REI Co-op, a specialty outdoor retailer, recently announced it selected Issaquah – otherwise known as Trailhead City – as the location for its first satellite office.
The nation’s largest consumer co-op selected Rowley Properties’ newest development, called 2005 Poplar, for its innovative satellite office. Located along Interstate 90, the building serves as a gateway to Issaquah and the great outdoors.
The 68,876-square foot building features close access to transit, along with in-building showers, bike racks, electric vehicle charging stations and Cross Laminated Timber, a sustainable material that can replace both steel and concrete.
“Nestled within the Issaquah Alps, our community is a destination for countless outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, cyclists and paragliders,” said Issaquah Mayor Mary Lou Pauly. “We are thrilled to welcome REI – which shares our passion for sustainability, environmental protection and outdoor recreation – to our city.”
In late 2020, REI sold its new corporate campus located in Bellevue, and announced it instead was transitioning to a more dispersed work model.
“We believe the future of work is much more fluid,” says Chris Putur, REI’s executive vice president of technology and operations in a REI press release. “We’re building the future around the work that needs to get done, and creating flexible, agile and inclusive ways to deliver innovation for our customers – and we no longer believe we need a traditional office model to do so.”
Occupancy is planned for late summer or early fall. Post-pandemic, the building will accommodate up to 400 people at one time.
Learn more via REI’s announcement.