The American company Hollister develops, manufactures, and sells medical products designed to ease physical discomfort and improve quality of life. Their product range includes catheter and ostomy-related solutions.<\/p>\n
In the Dutch town of Oud-Gastel, Hollister\u2019s European headquarters houses both a large distribution center and offices. From this location, products are efficiently distributed to a diverse range of customers across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.<\/p>\n
About seven years ago, Quadrant4 played a key role in the realization of Hollister\u2019s distribution center (DC). Now, it\u2019s time to reflect and look ahead with Job Sonke (Manager of Hollister\u2019s DC) and Rudy van de Water (Director of Quadrant4). What challenges did they face back then, and how is the building performing today?<\/p>\n
Job:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cAfter ten years, our previous location in Etten-Leur had become too small, so we started looking for a new site\u2014preferably nearby. We eventually landed in Oud-Gastel.\u201d<\/p>\n Rudy:<\/strong> \u201cWe were approached by property developer\u00a0HVBM Vastgoed\u00a0to design the new facility in Oud-Gastel. We took on the entire project\u2014architecture, interior design, installation design, and project management. One of the most interesting aspects for me was bridging the cultural gap with our American colleagues. At that time, Europe was already embracing the concept of\u00a0\u2018New Ways of Working\u2019 (HNW), while many American companies still had a more\u00a0hierarchical office culture\u2014with individual offices for managers and far less openness. Convincing them to change required\u00a0a lot of persuasion, but we succeeded. And now that they\u2019ve seen it in action, they actually want the same approach in the U.S.!\u201d<\/p>\n Job:<\/strong> \u201cIt was quite a challenge to fit everything we needed into a limited space. We also aimed for BREEAM certification(a sustainability standard), and the time pressure was high. Looking back, what I hear from employees is that they really appreciate the open character of the building and the spacious layout. The setup makes collaboration easy, meeting rooms are flexible, and while the design is practical, it never feels excessive or \u2018over the top.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Job:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cUntil recently, we were required to store some of our products at a\u00a0constant temperature of 25-30\u00b0C, which is quite a challenge in the Dutch climate. We use our\u00a0Building Management System (BMS)\u00a0and an\u00a0additional temperature control system\u00a0to monitor this, with alerts in case of deviations. So far, we\u2019ve never had any issues\u2014not even during the\u00a0long, hot summer of 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n Rudy:<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cBack in 1998, I researched how to maintain a stable temperature using\u00a0radiant panels. So I already knew it was possible. For Hollister, we repeated that research, setting up test installations and different measurement configurations. It worked\u2014the\u00a0temperature variation remained within just 1.5 degrees. Since then, we\u2019ve frequently used radiant panels in logistics spaces. They provide\u00a0reliability, comfort for employees, and contribute to strong energy performance scores.\u201d<\/p>\n Job:<\/strong> \u201cThe team working in the distribution area is happy with the stable indoor climate. There\u2019s hardly any draft, and maintaining a constant temperature makes their work environment much more pleasant. If we take a broader view, we also see the benefits of investing in\u00a0sustainable installations. Our current building is\u00a0three times larger\u00a0and\u00a0taller\u00a0than our old one in Etten-Leur. Yet, our\u00a0energy consumption is lower.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Quadrant4\u2019s Drive for Innovation Pulls You Out of Your Comfort Zone<\/p>\nFrom Vision to Reality\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Maintaining a Constant Temperature with Radiant Panels<\/h3>\n
Supporting Change Management with Visualization<\/h3>\n
![\"LR](\"https:\/\/www.quadrant4.nl\/media\/a5tfbxug\/lr_q4_hollister_005.jpg?rxy=0.5664160401002506,0.44735605170387777&width=800&height=1100&v=1dba32864fb4610\")
<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n![\"LR](\"https:\/\/www.quadrant4.nl\/media\/x1cnpyqf\/lr_q4_hollister_875.jpg?width=800&height=1200&v=1dba3276a273cd0\")
<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n![\"Edchollister](\"https:\/\/www.quadrant4.nl\/media\/f1cnzgek\/edchollister-architectuur.jpg?width=800&height=600&v=1d90a45aacca5e0\")
<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n