Building Better in Boise

Preservationists and sustainability talking heads agree the greenest space is the one already built.

For The North Face, the San Leandro, Calif.-based manufacturer of apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories for explorers and other outdoor enthusiasts, sustainability and conservation form the core of its environmental stance. The company is taking a holistic and systematic approach to creating long-term sustainable business practices to advance the well-being of the planet, from the impact of its product lifecycle to the very places where it sells those goods.

Store 24 in Boise, Idaho, is a testament to that eco-friendly pledge, even going so far as to seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Level Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council — a first for the brand, though it has been specifying sustainable materials in its store construction for many years.

LEED focuses on five areas: sustainable site development; water savings; energy efficiency; materials and resources selection; and indoor environmental quality. LEED certified buildings are, by definition, at least 15 percent more efficient than code buildings.

The choice of Boise, nationally recognized as a city with one of the most active outdoor communities, seems natural. “We are proud to connect with the area’s very active outdoor community and to share our sustainability efforts through innovation, exploration and education,” says Lindsay Rice, The North Face’s vice president, direct to consumer.

Housed in a 100-year-old building in Boise’s historic central business district, the newest North Face store opened in November. It occupies 8,665 sq. ft. on two floors of The Mode, a three-story, wood and brick structure named for the local department store that traded there for decades before closing in 1991.

A row of second-floor windows — shuttered since a 1958 fire — have been uncovered and restored with high-efficiency glazing that now allows light to stream into the space, contributing both daytime lighting and passive solar heating to the space.

In fact, the entire facade was treated to a facelift of the most eco-conscious manner. Local landlord Baum Development and Southfield, Mich.-based retail design consultancy JGA elected to paint the exterior The North Face’s familiar red using low-VOC (volatile organic compounds), low-odor paint.

The team also incorporated a wide range of high-efficiency and energy conservation systems including lighting, HVAC and a high-tech air filtering system that fills the store with fresh, clean air.

Restoration treasures
While it’s difficult to “see” energy-saving design, the interior was reworked and a generous atrium staircase now rises where large escalators once stood. The restoration also unearthed more architectural treasures, including the original wood joist ceilings that now contribute warmth to the space.

Other restored elements include original brick walls, cast iron rivets, metal beams and columns around the store’s perimeter. With the majority of selling space located on the upper level, high-impact visual elements were used to attract customers up the stairs where they are greeted by a large graphic mural and a dramatic footwear wall.

Selecting new (and, in many cases, organic) materials was an important aspect of The North Face’s sustainability initiative. The bamboo plywood flooring is a natural, renewable and recyclable material already being used in other North Face units; the Boise store also features porcelain tile that offers reduced energy consumption in the production process and is recyclable at the end of its use. The grout has 15 percent recycled content and low VOCs; the setting material has 19 percent recycled content.

Hardwood flooring elsewhere in the store is produced without the use of insecticides or laminating adhesives. Timber is harvested in sustainable forestry, and the carpeting found inside the Boise store is 90 percent recycled content installed without glue.

Green fixtures
Merchandise fixtures feature powder-coated rather than plated metals, which reduces environmental impact during manufacturing, as well as bamboo plywood that complies with the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) regulations for composite panels. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource, and the manufacturer of this material has received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for responsible management of the forest resource.

The cash-wrap and back-wrap are built from a wood particleboard with no added formaldehyde that is certified by both the Composite Panel Association (through its EPP program) and the Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to be made of 100-percent pre-consumer recycled wood fiber.

Retailers are increasingly sensitive to both rising materials costs and customer demand for earth-friendly decor and construction materials. And, “contrary to the popular belief that ‘green’ materials come with a premium price tag, the majority of sustainable materials used in The North Face’s Boise store are quite affordable,” says JGA chairman Ken Nisch.