Occupying a plot, the size of four football pitches and securing multiple awards for its innovative design, Microsoft’s European Headquarters in Leopardstown, Dublin is an exceptional office development. Tricon’s involvement was central to the project, developing the foodservice strategy to reflect the tech giants’ values for the unity and creativity of their over 2,000 staff. Tricon recommended multiple Food and Beverage (F&B) counters on the same level offering a range of choice and flexibility for lunch breaks.
Taking the concept through to construction and handover, Tricon ensured that Microsoft’s vision was embodied throughout all F&B areas. The Italian Quarter was designed with a large pizza oven to fire authentic pizzas, seating overlooking the racecourse and is also used as the organisation’s event space with a chef’s table designed for visiting celebrity chefs and entertaining. The Street Food Kitchen was designed for staff to pick up quick, quality street food and the Farmers’ Market is a grab and go deli with healthy breakfast options and sandwiches for lunch – here Tricon also assisted in sourcing the hydroponic machinery to grow herbs and spices specifically for in-house seasoning.
In addition to food outlets, Microsoft sought to roast their own bespoke blend of coffee beans on site and wanted to have a bakery that provided freshly baked croissants, muffins and bread stamped with the iconic Microsoft logo. Tricon brought this vision to life when designing both areas by sourcing a roasting machine for Cortado (the office coffee bar) and designing a kitchen with facilities that would supply the in-house bakery, Knead, with everything they needed to prepare freshly baked goods. Pantries and stores also allow for meeting room hospitality and there are tea/coffee points on each floor for additional accessibility.
