'We’ve never had this question before'

21/08/2024

Sustainable, innovative, and convivial: Wood Hub showcases what CFE can achieve

In Wood Hub, even the clouds are green. This office building is one of the most ambitious in the Benelux for energy performance and carbon footprint. Cutting-edge techniques blend with and are integrated in the tieless warmth of wood. A realisation by CFE Group, that also has its headquarters there, Wood Hub's meeting and multipurpose rooms were designed together with Whitemilk.

“CFE Group is a multidisciplinary company, active in three markets: construction and renovation, smart industries, and infrastructure for tomorrow's mobility & energy. With sustainability and innovation at the core of its business, we developed Wood Hub as a space where people can gather in a sustainable building designed with well-being as a top priority. This remarkable realisation showcases all group competences,” says Tom Slachmuylder, IT Infrastructure Manager, who has been involved as project manager from day one. He ensured the cabling, connections, and cooling were ready for IT's demands and he continues to fine-tune the setup today. Wood Hub opened in November.

Against the Deadline

It was up to the IT department to ensure a high-performing network and about twenty state-of-the-art, high-quality meeting rooms. "We were looking for a partner who wouldn't just supply screens and other equipment, but who would primarily offer excellent service," says Tom Slachmuylder. "Someone with whom we could collaborate to find the right solutions and get the rooms ready against the clock. Project planning was a challenge. The building had to be finished and the rooms painted before installation could begin, all while the opening deadline loomed. But we managed it wonderfully. Whitemilk was a very accessible and customer-minded partner. We could call them whenever necessary."

For and By Employees

Another challenge was the multipurpose room—a busy spot with no availability even for photos. "In fact, all the meeting rooms are frequently in use. But if you need to book a space, you’ll find one." Employees surveyed beforehand indicated that the previous building had slightly too few meeting rooms. There was also a need for a space where large groups could gather for a keynote or training session. Tom Slachmuylder explains, "We never received a request for a multipurpose room before. With Whitemilk’s help, we created a space that can easily accommodate thirty people, but can also be divided into three smaller meeting rooms. We searched for the right screens, speakers, and microphones. Three different CFE companies use this headquarters, and it’s a great advantage that we can now organise training sessions on-site."

In-house training

"CFE uses the Microsoft 365 platform, which ensures an integrated and efficient workplace. Hence, it makes sense to also use Teams for hybrid meetings in the meeting rooms,"' says Tom Slachmuylder. “Although it’s user friendly, I notice that some people are still working their way through the meeting room functionalities. That's why we provide continuous training. A document on the intranet or SharePoint with all the explanations isn’t enough. During monthly meetings where IT has half an hour to present something, we always try to integrate a demonstration. For example, we show how to add a meeting room from your laptop and join the meeting seamlessly.”

Wood Hub is a pleasant workspace: spacious, bright, with warm materials, well-equipped workstations, and comfortable, perfectly functioning meeting rooms. You couldn’t do it better at home. “Our choice of a partner is not so much based on pricing but on service and long-term commitment. For both CFE and Whitemilk, the goal is to build a long-term relationship to support each other as effectively as possible,” concludes Tom Slachmuylder.

With Whitemilk’s help, we created a space that can easily accommodate thirty people, but can also be divided into three smaller meeting rooms.

Photography: Valerie Clarysse