Nordic Naturals Unveils New ‘Green’ Headquarters

Built with environmental sustainability and employee comfort in mind, the new Nordic Naturals corporate headquarters opened Monday morning on the north edge of Watsonville.

“We are very proud of the building we have behind us,” said Joar Opheim, Nordic Naturals founder and CEO, moments before his two children cut the red ribbon with oversized scissors, opening the new facility to employees and the public.

Nordic Naturals, which produces of fish oil supplement sold in 36 countries around the world, opened in 1995 and employs 125 people in its Watsonville location.

The $8.2 million building—on Jennings Drive off Manfre Road—was designed to resemble a Norwegian fishing village, and its bright, colorful paint job makes the building visible from across the Watsonville Municipal Airport property.

But it’s what’s inside that distinguishes the structure.

Wood was shunned in favor of concrete—even the faux wood exterior is a concretious mold. Floors are made of cork, recycled vinyl or sealed concrete. Lights have timers that dim them when natural light from windows and skylights is enough to illuminate offices and the warehouse.

Once the certification process is complete, the Nordic Naturals building will be the first commercial building in the county to earn a "LEED Gold" green designation.

“We do care about the environment,” Opheim said. “We do care about sustainability. We’ve done that from the beginning.”

Before opening the Jennings Drive campus, Nordic Naturals operated out of several buildings on Hanger Way that the company had purchased, not designed for their specific needs.

The new facility also could accommodate about 250 employees, offering Nordic Naturals space to grow. For example, Opheim said he would like to move a production line that employs 45 people in San Diego to the Jennings Drive site.

“This is nice. This is exactly what we need in Watsonville,” the city's vice mayor, Bill Neighbors, said.

Beyond that, the building is inviting.

“The focus throughout all the decision-making was employee comfort,” Opheim said.

Historic photos of Norwegian fishing villages were reprinted on canvass and decorate the hallways and offices. Large windows frame panoramic views of the surrounding farmland and hills. Even the 45,000-square-foot warehouse has a heating system above the area where employees pack boxes.

Mike Blinkenberg, warehouse manager, said the new warehouse is “by far the most comfortable” packing and shipping facility he’s worked in during his 30-year career.

The new headquarters were constructed with city support, but Nordic Naturals did not receive any financial incentives from local government, according to Opheim.

The company may turn to Watsonville and the county for assistance with access to the new property. Manfre Road, a county route and the only street that reaches the building, is narrow and curvy. Already, there have been three accidents as people leave the Nordic Naturals property, Opeheim said. Improving Manfre or paving a fire road that accesses the property are two options.

“Getting from the freeway to the building is a challenge,” Opheim said.

City Manager Carlos Palacios and Neighbors, the vice mayor, offered Monday to set up a meeting with city leaders, county Supervisor Greg Caput and Nordic Naturals to discuss road improvement options.

“We want businesses like this to stay here,” Neighbors said.

Watch a video about the new building in .