Starbucks Visitor Center:
Hacienda Alsacia

Location: González Lahmann, San José, Costa Rica

Developer: Starbucks
Architect: Starbucks Global Design
Electrical Engineer: Circuito
Description:

Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia is a coffee farm and processing facility located in Costa Rica’s Central Valley. The farm was first acquired by Starbucks in 2013 as part of the company's commitment to sourcing high-quality, ethically-grown coffee beans.

The visitor center at Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia is designed to provide an immersive and educational experience for visitors reflecting both the Starbucks brand and the local environment. The center is built to showcase the coffee-making process from bean to cup, and to highlight the farm's commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing.

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Scope of Work

The lighting design scope of work for Starbucks Hacienda Alsacia includes conceptualizing the lighting design, preparing construction documents, conducting photometric and power density calculations, managing the contract administration and commissioning the final product.

One of the key design elements of the visitor center is its focus on natural light, outdoor spaces, sustainability and energy efficiency. Large windows, expansive accordion walls and skylights allow natural light to flood into the building’s interior spaces creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere with extensive connections to the natural landscape. Hacienda alsacia features an innovative design for its lighting that complements the emphasis on natural light. The use of lighting is strategically planned to enhance the visitor's experience and create a warm and inviting atmosphere while enhancing visual wayfinding, accenting important areas and supporting both the architectural volume and emotional context. The lighting design ensured that the final product is not only aesthetically pleasing but also sustainable and energy-efficient. The design also accounted for Starbucks' commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing contributing to a warm and inviting atmosphere for visitors to enjoy and learn about the coffee-making process.