Strategy for Growth: Stay True to Your Roots

Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers (ALF) has a lot in common with the farmers they serve: a steadfast Midwest work ethic, reliability and the ingenuity to get the job done. Honoring tradition while looking forward are hallmarks of the company. So when ALF commissioned a new headquarters, the challenge was to create a space that balanced hometown values with their progressive thinking about agriculture.

Hobbs + Black, the architects, designed a remarkable building that references a classic barn while earning LEED certification for its use of sustainable materials. H + B teamed with NBS to create hard working interiors that also provide flexibility for a growing company. Low-Profile Flooring by Steelcase is one example of this strategy. A unique cable pathway routes wires underfoot wherever they’re needed. Now moving a workstation or adapting a new floor plan isn’t limited by access to communication or technology ports. Both open and private spaces were created for collaborative work. They include worktables that integrate technology seamlessly for sharing or presenting data. A work café provides an informal meeting place, and a technology-rich, multi-purpose room accommodates meetings, training or corporate presentations.

An earthy palette of materials, textures and colors communicates the company’s culture while serving as a reminder of the business they’re in. An added benefit: design that supports an organization’s culture also supports wellbeing by reinforcing a shared sense of purpose. And that’s how to grow talent.

To learn more about their environmentally responsible commercial farming innovations, visit AgroLiquid.com