Amer Winter & Outdoor Americas announced plans to move to Ogden, Utah into the historic American Can factory, and has expressed interest in becoming the site's anchor tenant. Working with developers, the City of Ogden and Amer Sports – which has agreed to lease 59,000 square feet – are now turning the abandoned factory into a regional showcase of green redevelopment.
“As a wintersport and outdoor business, we moved to Ogden to be close to these incredible mountains,” explains Mike Dowse, President and General Manager of Amer Winter & Outdoor Americas. “As a responsible member of the community, we want to preserve and enhance the quality of life here. Were starting with the green redevelopment of the Wasatch Mountain Center, and were continuing with green initiatives that will improve the way our employees work and live.”
Amer said that by revitalizing existing structures, the project is minimizing the need for new building materials, while preventing thousands of cubic yards of old material from becoming landfill. Many materials that cant be reused are being recycled. Workers, for instance, are salvaging several tons of sheet metal from the factorys floor.
To mitigate heat loss and absorption, crews are painstakingly replacing old windows throughout the complex with Low-e double-insulated glass. Heating and cooling efficiency will be further improved by an intelligent climate control system, automated interior solar shades, and high R-value blow-in cellulose insulation (made of recycled newspaper).
In the department of wise water use, xeroscaping will emphasize drought-tolerant plants, with water sparingly dispensed by drip irrigation. Thirsty sod grass will have at most a token presence on the Wasatch Mountain Center campus.
“Thanks to Amer Sports leadership, the new Salomon, Atomic and Suunto headquarters in the historic American Can building will stand as a model for green development,” says Mayor Godfrey. “This city could not ask for a better environmental partner.”
Amer Winter & Outdoor Americas will begin operating from the Wasatch Mountain Center in August 2007. The business unit was founded in August 2006 to provide a shared infrastructure for Amer Sports US-based winter and outdoor brands including Salmon, Atomic and Suunto. Ogden is located on the west side of the Wasatch Mountains, 40 miles north of Salt Lake City International Airport. The city boasts a vibrant historic district and quick access to world-class skiing.
Amer Sports Corporation is the worlds leading sports equipment company with internationally recognized brands including Wilson, Atomic, Suunto, Precor, Salomon and Mavic.
