Holland company expects to add 50 employees

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

As Haworth renovates its world headquarters and largest showroom, a plan to hire about 50 employees for office, factory, and maintenance jobs is falling into place. That influx of employees won’t happen all at once, but rather over a steady hiring period, bringing the Holland site’s employment rolls to about 800.

“It may not mean creating 50 new jobs since we’ll be replacing some retirees,” said Ken Brandsen facilities manager, “but we’ll create several new jobs over time.”

Haworth employs 8,000 people worldwide. With the renovation project, the company is moving forward with an innovative strategy to marry its economic and environmental goals.

Brandsen expects the renovation to garner Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for new construction. The project qualifies for the new construction category because of the expansion from 250,000 square feet to 300,000 square feet.

In addition to sustainable landscaping, water reduction, a green roof, energy efficient HVAC, and expansive use of natural light and outdoor views, Haworth is recycling 99% of the deconstruction materials. Concrete blocks for the project are made of glass from the old building and concrete waste from Haworth’s Kentwood facility. The modular roof uses plastic trays made partly from plastic waste from Haworth’s Allegan facility.

The headquarters will be used as a working showroom for clients, so they can see Haworth’s products in use—movable walls, raised floors, office systems furniture with low VOC fabrics—in order to help clients visualize what they can do in their own companies.

“In my 24 years with the company, this is going to be one of the most amazing milestones—to have employees living, working, and breathing among the products they produce,” Brandsen said.

Source: Ken Brandsen, Haworth; Julie Smith, Haworth

Deborah Johnson Wood is Development News Editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].