Case study
Dairy with a future: Arla's sustainable showcase office in Utrecht
April 2, 2025
With the opening of their new office on floors 21 and 22 of the Central Park building, Arla Foods has not only created a beautiful workplace. CBRE's design reflects Arla's focus on sustainability and well-being – while doing justice to the dairy brand's commercial ambitions. From the branded meeting rooms and the professional kitchen, to the green wall and the 'living room': all elements together make this a modern but cozy office with a unique identity.
Growth: the catalyst
Arla Foods entered the Dutch market in 2009, after the acquisition of an office and factory in Nijkerk. Over the years, the company grew strongly, which eventually caused the office to nearly burst at the seams. "We employed more than a hundred people, and had only forty workplaces," says Mark Boot, Executive Vice President Europe. During the pandemic that continued to work, but in time it became clear: if we want to continue our growth, we need more space.”
Sustainability, attractiveness and accessibility were key in the search for a new location."We did not only want a future-proof office, but also a place that would inspire colleagues and customers," Mark continues. CBRE supervised the search, advised on the selection and lease negotiations and contributed ideas about technical and BREEAM requirements. “Central Park eventually proved ideal: just a stone's throw from Utrecht Central, with BREEAM Excellent certification.” Arla settled on the 21st and 22nd floors of this impressive office building. Mark: “It was important to us that we would create atmosphere and warmth – not a concrete box. That's when CBRE's design was incorporated.”
Design with Arla DNA
Petra Jongeneel, Senior Interior Architect at CBRE Design Collective, says: “We weaved as much of Arla's identity as possible into the design. The existing corporate identity formed the basis, but we interpreted it in a modern way. Arla is an innovative and fast-growing food company with commercial ambitions, certainly. But it is just as much a sympathetic dairy cooperative with roots in the agricultural sector. We had to express both those two elements.”
The challenge for CBRE's design team was to capture that duality: farmer-owned on the one hand, the connection with consumers on the other. That is why two distinctive zones were chosen: one with green carpet and many plants, which stands for the natural origin. And a social zone with warm colors and lots of wood, which symbolizes the interaction with the product and the consumer. Together, they tell the story of Arla: good for the planet, with a focus on quality products.
Branded meeting rooms
A special element in the design are the meeting rooms, each of which has been given a unique branding. The design team wanted to give Arla's various brands a place, without conflicting with the overarching atmosphere. That is why each meeting room has its own identity, based on brands such as Melkunie, Starbucks or Lurpak. Each meeting room contains a key visual of the brand, plus timeless props that capture the essence of the brand. At Starbucks, you can see elements of the first store in Seattle, and at Lurpak, cookware hangs on the wall.
Feeling at home
Mark explains how CBRE managed to make the office homely. “In Nijkerk we had a large dining table in the kitchen – the place where everyone came together. We wanted to have that feeling here too. When you enter on the 22nd floor you walk into our kitchen and living room. Here you get coffee and discuss your weekend. The kitchen had to be a focal point – food is and will remain the core of our business." And that dining table from Nijkerk? It has also been given a second life: “It is now prominently featured in a meeting room of the office, with a telescope next to it that allows you to see the factory in Nijkerk on a clear day. We find it important not to forget where we come from.”
Sustainability is the basis
Sustainability is at the heart of almost every aspect of design. “We opted for a modular design with reusable materials,” says Petra. 'The planters are standard pots that are easy to move – no complex constructions, but practical elements that are easy to adapt when the arrangement changes. The floors are laid floating, so that they can easily be reused. In addition, there is a lot of second-hand furniture and recycled elements. The seats in the central hall? It is made from residual packaging from Arla itself.”
CBRE also ensured that the design fitted in seamlessly with the building's technical installations. 'By studying the building carefully in advance and adjusting the new design accordingly, we saved almost half a million,' explains Bas Heijckmann, Senior Project Manager at CBRE.
Challenging planning, strong direction
The project had a very short lead time. Bas: “We had a tight schedule to complete the design. To save time, we started purchasing construction and installation work at an early stage. Instead of presenting suppliers with a finished design, we asked them for their vision of the project. That's unusual, but it worked out very well.”
“We have planned the entire process carefully, from December to completion in July. The mutual cooperation was essential. All parties, from project management and design to contractors, installers and suppliers, are putting their shoulders to the wheel.
Futureproof
Mark enjoyed working with CBRE: “The time and budget pressure was quite high. But Bas and his team were flexible and listened carefully to our wishes.” Bas agrees: “Mark and colleagues are quick decision-makers with a clear vision. That helped enormously in meeting the tight deadlines.”
Since the opening in July 2024, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. "Our employees are very enthusiastic about their new workplace," says Mark. “The office attracts new talent, and we notice that colleagues worldwide like to visit here What we are told? That our office is a new benchmark for Arla offices.”
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