Determined to create a workplace reflective of the playful, creative and hard-working culture that defines OtterBox®, company Founder and CEO Curt Richardson and OtterCaresSM President Nancy Richardson accomplished their goal with a new global headquarters in downtown Fort Collins, Colo.

Re-purposing and generously expanding an existing structure at 209 S. Meldrum St., the new 52,000-square-foot building is home to more than half of the company's 300-plus local employees. The success OtterBox experienced over the last several years has led to one major growing pain - the need for additional space. The primary employer grew from 125 local employees at the start of 2010 to more than 300 today.

Execution of this project began in April 2010. Rather than build from a clean slate, the team put an extraordinary amount of planning into retaining 66 percent of the original structure. Much thought went into designing an exterior that would complement and enhance the property on all boundaries, quickly turning the building into an architectural feature in the downtown area. The entire facility incorporates sustainable design and building practices and is pending a LEED Silver certification.

Truly one-of-a-kind, the OtterBox building creates an exciting and productive atmosphere for all staff and visitors including luxury offices, executive boardrooms, coffee bars on every floor, a bike maintenance room, massage room, 400-gallon saltwater fish tank and over 150 built-in flat screen televisions and monitors. Beautiful original brick walls and engineered wood walls line the interior. Real wood cabinetry, special lighting, interior office garage doors, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a BBQ/patio area and other exceptional design features make the space incredibly inviting. Most impressive however is a 15-foot, functional slide with bronze otter sculptures and trout swimming alongside.

Planning and execution involved many parties and many long hours.The challenge of keeping a large, primary employer in a mature, downtown neighborhood was multi-faceted. OtterBox and its building partners were challenged to consider the needs of the rapidly growing business, the needs of the neighborhood and surrounding structures as well as the needs of the progressive Fort Collins community with responsible building practices. The team, involving Oglesby Design LLC, Brinkman Partner, The Architects’ Stuido, Everitt-MacMillianb Commercial LLC, Terrazas Studios, Russell + Mills Studios, Integrated Mechanical Systems, Northern Enginerring, Ronald N Frickel Consultants, APS Inc., The Brendle Group and FirstBank of Northern Colorado, was able to address all of these issues with the result of a showpiece corporate facility.

To view images of the building, take a virtual tour and hear from some of the building partners visit www.otterbox.com/otter-headquarters/otter-headquarters,default,pg.html.

About OtterBox:

Built upon fundamentals of hard work, innovation and perseverance, OtterBox is a leader in the production of premier protective solutions for global handheld manufacturers, wireless carriers and distributors.

Incorporating creativity and cutting-edge design into every product, OtterBox creates sleek and durable cases that offer reliable device protection to complement any lifestyle.

OtterBox was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo.

For more information, visit www.otterbox.com or call 888-695-8820. We’ve Got Technology Covered.

CONTACT:
OtterBox
Kristin Golliher, 970-372-6232
kristin.golliher@otterbox.com