Ardo's rootbox, smart new headquarters

23/12/2021

Diepvriesgroentenbedrijf Ardo heeft in Ardooie een nieuw hoofdkwartier. Het is zo goed als energieneutraal, de inkomhal met belevingscentrum voor bezoekers is indrukwekkend en de kantoorvloer werd helemaal ingericht volgens the new way of working. De audiovisuele invulling was Whitemilk op het lijf geschreven.

Half september '22 nam premier Alexander De Croo wat aarde uit zijn tuin mee naar Ardooie toen hij het nieuwe hoofdkwartier van Ardo ging openen. Alle werknemers mochten hetzelfde doen, de grond werd gemengd in een ‘rootbox’ waar nu mooie dingen in mogen groeien. Rootbox is tegelijk ook de naam van het nieuwe hoofdkwartier. Hij verwijst naar de roots, in Ardooie begon 60 jaar geleden het verhaal van de familie Haspeslagh, en naar de producten waar het bedrijf elke dag met veel zorg mee aan de slag is. Bij Ardo werken zo’n 4.000 mensen aan jaarlijks ruim 940.000 ton vriesverse groenten, kruiden en fruit die verdeeld worden over meer dan 100 landen.

We were looking for a strategic partner who could brainstorm and propose solutions. Whitemilk perfectly aligned with Ardo's mindset.

Hendrik De Visch, Group IT Infrastructur Manager Ardo

Everything for nature

The new headquarters is hypermodern and nearly energy-neutral, with the indoor climate regulated through the reuse of cold and heat generated by the Ardo factory. Solar panels adorn the roof. "We work with natural products, so nature is vital to us in everything we do," says Hendrik De Visch, Group IT Infrastructure Manager at Ardo, who recognised Whitemilk as the ideal partner. "I wasn't just looking for an audiovisual product supplier; I wanted a strategic partner who could think along, be flexible, and propose solutions. Whitemilk proved to be a perfect match for Ardo's mindset."

Meeting Rooms, signage, and experience

Whitemilk had three main tasks. First, there were the meeting rooms, divided into several categories: huddle rooms, small meeting rooms, medium-sized, large ones, and exceptional ones like the boardroom. The boardroom is indeed state-of-the-art, equipped with a Shure ceiling microphone, an 85" Samsung display, speakers adjacent to the screen, and a PTZ camera below the display. Other rooms are also well-equipped and user-friendly. "We've centralised everything with Microsoft Teams. Whatever you need to do in these rooms, you do it through Teams. No need to worry about cables or other systems. It's a single, seamless system. Additionally, all meeting rooms are fully interactive, furnished with Crestron or Poly equipment."

Next, there is the digital signage, located at the reception and on 85" and 55" screens in the restaurant. "It was a no-brainer," says the IT Infrastructure Manager. "We chose Zebrix, the largest in the market, a perfect fit for Ardo."

Demo kitchen

Lastly, Whitemilk installed a video wall, ceiling speakers, and displays above the kitchen island in the event space with an adjoining demo kitchen. All these are easy to operate with a touch screen.

Ready for the future

Ardo aims to inspire both visitors and employees, nurturing creativity in everyone. The new way of working is gradually becoming ingrained in the headquarters. The office floor consists of two circles, with the outer circle featuring concentration workspaces where anyone can choose a spot, and the middle circle housing collaborative spaces and callboxes.

With this investment, the company is fully prepared for the future.

Photos: Valerie Clarysse