Chapter 14 Commercial Interior Design Applications 507 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. their offi ces. For instance, as a company known for creative, human-centered design-based solutions to business problems, IDEO has an offi ce environment that mirrors its innovative culture. Bicycles and airplane wings hang from the ceiling, individual workspaces refl ect each employee rather than the corporate brand, and central areas are large enough to hold large-team brainstorming sessions that center on research and unique solutions. Likewise, Pixar—the animation company known for the development of Toy Story and The Incredibles—refl ects its corporate culture in the creative work environment of their headquarters located in Emeryville, California. Their headquarters includes a 600-seat theater, two 40-seat screening rooms, a café, and a fi tness center. Pixar’s offi ce interiors have been designed for fun! The interiors include bright colors, life-sized statues of characters from Pixar movies, a clubhouse that serves as offi ces and a game area with ping-pong, foosball, and pool tables. In the center of Pixar headquarters, sits a huge atrium that acts as a central plaza for the C A S E S T U D Y VF Corporation Headquarters Imagine a kayak commute, or taking a break to try out the office climbing wall. At one San Francisco Bay Area office of VF Corporation, which includes The North Face, employees are kept happy by being kept active and outdoorsy. If you fantasize about bouldering on your lunch break, and appreciate working in a zero- waste, net zero-energy environment, look at the Alameda, California headquarters of VF Corporation. Their headquarters was designed with their employee wish list in mind. It is an office created for people who would rather be outside. The VF Corporation culture is expressed through amenities such as a large onsite garden in which grows kale, tomatoes, and basil. Lots of natural light was designed into the majority of interior spaces. Ninety percent of employees have access to direct sunlight, and many of the overhead lights can be kept off. All the windows in the complex open. Opportunities for onsite fi tness are available, including an indoor fi tness area and yoga room, an outside training area for Boot Camp, an outside bouldering (a type of rock climbing performed without special equipment other than climbing shoes) space, and an outdoor gear rental and repair shop. A café serving the vegetables grown in the garden was incorporated. The ability to kayak out into the water just outside the complex is also under investigation. The office space is inside out— executive offices are in the middle of the room and other employees sit by the windows. There is at least one big money-saving tactic built into the headquarters. It was created with energy and waste efficiency. “It’s the right thing to do, but it also has to make business sense. It will save money,” says Adam Mott, director of corporate sustainability at The North Face. VF is installing a series of solar systems (on the building roofs, on top of the carport, and on the building awnings) that will provide 100 percent of all energy needs. There is also a towering wind turbine that greets entrants to the site—a symbol of their commitment to sustainability. The complex, built to achieve LEED Gold certification, will eventually have a recycling center that goes far beyond your average office. In addition to the soda cans and office paper that are normally recycled, VF will have the ability to take e-waste (electronic products nearing the end of usefulness), lightbulbs, batteries, plastic bags, and even clothing (for recycling or donation). Their ultimate goal: a zero-waste facility. The idea about a company keeping employees active, innovating, and considering the environment should not be a novel one—it should be a future norm. Other factors important to employee satisfaction that are not related to the physical environment include ability to use skills, the relationship with the immediate supervisor, compensation, and benefits. Investigate and Reflect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Read more about the VF Corporation’s views on sustainability on their website. In addition, review the sustainability policies of other well- known companies in regard to sustainability. After reviewing these policies, discuss reasons why interior designers must be informed about sustainability practices for their clients.