Growing beyond Genval After 37 years in Genval, Suntory Beverage & Food Benelux faced a strategic decision. The Japanese beverage company needed to relocate its operations to support ambitious growth plans across Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The challenge went beyond moving locations. Suntory wanted to create modern spaces conducive to collaboration and creativity while aligning with sustainability goals and company values.

The company sought offices where employees would feel at home and connect with the local community while supporting diverse work styles and collaboration needs.

JLL's Consulting team partnered with Suntory to develop a comprehensive workplace strategy for their new Hoeilaart location. The approach balanced strategic planning with deep respect for Suntory's core values: passion, engagement, agility, teamwork, and the "Growing for Good" philosophy.

The consulting process involved co-creation with Suntory employees from the start. This collaborative method ensured the new workspace would reflect employee needs while embodying Suntory's identity. Teams participated in defining the vision and projecting future usage patterns, guaranteeing smooth daily operations in the new environment.

Through this process, JLL identified key employee needs: diverse workspace options to support different work styles, spaces that encourage spontaneous collaboration, quiet zones for focused work, and areas that strengthen team connections and company culture.

Water, the fundamental ingredient across all Suntory brands, became the architectural thread connecting spaces throughout the office.

The Tétris design team created a luminous serpentine line flowing through the offices like a stream, unifying spaces and representing the fluidity central to Suntory's DNA. Natural elements enter the interior through vegetation and maximized natural light.

The workspace features diverse collaborative ecosystems addressing specific employee needs: informal zones for casual interactions, creative spaces for brainstorming, and quiet areas for concentrated work.

Employees access a rich variety of work settings including personalized flex desks – with height-adjustable workstations all equipped with double screens-, intimate tablets, silence room, train-style banquettes, and phone booths in different sizes

The Schweppes Bar serves as the office heart, encouraging spontaneous meetings and hosting events.

Each meeting room creates an immersive brand experience: the Oasis room features fun lush jungle elements; Schweppes rooms showcase black and brass elegance, while Orangina spaces include textured panels echoing the brand's iconic bottles.

Tétris, JLL's Design & Build division, managed the project execution from initial concept to final delivery. The main challenges included technical building constraints plus strict budget and timeline requirements.

The project team worked closely with Suntory throughout development, from initial conception to final delivery. The collaborative approach delivered results that met expectations across all levels while addressing employee needs for flexibility, collaboration, and well-being.

The transformation created more than office space. Suntory now operates from an ecosystem where nature and innovation work together, producing an environment as refreshing as the beverages the company represent.

"It is heartwarming that we are writing this chapter with our trusted team," shares the Suntory team. "We designed new offices collaboratively, with our people for our people, with a design focused on sustainability, well-being and fit for growth."

The new Hoeilaart headquarters positions Suntory for continued success while maintaining the company culture and team unity that drove 37 years of growth in Genval. The diverse workspace options support different work styles while encouraging the collaboration and spontaneous interactions essential to Suntory's innovative culture.