Clif Bar Climber Facility

As Clif Bar’s first wholly owned and operated baking facility, this 267,000 sf organic factory employs 250 people and was completed in the fall of 2016. The state-of-the-art plant uses biophilic design, an integrative approach to architecture. It expresses Clif Bar’s dedication to sustainable values with its Five Aspirations of sustaining the people, community, business, brand, and planet. The design team was tasked with developing an innovative building that redefines the nature of food manufacturing facilities and sets a new precedent for other factories to follow. Thriving at our goal, the plant was awarded the ‘Sustainable Plant of the Year Award.’

The design features recycled and reclaimed materials from local sources and emphasizes the use of natural light and access to views of the surrounding countryside. Working with the owners and staff, we learned how each space was used and provided appropriate furnishings for function while thinking outside the box to achieve the result. Instead of creating a place where people ‘have to work,’ we created an environment where people ‘wanted to be.’