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An unusual company's unconventional headquarters

Gordon Wright

June 1, 2002

Building Design and Construction

Fast-growing sportswear manufacturer Quiksilver initially sought a 25-acre site where it could build a campus to meet its long-term requirements, but it ended up in a warehouse that was creatively adapted to meet its needs.

Quiksilver’s move to a Huntington Beach, Calif., industrial park development was a far cry from its initial goal of finding a large site that it could occupy entirely. The change of course was prompted by several factors <m> a competitive lease rate; the immediate availability of an adjacent building for a warehouse/distribution center as well as additional buildings to accommodate future company growth; and Quiksilver’s inability to find the “perfect” site at a reasonable cost or location.

Developer Sares Regis Group, Irvine, Calif., built the warehouse shell that was to become Quiksilver’s new headquarters. Bauer and Wiley Architects, Newport Beach, Calif., then developed a plan to convert the 81,000-sq.-ft., single story warehouse to office use. The first challenge was to accommodate Quiksilver’s need for more than 100,000 square feet of space. This was accomplished by inserting a 28,700-sq.-ft. mezzanine supported by a custom-designed steel frame, according to partner Jay Bauer, who developed the plan in conjunction with co-partner Annette Wiley. Interior features include birch paneling in the main congregation areas and glass walls with a horizontal frit pattern in the executive area.

Approximately 60 windows were cut into the structure’s concrete walls to allow the entry of daylight. Openings for large dock doors were infilled with windows and a rolling glass door to allow employees to go outdoors for work breaks.

Bauer underscores Quiksilver’s fast-growing nature by noting that the company had annual sales of $90 million when his firm began working with it six years ago. This year Quiksilver expects its volume to exceed $600 million. Quiksilver thought it would not need the mezzanine space initially, but realized it would be a necessity by the time construction began.

Quiksilver, which has a long-term lease, financed the cost of the conversion. It leases three other buildings adjacent to its headquarters. The companyhas occupied 13 previous different locations.

Inner Space Construction, Rancho Dominguez, Calif., was the project’s general contractor.