Clif Bar & Company, the maker of all-natural and organic sports
nutrition snacks, unveiled its new 115,000 square foot energy-efficient
headquarters, located in Emeryville, CA.
Located at 1451 66th Street, the newly designed space is housed in a
former valve manufacturing plant with distinctive Bauhaus architectural
details that hearken back to the city's past.
“We recycled an old building into a new space that's very open and
communal as the next step on our journey toward sustainability,” said
Kit Crawford, Clif Bar & Company”s co-CEO. “The space reflects who
we are while limiting our footprint on the planet.”
“If you would have told me this was possible 20 years ago when I had the
epiphany to create CLIF BAR during a 175 mile bike ride, I would have
stopped in my tracks,” added Gary Erickson, founder and co-CEO of Clif
Bar & Company. “This space is what Clif people have built – it's
more than a headquarters, it's a home to their inspiration and passion
to do business in a better way.”
Sustainability from Rooftop Solar to Recycled Denim
Clif Bar & Company said it is installing the largest “smart” solar array in
North America on its headquarters roof and parking structure, which it
anticipates will provide nearly 100% of the office electricity
needs. “Smart” solar array represents an emerging trend in solar
technology aimed at optimizing output and reducing costs by integrating
monitors onto individual solar panels. Additional solar thermal panels
on the headquarters roof provide 70% of the heat needed for hot
water.
The solar power, in addition to energy conservation efforts in its R
& D kitchen and energy-efficient office equipment, makes Clif Bar
& Company's new headquarters one of the first buildings in the state
to comply with the 2008 California Building Energy Efficiency
Standards. The company will be pursuing a LEED Platinum
certification – the highest 'green' building rating available from the
United States Green Building Council (USGBC).
To further soak up the California sun, the building's “biophilic”
interior design brings the outside world into the work space. Four
atrium gardens integrated into the interior of the office space bring
sunlight and rain to the plants and greenery in the gardens. The glass
garden walls, plus extensive exterior and clerestory windows, flood the
open floor plan with natural light.
Reused materials can be found throughout the new headquarters. Much of
the wood was reclaimed from sources such as container crates, railroad
ties and barns, while recycled denim was used to make 380
sound-absorbing panels. Repurposed bikes, kayaks, snowboards and
surfboards serve as artwork suspended from the ceiling.
Clif Bar & Company's new headquarters was built by San
Francisco-based DPR Construction and designed by ZGF Architects, based
in Portland, Ore. Earlier this year, Architect Magazine named ZGF
Architects one of the nation's top 10 green architect firms.
New and Expanded Work Perks
The building houses a new 6,700 square foot childcare center. The
center consists of specially designed inside and outside areas for five
distinct age groups, from infants to five year olds. A music room,
fitness toys 'pint-sized' treadmill, elliptical trainer, stationary
bike and bench press) and outdoor playground help to provide kids with a
balance of structured- and free-time.
An expanded wellness center features a weight room with a 40-foot
bouldering wall, a yoga room, dance studio, shower/locker facilities,
access to five on-site fitness trainers and two massage rooms. On-site
bike parking, two massage rooms and a hair salon are also back by
popular demand.
The athletes and foodies who make the company's sport nutrition food and
healthy snacks are now sharing organic breakfast and lunch meals with
their co-workers in Kali's Kitchen. Named after founder Gary Erickson's
grandmother who inspired him to bake, Kali's Kitchen is
employee-operated and sources organic ingredients from regional farms.
Adding to the community feel of the space is a theater which houses an
elevated stage, customizable lighting, professional sound board and
seating for 350 people. It's connected to a reception room and staging
area by a wall that opens by rising into the building architecture.
