Photographs By Ken Gabrielsen
Renowned around the globe for its high-end cutlery, cookware, flatware, and glassware, German company Zwilling J.A. Henckels opened its US headquarters in Pleasantville in November 2015. The 122,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building provides modern, airy office space for the company’s 75 US employees. The building itself was designed and built with solar in mind—the 850 kW rooftop solar array is expected to offset 100 percent of the company’s grid-supplied power. Zwilling worked with local firm Gallin Beeler Design Studio on the design, which highlights Zwilling’s commitment to sustainability.
The Zwilling J.A. Henckels brand debuted in 1731, when German knife-maker Peter Henckels registered the “twin” symbol as his trademark with the Cutlers’ Guild of Solingen. Today, its products—which now also include cookware, flatware, and glassware—are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.
Entering the Zwilling HQ, you get an immediate dose of brand awareness via the reception area’s gleaming showroom. It features seasonal selections and new products from Zwilling’s roster of brands: Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Staub, Demeyere, and Miyabi.
In addition to internal use, the multifunctional area next to the cooking studio is used to host groups from other companies who come for teambuilding and strategy events and then stay for cooking classes. The modular tables can be set up to accommodate events and groups of various sizes.
If a Zwilling retailer requests an original recipe to print in its catalog (next to, say, one of Zwilling’s Demeyere cooking pans), the company’s chef heads to this open, airy kitchen for recipe development. It also serves as a cooking studio for workshops, master classes, and corporate functions. The cabinetry is from Mount Kisco-based Leicht Westchester.
The building’s 4 million cubic feet of warehouse space serves as Zwilling’s US logistics and shipping hub. The company ships roughly 4,000 cartons of merchandise per day to independent specialty stores and retail chains, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Macy’s, Sur La Table, and Williams-Sonoma.
This main conference room is situated on the second floor, near the executive offices. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the bright space is utilized frequently by all employees.
In order to promote interaction among employees, the workspaces were specifically designed to be of low height, while cushion-topped benches next to each workstation encourage people to sit down for impromptu desk-side meetings. The filing-cabinet kiosks clustered between the desks serve as display areas for product review sessions.
