The PROJECT
Safeway Inc. is one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. As of
2011, the company operated 1,681 stores in the United States and Western Canada.
A company with an evolving culture and a strong commitment to sustainable
policies and practices, Safeway transformed its Canyon Way facility to create a
brighter, healthier and more collaborative work environment. Through thoughtful
design choices aligned with its environmentally responsible agenda, the 143,000-
square-foot-project achieved LEED Silver certification.
Although Safeway maintained its employee space allocation standards, the project
team decided to lower panel heights and add glass walls that would create an
open, spacious feeling and permit access to natural light and views. Safeway also
moved private offices and most conference rooms away from the perimeter of the
building and into the core, thereby allowing daylight to flood into the building and
maximizing views for those seated in the open workspace.
Safeway was also transitioning to a wireless office designed to promote more fluid,
frequent and spontaneous employee interaction. Thus, the new plan provided
additional space for conference areas, training rooms, a new “healthful eating” café and a multi-purpose e-café on each floor for socializing, working and collaborating.Support services, such as a printers and copiers, are centrally located to conserve energy and encourage interaction.