Lundberg Family Farms
A family farm company consolidates operations into a high-performance Butler facility engineered for efficiency, daylighting and long-term environmental stewardship.
Project
Overview
Lundberg Family Farms has spent generations building a business grounded in environmental responsibility. When the company set out to consolidate several buildings into a single 28,000-square-foot headquarters and visitor center, they needed a solution that aligned with their commitment to efficiency and long-term performance.
Working alongside North Valley Building Systems, a Butler Builder®, the team advanced through several design concepts before aligning on a path forward. The choice of a Butler® system was grounded in material efficiency, recyclability and cost effectiveness.
Facilities Manager David Postema recalled how the team evaluated every possible direction, noting, “We looked at geothermal, passive systems for heating and cooling, straw-bale walls, living roofs … you name it, I think we looked at it. But most didn’t pencil out when we looked at what benefits it would bring versus the costs.” That discipline shaped each decision that followed.
Together, NVBS and Butler engineering refined the design to bring natural light deep into the building.
“Once the architect gave us the conceptual design, we then worked with Butler’s Kansas City design team to put together the project,” Andy Wood of NVBS said. This established a clear line between architectural intent and precision-engineered execution.
Daylighting became a central performance strategy. Lundberg created a foam-core heliodon to model light movement and test window placement.
“We played with the window placements, the size of the windows, and the amount of windows — and then measured the light that came in,” Posterna said.
Their testing produced an optimized configuration that delivered abundant natural light without glare, reinforcing how thoughtful engineering enhances productivity and comfort.
Construction advanced during one of Northern California’s rainiest seasons on record. Despite the conditions, NVBS maintained schedule certainty. The team used a Butler clearspan structural system to create clear, unobstructed interior space and streamline erection.
The facility relies on a standing seam roof system from a Butler sister company with a high-profile design and a white finish that reflects sunlight and reduces cooling demand.
High insulation values — R-36 walls and R-48 roofing — combine with reclaimed materials to support Lundberg’s sustainability goals. Built to LEED standards, the building reflects the company’s long-standing environmental focus.
The result is a facility that strengthens operations, supports staff productivity and demonstrates what disciplined planning and precision-engineered systems can achieve.
Lundberg Family Farms gained a building that matches their values and performs with the reliability their work demands — an outcome earned through partnership, engineering rigor and proven Butler solutions.
