PROJECT NAME: The food and brand headquarters at Grünerløkka
NAME OF CLIENT: Mills AS and Agra Foods AS
PROJECT COMPLETED BY: Ledsten Arkitektur AS and Element Arkitekter AS
Disciplines: Architecture, interior architecture
Fat headquarters
The Mills administration was previously spread over four buildings, and after moving production to Fredrikstad, the company wanted to gather its administrative functions into one place. To that end, they converted the former mayonnaise factory at Sofienberggata 19 into a new headquarters with offices, galleries, and taste and sensory facilities, as well as a kitchen for demonstrations and product development. The transformation of the old factory is the starting point for a major redevelopment of the entire Mills site at Grünerløkka.
Panel remarks
The new Mills headquarters is beautiful, functional, and innovative. They have converted the old mayonnaise factory in an otherwise anonymous area into a living landmark, complete with light art and mirrors in the building facade. Cool! They have also opened the two lower floors, which contain the canteen and taste laboratory, for access from street level, and all the desks, cabinets, tables, railings, stairs, counters, bench seats, and signage have been specially designed by Ledsten Arkitektur AS, who is also the project’s principal architect. The result is a building that attracts attention from the outside and maximises daylight and the view for employees. We have been told that they have experienced reduced sick leave and increased productivity and well-being since occupying the building just over a year ago, and that’s not so strange: after all, who wouldn’t want to go to work in such a cool headquarters?
Project participants
Bjørn Brenna – Mills/Agra, builder
Ellen Ledsten – Ledsten Arkitektur, project manager, architecture and interior architecture (interior works)
Jonas Bringager – Ledsten Arkitektur, contracted architect
Vibeke Haugen Engene – Ledsten Arkitektur, contracted architect
Cathrine Vigander – Element Arkitekter, project manager, exterior works and northern facade 2nd-5th floors (separate contract), partner
Vidar Knutsen – Element Arkitekter, partner
Jose Hernandez – Element Arkitekter, project manager, exterior works
Per-Leif Bersvendsen – Element Arkitekter, project manager, northern facade 2nd-5th floors (separate contract)
Gina Michelle Kjønigsen – Element Arkitekter, architect
Rikke Christine Nyrud – Element Arkitekter, architect
Contractor: Oslo Entreprenør AS
Contractor, northern facade 2nd-5th floors (separate contract): Uppe Ltd
Construction ombudsman: Asplan Viak, Helge Risvang
Consulting engineer for HVAC: Erichsen og Horgen AS
Consulting engineer for construction: Frode Soløy AS, structural engineer
Consultant engineer for fire safety: Brannrådgivning Sør-Øst
Consulting engineer for electricals: Foyn Consult AS