Overherd at Glanbia Ireland interviews Mary Banks, Programme Manager at Abbey Quarter, who tells us all about the exciting developments at our new Kilkenny HQ

Mary, we’ve ‘overherd’ that there’s been a lot going on at Abbey Quarter recently with some big milestones passed in the last few weeks. Can you tell us more?

Yes, Abbey Quarter has been a hive of activity recently. The Glanbia Co-op Board held its first meeting at the site since the formation of our new company at the start of April, since then we reached the key milestones of executing the lease and Glanbia Ireland taking over possession as the anchor tenant of the Brewhouse building. Added to that, we’ve taken possession of the space and fit-out has commenced onsite.

It’s been really great seeing the project come to life following three years of hard work and negotiations to find the right building in the right location for our new Kilkenny HQ. We’ve been looking forward to showing the building off and the teams that have visited the site to date have been impressed.

The new building really sounds like it’s taking shape. Can you give us any insights into what the interior will look like?

I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but a lot of the original features of the Brewery building have been maintained, including some industrial elements such as the Bauhaus architectural style which you will still see throughout the building.

The concept design has a strong nod to Glanbia Ireland’s heritage and history which is very important to us, but equally the building is innovative and creative, using the latest technology for an enhanced working environment.

The employee experience is obviously of the utmost importance, so we’ve imagined and designed the journey from the moment you enter the building to when you leave, considering factors including if colleagues will be working individually or collaboratively, how people will enjoy their coffee and lunchbreaks, what the building can add to the wellbeing of those in it and how interactions with security and IT will flow.

Why did Glanbia Ireland select the Brewhouse?

As you can imagine, there was a large wish list of attributes for our new space. After an extensive feasibility study, the Brewhouse won through for several reasons. Firstly, the Brewhouse is part of a larger development masterplan for the Abbey Quarter which includes a library, a beautiful public park, a tech hub for other tenants who will move into adjoining offices, restaurants and much more.

Sustainability was also a major consideration and this is reflected in the building design and materials used. We have installed intelligent smart lighting and smart office technology to ensure energy usage is low and this is supported by the fact that the Brewhouse is a LEED accredited building.

The site’s location was also very important. The Brewhouse is located in the city centre with easy access to local amenities such as restaurants and cafés. It’s also on the doorstep of the new Kilkenny Library and Watergate Theatre. There are also the nostalgic connections many in GI have with lots of extended family members having worked in the Brewery over the years.

The fit-out of the Brewhouse building has been constructed with modern ways of working built in. Can you bring this to life for us?

A lot of thought has gone into the design to support our new ways of working. Colleagues who will call AQ home when we move in have had significant input into its design. Last year we carried out a survey, conducted a number of workshops and held in-depth interviews with key line managers so feedback and suggestions have been taken on board, considered and incorporated into the design process.

The intention is that the design of the building will support our blended ways of working and will complement and positively support the hybrid working styles many of us have come to appreciate over the past few years.

It’s very hard to bring our exciting new space to life in a few sentences, but a few snippets would be the introduction of working ‘neighbourhoods’, there’s a focus on the importance of seamless connectivity and a mix of different type meeting rooms – formal/informal/meeting pods/phone booths.

Spaces include collaboration and break-out areas and there is a large atrium for informal gatherings and private spaces for individual working. Employee wellness will be further supported by an on-site gym, hydration stations, an external landscaped courtyard and park and a fantastic 360-degree balcony view over the Abbey, which hopefully will see lots of use on our warmer days.

There will also be a Customer Experience Centre where we can share with our customers our story so far and vision for the future. We are a food and nutrition company with sustainability at the heart of everything we do and this space will allow us to immerse our customers in a journey through our heritage and our future aspirations.

When can we expect the first employees to be able to work from AQ?

All going to plan, we would hope to welcome our first employees in August 2022. As we stand today, we are on target and pushing hard for this date, but naturally I am cautious and aware of potential circumstances beyond our control such as Covid or a delay in materials due to significant supply chain pressures.

How can Glanbia Ireland employees learn more about this project?

We will be rolling out an intranet page in the coming weeks which will include information on the progress being made and we will also stay connected via email and company updates which will bring the Abbey Quarter more to life as we near our move in date. I am looking forward sharing this journey with you all over the next few months and welcoming you into our new HQ in August this year.