Ornua Foods North America, Inc., formerly known as the Irish Dairy Board, represents about 13,000 dairy farmers and processors in Ireland. Relocating to a larger space in its current building in downtown Evanston, IL, the cooperative was seeking a new work environment that would foster collaboration. The sales and business development office is one of 11 North American offices for the dairy cooperative, which represents thousands of dairy farms in Ireland. Its largest brand, Kerrygold, is the top-selling imported butter brand and the number one brand in Specialty Cheddar in the U.S.
As most interiors professionals know, a client seeking a new collaborative work environment can lead a design team in many directions, and delivering just the right amount of everything is quite the balancing act. This is where listening to the client becomes key.
Chicago-based JDJ Architects designed the new 8,000 square foot space, which replaces a smaller office in the same building. The design team used meticulous planning to showcase Ornuaâs corporate tradition and culture and to accommodate collaboration and meetings with regional sales teams.
JDJ worked with Ornua Foods to design an efficient open plan that maximizes the use of natural light and integrates new spaces to encourage collaboration and team building. The result is a clean, contemporary environment that reflects the wholesome organizationâs mission and culture.
While some client companies ask for a more collaborative work environment but then fail to embrace the changes in the workspace, the young, energetic staff at Ornua Foods had no trouble making itself at home by using new areas and work modes.
âWe thought that the move to a more open plan office would be a huge transition for them, but it actually wasnât at all,â said James D. Jordan, founder and principal at JDJ Architects.
For small group meetings, a small breakout room encourages collaboration for groups of up to six people. Larger group meetings take place in sleek conference rooms that fit sales meeting purposes true to size.
New for Ornua employees was a large multi-use gathering area, or âhubâ space. In this area, Ornua has hosted formal luncheons for up to 40, as well as innovation and ideation sessions. Tables and chairs fold and flip up quickly for receptions, and users have easy views of presentations on a built-in flat screen.
The offices also include seven âhot desks;â laptop-sized spaces positioned against a window for a city view, to accommodate sales and business development staff visiting from other U.S. and overseas offices.
Ornua Foods voiced a need for a natural light-filled space that worked more efficiently than the previous offices, which had five-foot-high cubicles pushed into the center of the room. The JDJ design team maximized natural light with several synergetic solution: the new offices feature a partial skylight in the reception area, as well as walls of windows on two sides flooding the entire space with light, including central, but low-walled workspaces. The use of frosted glass doors and walls for perimeter offices and meeting rooms also keeps the space bright.
Aesthetically, the new space perfectly complements the bright, warm presence of natural light in all corners.
âWe were looking for an earthy, yet modern vibe,â said Roisin Hennerty, president of Ornua Foods North America, in the project notes. âAnd we wanted to highlight the grassroots quality of our brand. We wanted the space to capture the authenticity of our brand while highlighting the dynamic culture of our team and the remarkable growth weâve experienced. JDJ invested time early in the project, gaining an understanding of our brand, the work and the people. They recognized the pivotal role that culture plays in our business and created a space that would enhance our ability to work collaboratively without compromising our authenticity.â
One specific request Ornua made was to build a private shower into the space for the officeâs many employees who ride bicycles to work.
âThere are a lot of projects where we execute so many great ideas that come from client requests, but then those spaces arenât actually used,â noted Mr. Jordan. âWeâve followed up with the team at Ornua, and the employees use it all the time. Every bit of the space is being used, which is very rewarding.â
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To achieve the contrast between natural and contemporary inspirations, JDJ developed a palette of lively greens and warm greys, complemented by white furnishings. In addition to the obvious connections to nature, the green hues in the office also identify with the Irish companyâs roots. Upon entering the space, visitors find a reception area with a wall of photography by the Ornua team depicting the Irish countryside and brand logos. The reception desk makes use of Torzo, a material formed from straw, riffing on the cow- and dairy-oriented themes which Ornua Foods identifies with.
The design team retained as many existing elements in the space as possible, including the hardwood floors in the reception and kitchen areas and the majority of the light fixtures. To play off of these existing features, the team employed key subtle elements throughout the space to put forth a sleek, modern edge that doesnât counteract the organizationâs wholesome brand culture. In the main presentation room, a large glass, instead of plastic, whiteboard lends sophistication. And an extensive outdoor terrace allows for meetings, gardening events, and casual get-togethers when weather is pleasant.
The new Ornua Foods space is the work of a design team that delivered a superb work environment by listening to its client to understand its needs before digging in. Rather than pile on amenities that donât fit, JDJ gave Ornua an office that breathes new life into its brand with a few surprises along the way.