Recreational Equipment, Inc. will open its first prototype store on Oct. 5 to
test new retail concepts and the performance of green building
features, including state-of-the-art technology and
environmentally-friendly materials. Findings from the working
laboratory will help the company make decisions on how it approaches
green building design and construction in the future.
“REI's prototype initiative is structured around our community
involvement, environmental stewardship and commitment to be a gateway
to the outdoors,” said Brian Unmacht, REI's senior vice president of
sales, store development and logistics. “Our Boulder location captures
the uniqueness of REI's brand and values, while supporting our
aspirations to reduce our environmental footprint.”
Building upon more than 10 years of the co-op's leadership in green
building design, REI Boulder was constructed using the U.S. Green
Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
standards, specifically to achieve a LEED Silver certification.
Three solar strategies — passive solar, solar thermal and solar
electric — were incorporated into the design. Natural daylight is
channeled throughout the store through Solatubes(TM) while store
lighting automatically dims or turns off during the day. Solatubes will
save the store more than 20 percent in its energy costs, the annual
equivalent of powering up to three houses. A soaring entryway skylight
collects energy from imbedded silicon solar cells, and is the first
installation of building-integrated photovoltaics of its kind in a
retail environment. A solar hot water system will meet 70 percent of
the store's hot water needs that is supplied through efficient plumbing
fixtures.
REI said some of the most striking differences in the stores
appearance occur through design changes and the incorporation of
renewable and sustainable materials. Located at the center of the
42,000 square-foot store is an elevated community center — a first for
REI. The community center highlights REI's commitment to connecting
co-op members and customers to resources for recreation opportunities,
outdoor and conservation clubs and non-profit organizations, and
regional service projects to help protect shared natural spaces. The
area also features event space for up to 80 people that is available to
nonprofits and clubs.
Green materials, such as bamboo, recycled rubber and cork, have been
incorporated throughout the store on the floor, perimeter walls,
fixtures, displays, benches and table tops. A comprehensive summary of
the store's green building features is available on REI's website
at www.rei.com/greenbuilding/boulder. A self-guided walking tour
is also available through a brochure in the store.
REI's partner for the prototype store is Gensler, a leading global
design, planning and strategic consulting firm. The company has been a
champion of sustainable design for years and in 2005 received the
Leadership Award from the U.S. Green Building Council for its
commitment to the advancement of sustainable design. As the architect
and contributing interior designer, Gensler was guided by LEED
standards to create custom-design new fixtures, signage and wayfinding
systems for the new layout of the store. Gensler is also managing the
LEED certification process for the Boulder store.
“REI challenged us to raise the bar in terms of how their store and
brand experience could better serve the community and address their
goals to reduce the company's environment footprint,” said Ted Jacobs,
Gensler's design director for the project. “The resulting design
delivers a sense of community for both REI members and non-members, and
reflects REI's leadership in environmental design and commitment to
responsible retailing.”
“We are very proud of our innovation in Boulder and look forward to
incorporating feedback from our members, customers and own employees
into future prototype locations,” added Dean Iwata, REI's director of
store development. “Through this initiative, we will continue to
celebrate the co-op's spirit and serve as a resource to members and
customers, community partners and nonprofit organizations.”
REI announced its prototype initiative in May 2006. The prototype in
Boulder was constructed by remodeling the company's existing store that
opened in 2002. Starting in 2005, the store was one of 20 REI locations
to be powered by green energy. By expanding into a vacant space
adjacent to the store, the larger footprint allowed a wider selection
of gear and apparel, and the addition of a new ski and snowboard
department, repair shop, and kids play area.
The company has been involved in green retail store design since the
planning, construction and opening of the co-op's innovative Seattle
flagship store in 1996. In 2004, REI's Portland, Ore. location became
the first retail store in the country to earn the U.S. Green Building
Council's LEED gold rating for commercial interiors, followed by REI's
Pittsburgh store with LEED silver in 2006. REI has built the Boulder
store to also achieve a LEED silver rating for commercial interiors. In
addition, the company is also involved in U.S. Green Building Council's
LEED for Retail pilot project, which has the goal of creating
certification procedures that are less costly and time intensive for
the retail construction industry. REI Boulder is the first store to be
constructed using LEED for Retail criteria
