Video Games Europe, Brussels

Before the office transformation of Video Games Europe new office

After the office transformation of Video Games Europe new office lounge and game room

Team

15 fixed workspots

Industry

European video games industry association

Objectives

Move into a multi-functional & representative office

Space

Size: 412 m²

Location: Brussels

Year: 2026

Curved bench in the cozy cafeteria in Video Games Europe's new workspace

Video Games Europe's new office is built around flexibility and new ways of working. The variety of spaces built for collaboration, connection, and focus support daily work, industry events, and informal member drop-ins under one roof.

Top 3 priorities

Create a multi-functional environment for the team and industry representatives
Provide a variety of spaces for new ways of working
Build a representative HQ that reflects the federation's identity & mission

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Look & feel

Grounding, elegant, energizing

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Special touches

Circular forms across the space inspired by gaming ergonomics: rounded handles, circular carpet, curved partitions and glass wall, soft geometries
Yellow accents and dominant blue shades that reflect company branding and symbolic gaming themes
Custom kitchen island inspired by the Video Games Europe logo
Gradient wallpaper color-matched to the curved cafeteria bench and floor laminate
Custom cabinet integrating seating, printer storage, and a concealed cleaning-room door
Personalized gaming artwork

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Tailored spaces

The Forum - a flexible cafeteria and event space, hosting breakfasts, receptions, and informal member meet-ups
Game Lounge for industry representation meetings, team breaks, and after-work socializing
Additional meeting rooms and booths for privacy and call flexibility
Private offices behind the front-of-house spaces

Video Games Europe is the trade association representing the European video games industry since 1998. Based in Brussels, it works with EU institutions, member organizations, and partners across the continent to advocate for the industry and engage on policy. The team’s mission is to support and celebrate the sector’s creative and economic potential, and to ensure that players around the world enjoy the benefits of great video game playing experiences.

"We needed an office that had multiple functions - not just somewhere for the team to work, but also somewhere for us to represent the industry. The Space Refinery team's responsiveness was excellent, and involving our people in the design ideation created valuable buy-in from the start."

Simon Little, CEO, Video Games Europe

Ann Becker, SVP, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Video Games Europe

"We've seen a very positive impact on the team and team spirit, more connections, and even increased motivation. And it is just much nicer to come in!"

Ann Becker, SVP, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Video Games Europe

The Context

After 20 years in the same office, Video Games Europe's mandate as the voice of the European games industry had changed, and their space hadn’t kept up. When the team reached out to Space Refinery, they sought advice on how to improve the existing office.

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Through our workplace strategy process - team surveys, workshops, and a structured analysis of how Video Games Europe's people actually used the space - it became clear that a new building would serve them better. The team needed an office that could represent the industry beyond a few internal gatherings, with more meeting rooms, better call privacy, and a proper event space. The move could be done at a comparable cost, with less disruption and no temporary office in between.

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After the strategy phase, the team decided to keep going with us through design and build.

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Before the move, the employees rated how well the previous office worked for them across seven dimensions. The lowest-ranking aspects were pride when welcoming visitors, privacy for calls and meetings, collaboration, and connection. They became our focus for improvement in the new space.

Elegant meeting room in Video Games Europe's new workspace

Meeting room in Video Games Europe's new workspace

The Outcome

Every design choice worked back to those four priorities: pride, privacy, collaboration, and connection. Video Games Europe's new office serves both the team and the wider European games industry.

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The flexible Forum combines kitchen, lounge, and event area. The Game Lounge doubles as a place for game testing and team social time. Private offices sit behind the front-of-house spaces, alongside the open workspace for the team. Additional meeting rooms and phone booths have resolved the previous office's issues around disruptions, insufficient meeting space, and poor call privacy.

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The blue-and-yellow palette from Video Games Europe's logo carries a second meaning layered into the concept. In video games, blue represents focus, calm, and the energy a player builds to power through a challenge. Yellow guides players toward the path, clue, or next move. Both echo the space's core objectives: supporting people's best work and building connections.

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Our team satisfaction survey after the move showed crucial improvements on the most urgent pain points:

Pride when welcoming visitors went from 4.5 to 9.1;
Privacy for calls and meetings went from 5.4 to 8.2;
Satisfaction with spaces for collaboration went from 6.7 to 9.0, and for areas supporting team connection - from 6.5 to 8.8;
Overall satisfaction moved from 6.4 to 8.4, and day-to-day work experience in the new space scored 7.8 out of 10.

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For Video Games Europe, the new office is a down-to-earth expression of the industry it represents - a space built to grow with the team, welcome the wider industry, inspire collaborations, and serve their mission for years to come.