Cargill Protein shows off its new Wichita headquarters

The design of Cargill Protein’s new headquarters at 825 E. Douglas in Wichita, a $70 million project, was all about attracting and keeping employees, helping employees connect with one another and developing spaces that will work long into the future.

“Every space in this building was designed with input from employees, talking about what they need and want in their workplace,” says Tom Windish, Cargill Protein leader in Wichita.

The four floors of the expansive, 188,000-square-foot building are connected by a wide staircase in the center, which gives employees a chance to see and interact with people from other parts of the building.

“Before, we had 10 floors and you didn’t routinely see people unless they worked in your area,” Windish says. “This gives you a much better opportunity.”

The four-floor layout also makes taking the stairs more tempting although elevators are available, says Cristy Tran, a media representative with Cargill Protein.

Work spaces in the building reverse the traditional arrangement of the “executive with the corner office with a window.” In Cargill’s new building, there are windows everywhere and work stations are arranged around the outside of the room with glass-fronted executive offices in the center.

The bottom floor is dedicated to meeting spaces large and small, with relaxation areas of game tables and an expansive outdoor courtyard with a grill area and tables where employees can enjoy special events or Cargill representatives can host customers. The courtyard is surrounded by a walking path.

The walls of the first floor great hall are decorated with huge murals done by local artists and feature views of the Flint Hills, Wichita street scenes and depictions of Cargill’s commitment to animal welfare and sustainability.

A large immersive technology room offers Cargill’s 800 Wichita employees a way to connect with their 28,000 counterparts at nine other locations from Buenos Aires to Geneva to Shanghai. A video screen allows employees to have face-to-face conversations without the typical, grueling travel schedule that entails.

“Using this technology reduces our overall carbon footprint, reduces the cost of traveling and improves our employees’ quality of life by giving them more time to spend enjoying the activities they love and being with their families,” Windish says.

A “sensory center” with a presentation kitchen rounds out the first floor, giving visiting customers a chance to see food prepared and taste new culinary innovations.

One level up is the trading floor, while the bulk of employee workspaces are on the third and fourth floors. One feature of the work stations is that all of them all flexible, allowing an employee to sit or stand as they work. Off the third floor is another outdoor deck with a city view, tables and chairs, and railing posts containing USB charging stations for cellphones or laptops.

“We encourage employees to take advantage of the space to work outdoors when they can,” Windish says. The third floor also includes in a café with limited service for employees who want to grab a quick lunch.

“We made a deliberate decision to limit the service,” he says. “We want our employees out and about, supporting Old Town’s restaurants and enjoying its amenities."

The building offers work space for Cargill Protein’s current Wichita workforce of about 800 with room to accommodate up to 950 employees.

“We plan to grow in Wichita,” he says. “And if we need still more space, this location gives us room to add that.”

Behind the office building is both a surface parking lot and a ramp with 800 parking spaces. The ramp is open to the public after 6 p.m. and provides much-needed additional parking for the nearby Intrust Bank Arena.

The work floors also include a dozen “wellness rooms” available to nursing mothers or to employees who need a place for a quiet rest break.