L.L.Bean’s new Maine Headquarters invites the outdoors in, connecting employees to nature and Purpose

At L.L.Bean, our love for the outdoors begins inside our walls. That’s as true now as it was 111 years ago when Leon Leonwood Bean designed the very first Maine Hunting Shoe. To this day, our environment – both outside and in – has served as inspiration for our employees and helped us live out our company Purpose: to inspire and enable people to experience the restorative power of being outside. This year, we’re excited to welcome employees to a new environment that will empower them to live out this Purpose while they are at work.

This June, we will celebrate the grand opening of our new L.L.Bean Corporate Headquarters in Freeport, Maine, a 390,000 square-foot campus designed to inspire employee collaboration and promote wellbeing through a connection to nature.

“As an outdoor brand whose Purpose is all about helping people to get outside, we thought it was only fitting to have a headquarters that brings the outside in for our employees," said Shawn Gorman, L.L.Bean Executive Chairman and great-grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean. "From the beginning, this project was about honoring L. L.’s love of the outdoors with a modern, energy-efficient, and light-filled space. I think he’d be proud to see how that legacy has inspired our beautiful new workplace.”

L.L.Bean Senior Manager of Design and Planning Katie Wise and the team helped bring the L.L.Bean ethos to life through all facets of the design, connecting employees to nature through expansive views of the outdoors, natural light, indoor/outdoor meeting spaces, public trails and a 10,000-square-foot courtyard.

“Our process was rooted in the idea of people, product and place – incorporating natural design elements that bridge the gap between people and our environments to enhance wellbeing,” Wise said.

That vision to bring nature indoors can be seen in all elements of the campus design, with accompanying accents that showcase L.L.Bean’s deep heritage, love for Maine, and commitment to employee wellness.

• Artwork featuring milestones from L.L.Bean's 111-year history, along with the company's Purpose statement and quotes from founder Leon Leonwood Bean
• Decorative elements inspired by iconic L.L.Bean products, including a triple-stitch wall motif honoring the L.L.Bean Boot and tilework that mirrors L.L.Bean's famed Scotch Plaid Flannel
• Human-scale mural of birch trees inspired by nearby Acadia National park's Jesup Trail
• A courtyard fire pit and indoor fireplaces
• Room and gathering space naming conventions that reflect regions and destinations throughout Maine

• State-of-the-art fitness center, private locker rooms and bike storage
• Health clinic offering preventative care and company wellness events/programs
• Accessible entries, exits and parking
• Self-serve cafeteria, on-site coffee shop and "canteen" kitchens
• Recycling and composting centers
• 14 quiet rooms, five mother's rooms and inclusive restrooms

• Dynamic, adjustable, ergonomic workstations
• Open-office concept with both private and collaborative workspaces
• Product-testing lab, retail simulation lab and creative production studio

The design team also set out to ensure sustainable building practices and community integration were key tenants of the project, honoring L.L.Bean’s commitment to the local Freeport, Maine community and the natural environment.

“We wanted to be thoughtful about the relationship between the buildings, employees and the outdoors, creating a balance that would ultimately help us run more efficiently,” Wise said.

Designers, architects and internal leadership worked together to build for the future, including:

• Reuse of existing building footprint and materials, saving over 1,000 tons of embedded CO2
• Use of 80% renewable electricity generated from Maine solar installations
• Automatic window blinds to maintain consistent sunlight penetration and heat loss prevention, along with innovative bird-deterrent exterior glass
• Reuse and conservation of air, water, natural heat and natural light
• Electric vehicle charging

• Partnerships with Maine-based contractors
• Outdoor trails and a 900-seat conference center

“We have called Maine our home for more than a century, and we will continue to invest in Freeport with the same vigor we have since the beginning,” Gorman added. “We believe that our new campus, as well as future Flagship Store redevelopment efforts, will better allow us to live out our Purpose for many years to come.”

For L.L.Bean employees, the changes are significant.

“We’ve created an entire L.L.Bean ecosystem where we can feel the power of the outdoors in our day-to-day work and in every square inch of space,” Wise said. “We want employees to feel proud of our new offices, to enjoy their time here and to encounter nature as much as possible. After all, it’s why we exist.”