Clif Bar & Co. reports that its Emeryville headquarters has been awarded LEED platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Located at 1451 66th St., Clif Bar’s 115,000-sq-ft office space is the first building in Emeryville to achieve LEED platinum certification in the commercial interior category. The firm is a maker of organic foods and drinks.
The general contractor/construction manager on the project was DPR Construction and the architect was ZGF. The project, which won an Award of Merit in last year’s ENR California’s Top Projects competition in the Office category, transformed a World War II valve manufacturing facility into a workplace tailored for the outdoor enthusiasts who run Clif Bar.
Energy efficiency elements on the project included a rooftop “smart” solar array that provides the building with the majority of its power, solar thermal panels provide 70% of the heat needed for hot water, and low-flow faucets and showers.
Sustainably sourced materials used include more than 12,000 board ft of wood reclaimed from sources such as container crates and barns; all new wood coming FSC-certified sources; recycled denim to create 380 sound-absorbing panels; lamps, tables, white boards and bookshelves reused from the building’s former tenant; and desks made from rapidly renewable bamboo.
With a focus on “biophilic” design, four atrium gardens are integrated into the interior of the office to 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.