to playing and relaxing.
THE COLOUR GREEN CAN BOOST YOUR CREATIVITY.
Current research has shown that seeing the colour green can help boost creativity, and that being surrounded by plants and nature can reduce stress. 21 years ago, this well-established thinking was the key inspiration for Green Park, which is set within 195 sensitively landscaped acres.
BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY.
Today’s businesses know that a healthy and happy team is a productive team. And scientists at Harvard have established a clear link between regular exercise and improved memory and cognitive skills. That’s why Green Park has so many opportunities for employees to get out and about and work up a sweat.
Green Park offers multi-sport courts, running and cycling trails around the lake as well as organised activities such as boot camps and triathlon club. There’s also the Nuffield Health and Fitness Club with gym, cardio training area and a 20-metre swimming pool.
SOAK UP OUR BLUE SPACE.
Water is a constant feature of life at Green Park, and for good reason. Research has found that ‘blue space’ such as lakes and rivers and even urban water features can have a positive effect on wellbeing. The science shows how proximity to water floods our brains with feel good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, and can cause levels of the stress hormone cortisol to drop.
So whether it is a stroll around the lake at lunchtime or an early morning fishing session — our lakes are stocked with carp, pike, bream and rudd — simply being at Green Park is a healthy thing to do.
FIT FOR PURPOSE.
Green Park is all about peak performance, and that’s as true when we step out of the office.
These are just some of the activities and events you can take part in:
SPORTS LEAGUES
GREEN PARK TRIATHLON
GREEN PARK OPEN WATER SWIM
SUMMER GAMES
NETBALL AND FOOTBALL LEAGUES
GREEN PARK ROYAL BERKSHIRE 10K RUN
READING HALF MARATHON
Click the icons above to see what’s changed.