June 26, 2019
Multi-million dollar remodel underway at SAP labs
SAP was the first tenant at the David Johnston Research + Technology Park – and now they’re expanding
As the German software firm’s lease was coming to a close, the SAP team decided to stick to their roots and opted to expand.
As the first tenant at the R+T Park back in 2004, SAP has helped shape the Waterloo Region’s reputation as a hub for technical talent, innovation and discovery.
“SAP is a great representation of what happens when industry, government and academia work together,” says Mike Pereira, manager of business development at R+T Park. “We can take cutting edge research and turn it into technology that makes the world a better place.”
Originally, SAP came to fruition through what was formerly known as Watcom, a business designed to develop and market educational software. Watcom was founded in 1981 by University of Waterloo professor James Wesley (Wes) Graham, fondly remembered as the “father of computing,” along with three of his students. Many of those who were a part of Watcom are still part of the University of Waterloo community today.
“People come here, or grow up here, and they never want to leave,” says Anil Goel, vice-president of engineering at SAP. “I fell in love with this city; we have a very strong relationship with the University of Waterloo. We’re happy here.”
SAP members and guests attend the SAP Waterloo growth announcement and discussion.
Goel says the vision for SAP’s remodel is a modern, open-concept space that moves away from closed offices, designed for the future of work.
The expansion includes the hiring of 30 to 40 people, adding to their current team of approximately 230. Many of the jobs they are looking to fill are in the IoT Edge and SAP HANNA database teams.
“We have talent; we pack a lot of punch,” says Goel. “Our strength comes not from numbers, but from the expertise we have built here.”
SAP Canada has been recognized numerous times for their workplace culture, including awards in Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers and Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness, among others.
The project is currently underway and is predicted to be complete by the end of October.
