Sun-Maid
Company Growth Inspires Return Home to Fresh Contemporary Headquarters
Understanding what drives the need for change
For over a century, Sun-Maid Growers of California had been the trusted name behind that iconic little red box of raisins. But by 2019, this 750-family farming cooperative faced a modern dilemma: their operations were scattered across multiple locations, with corporate offices in Kingsburg and satellite teams spread throughout northern California. This fragmentation was limiting collaboration and creating inefficiencies that didn't align with their growth ambitions.
The leadership team made a bold decision to consolidate everything into a single headquarters in Fresno—a homecoming of sorts, as the company had been founded there in 1912. This wasn't just about operational efficiency; it was about creating a space that would honor their agricultural heritage while attracting top talent in California's fifth-largest city. The challenge was designing a 25,000-square-foot headquarters that would bring together more than 100 employees from diverse departments while cultivating the nurturing, collaborative culture that had made Sun-Maid a household name for generations.
How we brought the vision to life
Tangram approached this workspace transformation as an opportunity to tell Sun-Maid's story through design. We knew that bringing together teams who had been working in isolation required more than just open floor plans—it demanded spaces that would naturally encourage interaction while still supporting focused individual work. Our design partnership centered on creating a contemporary atmosphere that would inspire creativity and teamwork without losing sight of Sun-Maid's iconic brand identity.
We carefully curated a furniture ecosystem that would support this vision, selecting Steelcase workstations as the foundation for productivity, while incorporating storage solutions from Global Furniture Group and National to keep the space organized and efficient. The real magic happened in the collaborative zones, where we introduced vibrant ancillary pieces from West Elm, Blu Dot, Turnstone, and SitOnIt. These weren't just furniture selections—they were strategic choices designed to create a space that felt unapologetically Sun-Maid, with colors and textures that celebrated their agricultural roots while embracing a modern workplace culture.
4 solutions from 1 manufacturers
Answer
Answer panel features a broad range of materiality options, allowing you to express your brand, reinforce culture and protocols, or support the sharing and recording of ideas.
Shortcut
Shortcut X Base brings an elevated design aesthetic to any space, from conference rooms to casual lounge areas or training spaces. With a flexible back, abbreviated elbow rests that stay out of the way and a modern metal base, Shortcut X Base transforms spaces by bringing the warmth of home into the office.
Brody Desk + Lounge
Brody Desk is a high-performing private workstation designed specifically for the in-between spaces in corporate and education environments. As dedicated spaces for resident workers in open-plan offices, touchdown spaces outside in-demand project rooms or study carrels in busy student commons areas – Brody Desk provides people with moments of focus in high-traffic settings.
Answer Panel
Answer panel features a broad range of materiality options, allowing you to express your brand, reinforce culture and protocols, or support the sharing and recording of ideas.
1 professionals brought this vision to life
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