REI Earns Green with LEED for Retail Prototype Store

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), the national retail cooperative that provides outdoor gear and clothing, has been a leader in green retail store design since its Seattle flagship store opened in 1996. In 2004, REI's Portland, Ore. location became the first retail store in the country to earn the LEED Green Building Rating Systems Gold Certification for commercial interiors. In 2006, its Pittsburgh store achieved LEED Silver for commercial interiors. Today, REI's Boulder store represents the next generation in green building design for the company.

Considered a prototype for future REI stores, the Boulder location is part of the LEED for Retail pilot program, is built to meet LEED-CI Silver standards, and is designed to use 20 percent less energy than stores of similar size and standards. Helping achieve these substantial goals are the glazing systems that contribute to the store's naturally lit, energy-efficient retail environment. In addition to providing a greener, healthier shopping experience, daylight has been shown in studies by big-box retailers to have a positive effect on worker productivity and customer sales.

The Boulder store seized the opportunity to realize its green retail laboratory when a neighboring store vacated space adjacent to its 22,000-square-foot existing space. Architects and interior designers at Gensler's San Francisco office presented REI with an overall design scheme "reminiscent of nature… The store's façade incorporates visual cues of earthen strata, thick forest canopies, and a towering pinnacle."

Bringing this vision to life, Westwood Contractors Inc.'s West Coast division hired Harmon Inc. to serve as specialty contractor for both exterior and interior glazing systems.

Greg Anderson, Westwood's vice president and West Coast division manager, had concerns with meeting deadlines, maintaining the architectural and environmental intentions, and phasing the project so that REI could remain open for business throughout construction. "The storefront system presented a few challenging angles and sizes. Some of the interior materials specified were a little exotic. And these affected the lead times. It kept us on the edge of our seats, but it came together in the end."

Construction started in February 2007 and a grand re-opening was held in October. Careful coordination was required to accommodate the remodel and expansion, and the building's ongoing operation and sales throughout the eight-month project. "We did the installations while the store was open for business. The store was closed for only one week while REI moved out of the phase two area and into the phase one area," according to Rick Gaudreau, Harmon's special projects representative.

A combined 833-square-feet of vision and spandrel glass was glazed into Kawneer's 1600 Wall System1 and installed by Harmon on the exterior storefront and a glass canopy above the main entrance. Nearly 2,000-square-feet of glass products were installed for handrails and partitions on the interior. Approximately 1,800-square-feet of the interior glass was supplied by the owner, among which was custom art glass installed on the retailer's training, conference and community center.

This glass-enclosed area sits at the heart of the store surrounded by merchandising zones. A visual focal point and an auditory oasis, the 80-seat space allows for acoustic privacy and is dedicated as a resource for the community. Here, visitors learn more about the outdoors and opportunities to protect shared natural spaces, as well as provide a venue for events, presentations, and demonstrations by REI or one of its many community partners.

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