The Vernier Software & Technology Addition is a 16,000 SF, wood, CMU and steel framed ground-up addition to an existing 1965 tilt panel building. The addition was designed with state of the art classrooms, new exercise and multipurpose spaces, lab, testing and office spaces, as well as a rooftop deck. As a pioneer of award winning software, hardware and curriculum, Vernier needed to upgrade their facility to provide new spaces for programming, training and product packaging. Vernier wanted to deliver to their employees and the community a sustainable, attractive building that would further allow Vernier to grow their business.

The Vernier Addition was driven by the company’s desire to remain in their current location, but to also better support their team and allow it to grow. The existing building had already served them well, located adjacent to a MAX station, renovated to meet LEED Gold standards, and already equipped with a number of amenities and technologies that the employees enjoyed, including a basketball court and workout room. The expectations of the project were very high which led to the decision to enter into a successful and effective design/build partnership between Vernier and INLINE.

The Vernier design/build project team developed a strong working relationship and delivered an exceptional new working environment promoting wellness and natural beauty for Vernier employees, which they will benefit from year-round.

The improvements included several design elements based on three main goals:

1) Environmental Impact Reduction

• Energy conservation by using auto-tinting electrochromic glass which reduces requirement for mechanical cooling and high efficiency forced air hydronic heating system

• Re-use of many products such as the basketball court flooring and the bleacher seating

• Remain in close proximity to Max station and bus line

• Maintain LEED Gold certification and standards

2) Product Connection

• Building addition lobby design such as the Periodic table of the elements display and the basketball court as lobby floor

• State-of-the-art classroom for educating customers, employees and many outside groups

• Auto-tinting electrochromic glass provides another lesson in physics

• Rooftop deck enables experiments in a controlled outdoor environment

3) Employee Appreciation

• Rooftop deck enables employees to experience the outdoors at lunch/breaks

• Multi-purpose room to facilitate official functions in addition to ping pong, yoga, regular exercise classes including Zumba