An international cosmetics company with strong environmental and socially conscious values chose to relocate the United States headquarters from New Jersey to Wake Forest, North Carolina. The Body Shop purchased an existing 140,000 square foot office and manufacturing facility built in the early 1980s. The company wanted to house their office, manufacturing and storage needs in a manner that communicated their corporate values. The character of the headquarter's environment also needed to make visual connections with their worldwide retail store image.
Drawing on the architectural organization of indigenous cultures from across the globe, the office environment was grouped into villages and tribes. Building products were environmentally friendly and recycled whenever possible. The energy conscious approach introduced two large daylight monitors to provide office illumination without the heat build up associated with electric fixtures.
Clearscapes designed and fabricated furniture, product displays and exhibits from recycled plastic lumber provided from the Owner's recycled packaging. This has led to these elements being incorporated into their store environments. The project was recognized as one of the Ten Most Environmentally-Friendly Buildings in the nation when it opened.
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