Grande Cheese

This premier cheese manufacturer occupied space as they could over the years, resulting in disjointed campuses throughout the state. This phased construction project creates a new 40-acre corporate campus that will facilitate growth and innovation by providing a unique and creative space for the art and science of manufacturing world-class dairy products. A hallmark of the campus is the natural integration of the buildings into the landscape in a way that most fully takes advantage of the land, with a central courtyard that connects all phases of development.

Phase 1 includes an 87,000-sf home office and research center. An orchard also will be established on site. Future phases include a manufacturing research pilot plant and a comprehensive landscaping plan featuring an expanded orchard and vineyards, vegetable gardens, and a greenhouse.

HERA’s main goal was to create an efficient research laboratory center to facilitate speed-to-market launch of new products. HERA designed the laboratory center for easy expansion and reconfiguration to meet future market growth and research changes. Collaboration spaces were created to bring the process full circle.

Laboratory types: Corporate QA/QC lab, R&D lab, microbiology lab, phage lab

Support spaces include: Incubator room, cold room, glasswash/autoclave, mojonnier (fat testing), acid digestion, storage

Commercial, custom ingredients, and cheese test kitchens; a plating room, and office, conference and interaction space also occupy the building. The building is designed to be energy efficient and to reduce operating costs.

“The guidance and selection of materials that you gave our entire technology and executive team was wonderful. We have a state of the art lab facility that very much accommodates our Associates. Thank you for your passion and dedication to this project.”

Wayne E. Matzke, President and Chief Executive Officer