The Healthiest Workplace in the World

The Healthiest Workplace in the World

lululemon was founded in 1998 and has become one of the most recognizable technical athletic apparel brands in North America. The first of its Vancouver locations operated as a design studio by day and a yoga studio by night. As the vision for its brand and community grew, lululemon’s offerings expanded to include apparel for yoga, running, training and most other sweaty pursuits.

lululemon believes in empowering people to reach their full potential by providing them with the right tools and resources to live an active and balanced lifestyle. As the brand gained popularity, it opened several stores nationwide, as well as a total of four support centres across its home province of British Columbia. In 2017, lululemon decided to consolidate its existing support centres under a single roof and, at the same time, design a facility that truly embodied its core values and operational growth goals.

Once complete, its new 575,000 sq. ft. head office will stand 13-stories tall, accommodate up to 3,600 employees and include several design features that support lululemon’s goal to make it one of the healthiest workplaces in the world. As part of this strategy, the project will adopt the One Planet Living Framework and is pursuing LEED version four BD+C Platinum, WELL version two Platinum and ILFI Zero Carbon certification standards.

Programmed for activity-based work, the office’s amenities will include spaces for collaboration, mindfulness, nutrition and sweaty pursuits. Its 13-storey atrium will combine natural ventilation with an iconic brise soleil to connect the building’s occupants with the outside. A large, interconnected stairwell sets the stage for townhalls and other events; and a curated selection of coffee shops and juice bars will complement the 200-seat employee cafe and full-service restaurant. The office will also offer underground parking for over 700 vehicles and 400 bikes – which will be accessible through a designated bike elevator, further encouraging active living and sustainable transportation amongst employees.

In addition to the creative and collaborative office layout, there will be a leading-edge Whitespace R&D lab, product creation space, sample and archive library, quality and colour lab, and store concept lab. These creative testing and design areas will provide an engaging and collaborative space to develop new technical apparel and guest experiences.

Strategic Planning for Growth

To support lululemon’s vision for growth, Colliers Project Leaders is providing comprehensive project management, strategic consulting, furniture, fixtures and equipment planning (FF&E) services.

Starting fresh with a new development, our project management team worked closely with lululemon to create a project plan, delivery strategy and governance structure that will ensure the new store support centre is designed to meet strategic and operational needs from the inside out. As the new facility plays an important role in lululemon’s real-estate strategy, our advisory team developed proformas for several development options to ensure this was the right accommodation strategy for lululemon and to validate the project’s financial viability.

lululemon selected and assembled a team of experts from across North America, to transform their vision and bring it to life. Our project management leads are collaborating with specialists in workplace strategy, sustainability, wellness, sweat and nutrition to steadily guide the project forward though the planning, design and entitlements process.

Our FF&E team has also been involved in the planning process to identify the furniture and equipment needed to support the brand’s corporate, design and functional needs. When ready, we will lead lululemon through the procurement, move and installation of all new and repurposed fixtures.

Getting Ready to Break Ground

lululemon’s landmark store support centre is currently in its final design validation stage and we are actively working with the City of Vancouver to secure the necessary permits and approvals to begin construction.

The new centre will serve as a hub for the lululemon brand and a sustainable, future-proofed contribution to Vancouver’s architectural landscape. We are proud to be a part of such an ambitious and innovative project, and will continue to offer insight, guidance and support as lululemon continues its journey to build the world’s healthiest workplace.

Image credit to Morphosis Architects.