Unilever opened the Foods Innovation Centre in December of 2019. Located on the campus of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, the $94 million Hive facility offers collaborative research and development facilities for the creation of sustainable food products. Designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects, the 439,706-sf innovation hub provides laboratories, an expansive atrium, a pilot plant, an innovation kitchen, an auditorium, a food bar, a retail market, and an underground parking garage. The open-plan facility has attained BREEAM-NL Outstanding sustainable design certification and features an extensive rooftop photovoltaic array, robust structural insulation, occupancy sensors, and access to abundant natural light. The project team included interior designer Fokkema & Partners, construction manager Dura Vermeer, and engineering consultant DWA.
