The Center for the Built Environment (CBE) selected the Clif Bar & Company Headquarters in Emeryville, CA as the winner of the 2012 Livable Buildings Award. Clif Bar's ultra-modern space was transformed from a World War II valve manufacturing facility into a workplace haven for its outdoor enthusiast employees. The adaptive reuse LEED-Platinum project includes a 530-kilowatt solar installation, which meets nearly all the office's electricity needs. More than 90% of the occupied space is naturally daylit. The open floor plan encourages employee interactions, but the design also includes 16 conference rooms and six "telephone booths" to allow for privacy and small meetings. Other unique employee spaces include a wellness center, research and development kitchen, gym, cafe, theater, and daycare.

CBE's Livable Buildings Award recognizes projects that meet the highest standards for providing healthy, productive indoor environments and represent best sustainability practices. Now in its sixth year, it is given to buildings that demonstrate exceptional performance in terms of resource efficiency, overall design and occupant satisfaction (using CBE's Occupant Indoor Environmental Quality Survey). CBE's survey is used to study occupant satisfaction with the quality of the indoor environment and has been used in over 575 buildings around the world.

Photo Credits: Drew Kelly