(Charlotte, NC) – Today leading interdisciplinary design firm Perkins+Will announced they have been chosen as the architect for the first East Coast location of New Belgium Brewing, one of the nation’s largest craft beer companies.  This will be the second brewery for the makers of the popular Fat Tire beer and the largest brewery project to date for Perkins+Will. The brewery is expected to bring over 100 jobs to the area and will include packaging, offices, a hospitality tasting room and meeting space.

United by a shared commitment to sustainability and community development, Perkins+Will and New Belgium Brewing will work together to create an innovative brewery with forward-thinking, eco-friendly elements.

“As someone who is both a lover of beer and Asheville, this is a dream project,” said David Geiser, Principal and Managing Director of Perkins+Will’s Charlotte Office.  “Culturally, this is a partnership of like minds and we’re thrilled to be working with a company as innovative, focused on the social responsibility of taking on a challenging brownfield site and motivated in their pursuit of sustainable operations as New Belgium.”

Perkins+Will brings their expertise in urban, sustainable and interior design to transforming what is now a 17.5 acre brownfield site into a thriving craft beer destination that fits in with and enhances the adjacent River Arts District.

“By teaming with Perkins+Will, we look forward to creating a second brewery that truly reflects who we are as a company and our ideals regarding environmental stewardship,” said Kim Jordan, CEO of New Belgium Brewing. “Like New Belgium, Perkins+Will also believes in sustainability and the importance of being a good corporate citizen by serving both our co-workers and the communities in which we work.”

The project is still in the design phase with groundbreaking expected to take place in 2013. New Belgium Brewing hopes to have beer flowing at the facility as early as 2015.  The design team for the planned Asheville facility will be led by Perkins+Will’s Charlotte office in a characteristically cross-firm collaboration with strategic team members from the firm’s Chicago, Atlanta and Boston offices.

About Perkins+Will
Established in 1935, Perkins+Will is a global multidisciplinary architecture and design firm founded on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance society. With a staff of 1,500 in 23 locations worldwide and grounding its work in deep research, the firm serves clients across a broad range of project types. Perkins+Will ranks among the world’s top design firms and is the recipient of hundreds of awards. Social responsibility is fundamental to the firm’s outlook, work, and culture, and every year Perkins+Will donates one percent of its design services to non-profit organizations. With pioneering tools to advance sustainable design practices, the largest green building portfolio in North America, more than 1,000 LEED® Accredited Professionals, and a commitment to the 2030 Challenge, Perkins+Will is recognized as one of the industry’s preeminent sustainable design firms. For more information, visit: www.perkinswill.com.

About New Belgium Brewing
New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces nine year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Belgo IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Shift Pale Lager and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.