Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_480333

72 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / SEPTEMBER 2025 Rightsizing for Innovation: How Danone Reimagined Its Colorado Workplace A s hybrid policies reshape how and where we work, companies are rethinking their office footprints to bet- ter align with evolving work styles, team dynamics and organizational goals. Danone, a global food and bev- erage company known for brands like Stok, Activia, Silk and Oikos, partnered with EUA to do just that – transform its Colorado offices to support flexi- bility, collaboration and culture while reducing real estate costs. n From too much space to the right amount. Danone North America’s for- mer corporate office in Broomfield spanned 125,000 square feet across four floors. As hybrid work took hold, the space became underutilized, leav- ing teams dispersed and disconnected. In 2022, Danone and EUA collaborated to reimagine the workplace, shifting from traditional assigned seating to a fully unassigned, flexible environment. The design team replaced outdated workstations with a broader variety of settings, including benching sys- tems, touchdown rooms and open collaboration zones. Other design elements included lounge seating with high backs for semi-private meetings and standing-height is- lands for quick huddles. Private offices were converted into shared team rooms for three, five or eight people, each equipped with sit-to-stand desks, digital collabo- ration tools and rightsized monitors to support hybrid meetings. As the Danone team adapted to this new model, it be- came clear that the full Broomfield footprint was no lon- ger necessary. The company began exploring whether its nearby Louisville research-and-development hub – just 40,000 sf – could accommodate the entire Colorado-based team. n Designing for density without sacrificing culture. Initially completed in 2015, the Louisville office was also underutilized, and workstations were oversized for mod- ern workstyles. EUA applied lessons from the Broomfield redesign to optimize the space for roughly 600 employ- ees. The team introduced a mix of touchdown benching, single-user focus rooms and expanded meeting spaces to support both individual and group work. To maintain Danone’s strong culture of innovation, the design emphasizes amenities and team member ex- perience. Outdoor patios, previously overlooked, were transformed with trellis-style wood screens, comfortable seating and Wi-Fi. A new steel pergola and extended deck outside the southeast breakroom create a shaded, func- tional outdoor workspace. A glass overhead door now connects the break room to the patio, where a vibrant mural by local artist Pat Milbery energizes the space and reflects Danone’s mission. Susan Kohuth Senior Interior Designer and Principal, EUA Emily Dunn Director of Workplace Strategy, EUA