CAMDEN, NJ—Philadelphia-based Jacobs Global Buildings Design has received a Merit Award in the Built Open category from the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its design of the Campbell Employee Center in Camden, NJ. The 85,000-square-foot facility was designed by KlingStubbins, a subsidiary of Jacobs.

Campbell's Employee Center was designed as the main entrance to the company's corporate campus. The three-story contemporary steel building features a striking entrance with a 250-foot long and 30-foot high glass curtain wall enclosing the two-story atrium. The wall welcomes visitors with graphics featuring Campbell's and other company brand logos that are projected through the wall, providing a visual reminder of the Campbell legacy that is visible from the nearby highway.

Located on the building's main level are the lobby and reception area, employee store, security center, and the state-of-the-art kitchen and cafeteria. The lower level features a health and fitness center and storage area. An employee training center and office space are located on the upper level.

“We designed the wall with a dual purpose in mind,” said Tejoon Jung, national director of design at Jacobs. “The branding wall allows natural light to filter through office and work spaces on the upper and lower levels while the prominent signage is also visible to local highways.”

To eliminate condensation on the glass wall, structural and mechanical engineers worked with the design team to construct a temperature-controlled laminated glass surface.

The redesigned cafeteria, which, predictably, features a soup bar, can also be utilized for cooking lessons, performances and special occasions. The adjacent central courtyard provides additional dining space and helps integrate the new structure with the existing campus.

“Campbell's Soup Company has long shown its commitment to the city of Camden,” said Kimberly Bunn, president of AIA-NJ. “We are proud to award Jacobs for the new Employee Center, which utilizes inventive practical spaces to further serve the corporate campus and creates a visual link to the surrounding city.”

The center is LEED-certified, incorporating sustainable features including an energy-efficient HVAC system, water conservation, the use of recycled building materials and daylight harvesting.