Case study

A vibrant office for funeral service provider Monuta

February 10, 2026

Modern office space with shared work table, felt privacy screens, wooden seating element with seat cushions and lots of green plants.

Sometimes an office no longer meets current standards, leaving no option but to relocate. This was the case for Monuta, who this year exchanged their outdated premises in Apeldoorn for a modern work environment in Amersfoort. CBRE assisted them throughout the entire process, from the search for a new location to design, technical support, project management, and finances. The result is an office with open spaces and a beautifully designed internal staircase that connects colleagues.

Modern office lounge with comfortable seating areas, work booths, large windows and a light, open interior.
Stijn Poelstra photography & video
Modern office space with large wooden conference table, designer pendant lamps, workstations and comfortable upholstered chairs.
Modern office environment with glass meeting rooms, lounge seating, designer furniture and plenty of natural light.
Modern office hall with decorative shelves, glass meeting rooms, warm colours and contemporary décor.
Modern office space with undulating wooden seating element, green plants, soft seat cushions and adjoining meeting room.
Modern office space with shared work table, felt privacy screens, wooden seating element with seat cushions and lots of green plants.
Modern office space with undulating wooden seating element, green plants, colourful LED accent wall and glass meeting room.

From enclosed to collaborative spaces

"Relocating after more than a century in Apeldoorn was a weighty decision," begins Lisa Mudde, Project Manager at Monuta. "Yet, it was essential: our old office was outmoded and simply too large. We operated too much in individual compartments and separate departments. Our goal was a modern, open-plan workspace – an office better suited for hybrid work practices."

"Our new Monuta office came with a set of specific criteria," Lisa added. "Key among these were excellent accessibility from the Randstad and close proximity to a railway station, embodying our commitment to 'less driving, more public transport'. We also prioritized sufficient communal areas to foster colleague interaction. Lastly, it was essential that the building was multi-tenant, allowing us to share facilities like the on-site restaurant."

Amersfoort: The preferred location

"Monuta approached CBRE in 2022 with these well-defined requirements," states Pauline Kern, Project Manager at CBRE. "My colleagues in the Leasing department conducted a comprehensive 'stay-or-go analysis' to assess whether Monuta could remain in its existing premises, potentially through redevelopment. However, staying proved unfeasible due to the structural limitations of numerous load-bearing walls and stairwells, necessitating a relocation. The search for a new property concentrated on the triangular region encompassing Apeldoorn, Arnhem, and Amersfoort, which yielded several viable options. For each potential site, test fits were executed, a detailed Spatial Program of Requirements was developed, and our Workplace team provided expert advice. Based on this thorough evaluation, Monuta ultimately selected the office at Smallepad in Amersfoort, conveniently located within walking distance of the station."

From technical inspection to design development

Pauline elaborates, "Once the property was identified, our Building Consultancy department carried out a technical benchmark survey. This Technical Due Diligence (TDD) involves our advisors scrutinizing the building's architectural state and all pertinent documentation to establish its current condition. We evaluate its capabilities and the operational status of technical installations such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning."

"The Design team launched the design phase with a workshop at the site," adds Petra Jongeneel, Interior Architect at CBRE. "Together, we determined the 'look and feel' and foundational values for the new office: trust, inspiration, and advancement. This informed the concept, preliminary, and final designs. Monuta's corporate colors - purple and green - were subtly woven into the interior design, appearing on elements like walls, acoustic panels, and the entrance carpet. The purple was softened into pink earth tones, and the green into blue. The stairwell, however, stands out with the striking, bold purple and green of the Monuta logo."

Modern reception and meeting area with organic wooden seating, green plants and contemporary interior details.
Stijn Poelstra photography & video
Futuristic stairwell with pink-purple LED lines and reflective round panels.
Modern office pantry with seating areas, large round table, coffee corner and decorative room dividers in shades of green.
Modern meeting room with long conference table, large monitor, round designer ceiling lamp and glass walls to adjacent offices.
Modern office space with large work tables, meeting area, acoustic work pods and colourful LED accent lighting.
Modern office space with open workspaces, acoustic work pods, desk screens and plenty of natural light.
Modern office space with shared work table, felt privacy screen, ergonomic office chairs and plenty of natural light.

Planning and budget: check!

"Meanwhile, my colleague Barrie from Project Management joined the team," said Pauline. "We started looking for suitable partners to collaborate with. We selected a general contractor and installer with whom we have a proven track record, and together we developed a detailed schedule. This also involved considering permit applications – which often take longer than the standard timeframe. My colleagues from Cost Management consistently provided budget estimations and guided the client through the necessary choices."

One plan, one entity

Monuta selected Principal Contracting. This means that CBRE is responsible for design, procurement, and execution. The benefits of this service? 'Our goal is to fully manage the entire process for our clients,' Pauline said. 'Because we are involved in all aspects, the process is fully streamlined. Monuta received a fixed price and a single point of contact for the entire project. Furthermore, we offer guarantees and budget certainty – there are no unexpected costs. Unless the client explicitly requests extras, of course.'

Lisa: 'One of our directors had previously completed a similar project with CBRE, also through Principal Contracting. That experience was very positive. The complete hands-off approach was a major selling point for us – for example, I didn't have to supervise the construction. Furthermore, we can still contact CBRE for up to a year after the opening of our new office if something breaks down or if there are technical issues.'

Within budget

Lisa is therefore pleased with the collaboration with CBRE. 'The team that supported us was very knowledgeable. For instance, there were two dedicated project managers involved. I could always reach one of them for urgent questions. We had agreed on a budget internally beforehand. However, because we wanted to rent an additional half floor, it seemed we wouldn't be able to meet it. The Building Consultancy team at CBRE investigated – together with my colleague from Monuta Real Estate – how we could save money. An example: is it really necessary to remove and replace all the data cables? When I look at the bottom line, we stayed very neatly within budget. I also complimented Pauline and Barrie on that.'

The wow factor

As of September 1st, Monuta is settled in its new office. 'I am incredibly pleased with the result,' says Lisa. 'The office is very open and warm, has a luxurious feel, and has a pleasant atmosphere. In Apeldoorn, people often worked in their own rooms; I had never even been to some floors. Now, colleagues really see each other. Everyone enters on the sixth floor and then goes to the fifth floor via the internal staircase. That staircase is so beautiful, it truly stands out. When the lighting was turned on for the first time there, I thought: wow!'

All hybrid

'The new office is fully hybrid. We no longer have fixed desks, except for our customer service and two IT workstations,' Lisa continues. 'There are train seating areas, quiet carriages, phone booths, and focus rooms. And good meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment that works the same throughout the entire building – that was also a requirement from our side. There's a pantry on every department, and on the sixth floor, there's a kind of living room with a large table, coffee bar, and lounge sofas. The company restaurant is located on the ground floor. They serve good lunches there, with salads, sandwiches, and soup. We share this restaurant with other companies in the building.'

Back to the roots

‘The connection with Apeldoorn remains strong,’ Lisa explains. 'Petra played a key role in integrating the city into our new office space – after all, that's where our history lies. She designed two beautiful cabinets displaying memorabilia. The billboards from our previous office, which contained information about a hundred years of Monuta, have been moved with us to our new office. In this way, we've brought our roots with us.'

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