From castle to estate: new ABW workspaces for C&A

C&A faced a strategic relocation of its offices. The Belgian entity would move into the existing distribution center in Boom, while the European entity required an entirely new office in the Vilvoorde–Zaventem region. Meliopus was brought in to guide this complex process — from location analysis and design to project coordination, follow-up, and execution, including change management.

The client:

C&A is one of the most well-known and popular clothing chains worldwide. The brand places great importance on customer experience, carrying that same approach through both its stores and back-office environments. The inviting look-and-feel makes it easier for customers to choose and creates an optimal working atmosphere both frontstage and backstage.

The assignment:

Two entities — C&A Belgium and C&A Europe — were co-tenants in an office building on the outskirts of Brussels. Departments struggled with inefficient use of space, leaving two-thirds of the rented premises unused. The result? Unnecessarily high costs. As the lease neared its end, the idea arose to relocate — a challenging undertaking.

Meliopus was engaged to conduct a housing analysis and draw up a program of requirements. This resulted in two separate assignments: the European entity would relocate to a new site in the Vilvoorde–Zaventem area, while the Belgian entity would move into a fully renovated top floor of an existing C&A distribution center in Boom.

Our approach:

1/ Location analysis based on the program of requirements

From the outset, Meliopus was tasked with preparing a housing analysis of the current situation, serving as a guide in deciding to split the entities. The two departments had very different occupancy rates and ways of working, making it easy to map their situations individually.

For C&A Europe, we used this analysis to inform brokers about the criteria for a standalone building. After many visits and additional evaluations, the choice fell on a completely vacant office building, which C&A Europe — with roughly 200 employees — could lease in its entirety, without having to share with other parties.

2/ Design and macro planning of the new office building

From past collaborations, we already knew C&A to be a dynamic company. The new workplace for C&A Europe had to fully match that energy. Based on the building’s core structure, we designed a future-proof office focused on activity-based working, with open collaboration and functional diversity as key principles.

From a central core, staff and visitors can easily flow to various meeting and collaboration rooms of different sizes and setups, or to workstations with optimal daylight.

A major advantage: before we began implementation and interior design, the landlord gave us good news. The building had stood empty for over five years, and he decided to give it a major facelift — covering much of the structural renovation at his own expense. This included installing state-of-the-art climate ceilings, renewing all cabling, and adding advanced cooling and heating systems. This significantly reduced costs for C&A, freeing up budget for extras in the micro-planning stage. Meliopus made an extra logistical effort to align all activities — something right up our alley.

3/ Micro planning and seamless execution with preferred suppliers and landlord

It was important to C&A that the distinctive style and functionality of their stores and other offices carried over into the new locations. Think warm, homely colors, wooden accents, soft materials, and — above all — ample space to display and easily move clothing racks. This translated into flexible furniture and storage systems to facilitate the transition to flexible working, while maintaining a clear distinction between collections. We also introduced phone booths and meeting pods for staff to make calls or meet in small teams without disturbance.

Unlike other projects, C&A worked with its preferred suppliers for electrical work, painting, and carpentry. Within these familiar partnerships, Meliopus still oversaw execution and quality control. Thanks to close coordination between our workplace experts, the landlord’s design office and contractors, and C&A’s own project leader and suppliers, all deadlines were met — even while structural renovations were ongoing alongside furnishing other floors.

4/ Change management and staff engagement

A successful transition requires more than a new design—it calls for thorough guidance for employees. In many practical projects, the human side is overlooked, but not at Meliopus. Our focus is always on the people and the facilities they use.

C&A summed it up nicely: “We’re moving from a huge castle to a large estate. It’s beautiful, but it will take some adjustment.”

Change management was therefore a natural choice. We held plenary sessions to introduce the new workplace concept and its benefits, and ran interactive workshops in small groups using the workplace game to create a broadly supported workplace policy tailored to the company. We supported C&A in continuously informing employees — via newsletters and polls on specific ABW elements. Finally, once the workplace was nearly ready, we invited everyone to visit and get familiar with their new surroundings.

5/ Renovation of existing office

For the Belgian branch, with about 50 employees, the story was quite different. They moved to an existing space above the C&A distribution center in Boom. This floor was almost completely stripped. The focus was on optimizing existing spaces to meet the program of requirements for this team.

Here, reuse was key. Instead of buying new furniture, we reused existing pieces, reupholstering some for a fresh look. This reduced waste streams and reflected a conscious, responsible approach in line with a broader circular vision. Additional materials were selected for sustainability, prioritizing those that reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

The new work environment was designed not only to be functional and future-oriented but also to promote a pleasant and inspiring atmosphere. Smart use of light, space, and layout created a dynamic environment that stimulates both collaboration and well-being—a double win. The C&A DNA is clearly visible here too, with plenty of color, wood, and greenery, and an activity-based layout tailored to the team’s needs.

The result:

The new office environments for C&A Belgium and C&A Europe offer a perfect balance between collaboration and concentration. Flexible workstations respond well to the varied needs of teams on the floor. Thanks to Meliopus’s strategic approach, we achieved not only more efficient use of space but also a smooth cultural shift.

Through close cooperation with the landlord of the new building, C&A’s project managers, and our workplace experts, we transformed this client’s offices into a truly future-proof working environment.

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