Clif Bar & Company, the leading maker of nutritious and organic foods and drinks, announced today that its Emeryville, Calif. headquarters has been awarded LEED® Platinum certification, the highest standard buildings can earn as a measure of their sustainability.
Located at 1451 66th Street, Clif Bar’s 115,000 square foot office space is the first building in Emeryville to achieve LEED Platinum certification in the commercial interior category, the industry benchmark for green design of tenant improvements.
“At Clif Bar we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year. Achieving LEED Platinum for our headquarters represents an important milestone in our ongoing journey towards sustainability,” said Kit Crawford, Clif Bar & Company’s co-owner and co-CEO. “The space we’ve created captures our company’s values, inspires our people and is kind to the planet.”
Built by San Francisco-based DPR Construction and designed by ZGF Architects, based in Portland, Ore., Clif Bar’s headquarters was completed in 2010 and has earned LEED Platinum by achieving high performance in energy efficiency, materials selection, sustainable site development, water savings and indoor environmental quality.
Energy efficiency was a priority in the headquarters’ design. Crowning the building’s rooftop is a “smart” solar array that provides the building with the majority of its power. Smart solar represents an emerging trend in solar technology aimed at optimizing output and reducing costs by integrating monitors onto individual solar panels. Additionally, solar thermal panels provide 70 percent of the heat needed for hot water. Low flow faucets and showers help reduce overall water use. The solar power, in addition to energy conservation efforts in its R & D kitchen and energy-efficient office equipment, makes Clif Bar & Company’s headquarters one of the first buildings in the state to comply with the 2008 California Building Energy Efficiency Standards.
“I started Clif Bar with the idea for a better tasting energy bar. Today, we continue to challenge ourselves to do business in a better way,” said Gary Erickson, founder, co-owner and co-CEO of Clif Bar & Company. “Our LEED Platinum building reflects Clif Bar’s ongoing commitment to long term sustainability for our business, brands, people, community and the planet.”
Sustainably sourced materials abound throughout the office, including more than 12,000 board feet of wood reclaimed from sources such as container crates and barns. All new wood used in the construction originated from sustainably managed forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. To mitigate ambient sound, recycled denim was used to create 380 sound-absorbing panels. Lamps, tables, white boards and bookshelves were reused from the building’s former tenant and desks are made from rapidly renewable bamboo. Even the artwork is recycled-hanging sculptures constructed from retired bikes, kayaks, snowboards and surfboards celebrate Clif Bar’s connection to sports and the outdoors.
With a focus on “biophilic” design, the open and communal workspace seeks to connect employees to the physical, psychological and cognitive benefits derived from direct interaction with nature. Four atrium gardens integrated into the interior of the office bring sunlight and rain to the plants and greenery in the gardens. The glass garden walls, plus extensive exterior and clerestory windows, flood the space with natural light. Natural materials, interior colors inspired by nature and planters filled with Zen rock gardens and live plants further draw nature into the work environment.
In addition to its ecofriendly design, the building houses numerous amenities for Clif Bar employees. Employees can drop their children off at Clif Base Camp, Clif Bar’s 6,700 square foot onsite childcare facility designed for children ranging in age from infant to five year olds. They can share organic breakfasts and lunches with their co-workers in Kali’s Kitchen, the employee café named after founder Gary Erickson’s grandmother who inspired him to bake. To help employees achieve their health and fitness goals, the building features a fitness center with a weight room, 40-foot bouldering wall, yoga room, dance studio, shower/locker facilities, two massage rooms and bike storage. 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.
The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. Of the 12,675 LEED Certified Commercial Projects worldwide, only 6 percent have been awarded Platinum.
About Clif Bar & Company
Clif Bar & Company is a leading maker of nutritious, organic foods and drinks, including CLIF® BAR energy bar, LUNA®, The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women®; and CLIF Kid®, Nourishing Kids in Motion®. Focused on sports nutrition and healthy snacks, the employee and family-owned company is committed to sustaining its business, brands, people, community and the planet. For more information on Clif Bar & Company, please visit www.clifbar.com <http://www.clifbar.com> , check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/clifbar <http://www.facebook.com/clifbar> and follow us on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/clifbar <http://www.twitter.com/clifbar> .
