Surfrider

In the midst of fighting urban runoff, the Transportation Corridor Association, and sand depletion, the Surfrider Foundation found time to move to their new eco-friendly headquarters in San Clemente. Their green, alternative work space is an office many dream of. Filled with reused furniture, recycled materials, surfboard memorabilia and donated artwork, the space reflects the ease of the surf culture it safeguards.

Since 1984, the foundation has dedicated itself to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans. They now mobilize more than 50,000 members in 90 chapters worldwide. Employees enjoy a California Casual dress code, and the space is filled with collaboration pods which foster impromptu discussions and team building collaboration.

The needs and mission of the Foundation were embraced by the design team to create a work- place that was light, airy, flexible and efficient.

“They took our needs and developed a design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. We have been in our new offices for months now and absolutely love the space,” comments Michelle Kremer, COO of the Surfrider Foundation.

The 7,000-square-foot space features 10 private offices, several other open office areas, conference and break rooms, and a surfboard area with storage racks for easy access to and from the beach. The Surfrider space is designed LEED Gold and proves that eco-friendly design can still look urban and chic.

The U.S. Green Building Council has created the LEED rating system to measure the “greenness” of each building. Much like the nutrition label, LEED certification educates occupants about what is within a building, and what it’s doing to conserve energy and water resources. The LEED acronym stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. As protector of the oceans and promoter of good causes, it’s no surprise that the Foundation commissioned a green office.

“Because Surfrider is a non-profit environmental organization they understood the importance of commissioning a building that treads lightly on its environment. We’ve seen this trend among other non-profits, such as the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach – the first LEED Platinum building in Orange County,” describes Senior Designer Rick D’Amato, of LPA Inc. “It’s wonderful to see organizations that promote environmental responsibility carry their mandates on through green buildings.”

With several hundred coastal victories under its belt, the Surfrider Foundation has become the world’s leading non-governmental organization dedicated to the protection of our planet’s oceans, waves and beaches. They celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a star-studded gala on Friday, October 9th. Pearl Jam, Incubus, and David Chokachi will attend and receive the Keepers of the Coast award, which is bestowed on celebrities who have made significant contributions in helping the Foundation fulfill its mission.

For Gala ticket information, e-mail Alexis Henry at ahenry@surfrider.org. For additional information about the Surfrider Foundation andits green office space, visit surfrider.org or www.lpainc.com.

Dan Heinfeld is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Fellow with the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). He has been with LPA for more than 30 years and is currently President of the firm.

Our new offices are amazing. They are truly functional, efficient and have a whole lot of style. LPA did a fantastic job translating what we needed into a great space that everyone enjoys working in... Even some of our dogs!"

-Michelle Kremer, COO of the Surfrider Foundation

Green Highlights

at the Surfrider Foundation Headquarters,San Clemente, Calif.

• Energy efficiency through automated lighting fixtures, natural daylight and task lighting – which gives each employee control over the lighting setup of their workspace.

• Use of recycled materials in carpet, furniture and hardware.

• Water efficient fixtures throughout.

• Natural ventilation and use of low emitting materials for optimum air quality.

• Reuse of furniture and building materials from the previous office; Doors, frames, and hardware, for example, were reused as traditional swing doors, while other doors were converted into barn doors in flexible areas. Two other doors were laid on their faces and used as the surface of the reception desk.

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