Campbell Soup Company’s new 80,000-square-foot employee services building in Camden, New Jersey, is an environmentally-friendly facility featuring energy efficient HVAC, water conservation, recycled building materials, and daylight harvesting techniques, among others. Designed by Philadelphia-based architects KlingStubbins, the new facility accommodates departments and amenities geared toward Campbell employees, underscoring the company’s commitment to valuing people. When combined with the reconfiguration of several roadways to the north, the building serves as a new and inviting gateway to the Campbell Campus, welcoming visitors, job candidates and employees.
Torcon worked as a trusted partner with Campbell's, KlingStubbins and other team members on a number of technical challenges during the project with our trademark attention to detail and customer service. For example, augured cast piles were recommended for the foundation instead of the originally-specified driven timber piles. This change reduced costs and provided quieter installation, which was less disruptive to Campbell employees working in nearby buildings. The use of high-end architectural finishes also required greater than usual coordination and care. Such elements included the building's striking front façade, fabricated from extra clear, solid architectural glass that was erected with limited visible structural support. There's also a 250-foot-long, 30-foot-high red backpainted glass panel backdrop for the signature Campbell's logo, fabricated from 140 separate panels.
Immediately inside the front door is an atrium that houses the Reception area and exhibit space. The most striking feature of the first floor is the massive red glass wall that supports the famous “Campbell’s” script outlined by thousands of tiny L.E.D. lights. At the far end of the atrium is the Company Store, which features all of Campbell’s products as well as company attire and gear.
Further inside this level is a new kitchen, servery and dining area, offering a variety of menu items and four or more choices of soup daily. The dining area features a demonstration kitchen where Campbell can promote its products to chefs from all over the globe.
The Dining area is designed to be flexible, and can be isolated or divided. It also doubles as a large conference space complete with extensive lighting controls and audio-visual systems. This entire area is enhanced by a new courtyard where employees can enjoy outdoor dining or convene a meeting in the fresh air. The courtyard too is set up to accommodate company and public functions, and larger meetings with lighting, A/V and a stage area. The courtyard is also equipped with fixtures that will accept a tent to cover the area for more formal events.
On the ground floor is the Campbell Fitness Center, where employees can stay fit at their convenience. The center is fully outfitted with cardio-vascular machines, an aerobics studio and a full array of strength training equipment, as well as well-appointed locker rooms. There is also a massage room and office space to accommodate the Fitness Center staff.
On the second floor of the facility is Campbell University providing a mix of large training rooms and smaller break-out areas. The space is enhanced with a large pre-function area to accommodate formal receptions or snacks and meals during training sessions. The training rooms are equipped with extensive AV systems and are set-up for interactive distance learning through cameras, projectors, speakers and microphones. Furniture in the rooms is computer-ready with power and network connections built in.
Also on the second floor is a new Campbell Soup Company board room with a 24-seat boardroom table, fabric wall panels and banquette seating to accommodate guests. The room is supported by a projection suite with a glass rear projection system as well as technology to accommodate inter-active participation of persons in remote locations.
Campbell’s Employee Center was named Best Commercial Project over $15 million by Philadelphia’s General Building Contractors Association (GBCA) in its 2010 Annual Construction Excellence Awards competition. The project achieved USGBC Certification as a LEED Silver building.
