The upbeat tones of a saxophonist filled the air as 250 guests entered Ardoq’s new home at Grensen 9B on 29 May, 2024. Blessed with the weather gods on our side, we welcomed Ardoqians, alumni, board members, customers, investors, and partners to the housewarming celebration of our new headquarters in the heart of Oslo.
The event was awash in our iconic shade of purple—from lights and dresses to nails and badges—making it an unmistakably Ardoqian celebration. To spark conversations and nostalgic story-swapping, guests sported purple stickers indicating how many years they’ve been friends of Ardoq.
Nick Peters, our dedicated COO who oversaw this ambitious project, expressed his delight at the celebration. He commented, "Seeing this space used for gathering people and building the community is fantastic. This signifies a new era for Ardoq."
See more photos of the event in the image carousel below.
The festivities continued indoors with a welcome speech and engaging fireside chats. Discussing Ardoq’s new HQ and the groundbreaking renovation, Nick Peters (COO at Ardoq), Torstein Blumer (Project Manager at Magna Construction Management), and Claire Sporton (Global Director of Customer Experience at Ardoq) talked about the building process, sustainable choices, and the importance of community.
Did you know that:
- The 5000 pieces that make up our beautiful new floors were sourced from old buildings across Oslo including the Kongsvinger Fire Station, Spjelkavik School, and Oslo Atrium.
- 58 meters of rails sourced from the city’s historic tram system now serve as the backbone for our stairs and walkways, ascending to the sixth-floor mezzanine.
- The commitment to sustainability in the renovation efforts has resulted in 97% of the original building above ground being preserved and a reduction of 93% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to the average office building.
Read more about how this building has been transformed with sustainability and our people in mind.
Erik Bakstad (CEO at Ardoq), Jonas Persson (Chairman of the Board), and Aksel Lund Svindal (Board Member) then spoke a bit about growth strategies, AI investments, and the importance of team culture.
"Ardoq has experienced high momentum over the last few years, and I have great expectations for what's to come. This HQ marks a huge milestone in our history, and we would not have been here if it were not for all of you guys, the friends and partners of Ardoq.", Bakstad said to the crowd.
The housewarming celebration was officially rung open with our traditional deal-closing gong to a round of hearty applause. Guests could enjoy food and beverages from “bArdoq” before being invited up to dessert on the sixth floor, where they could enjoy the sun on the roof terrace or invite a friend for a round of games.
Klára Janovská from Asahi was one of the many customers that attended the event.
“It was a great experience to join the grand opening of Ardoq’s fresh new and eco-renovated offices and meet Ardoq’s founders, investors, customers, and employees in one place. Meeting in person is always valuable and I had some really nice discussions. It was an absolutely incredible event that made me become fond of Ardoqians even more. Hats off to the organizers of the event who did an excellent job!”
The evening was filled with smiles, laughter, and unforgettable moments. To express our gratitude to all who were able to join us, we planted a tree for every attendee through the One More Tree Foundation. This gesture aligns with our building's green profile and reflects our values and commitment to making a positive environmental impact and supporting a green future.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was there and for all the wonderful well wishes that streamed in digitally! We couldn’t have done this without all of you.
