The new Long Beach, Calif., headquarters of Laserfiche, a provider of intelligent content management and business process automation software, was built on a brownfield parcel previously considered undevelopable. The project began with capping eight abandoned oil wells and included the removal of several storage tanks. The 102,840 sf development consists of four floors and a parking garage. The building can accommodate 550 full time in-office employees, or up to 750 hybrid workers.
Constructed on a prominent corner of a new tech corridor in northern Long Beach, the building’s design gives nods to a garden office structure across the street designed by Mid-Century Modern architect Ed Killingsworth. The scale and style of that iconic building provided a design reference point. The massing of the structure is turned 90 degrees and stepped back at the upper floors to relate to the scale of the garden office. The upper floors then slide to shade the building on the south face and create decks on the north face for socializing and connecting to nature via treetops and mountain views.
The building core is located on the west facade to minimize the need for windows, resulting in a dramatic reduction of afternoon heat gain. Moving the core from the center of the building to the western edge also created an expansive connected work area providing flexibility in the work environment. Two locations have dramatic double height spaces. One, located at the entry, provides for a two story “outdoor porch” and lobby with a tranquility koi pond. The second location, called “Skylab,” is positioned on the top floor with views of downtown Long Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. This a flexible “ideation space” for employee teams and serves as a beacon to motorists traveling on the busy 405 Freeway.
Each floor features individual work areas, large and small conference spaces, and expansive flex areas that can be rearranged with mobile furniture. Wide and naturally lit stairwells connect all levels, providing inviting passageways that encourage use to promote health and wellness. Natural wood, stone, and concrete paired with the brand color of dark blue and distinctive orange guide and define the palette.
The project aimed for LEED Platinum. The design considers water consumption and rainwater retention, as well as energy uses, air quality, and ventilation. Vertical and horizontal fins increase energy efficiency and promote thermal comfort by providing solar shading to the building. All employees have access to natural light at their workstations.
On the Building Team:
Owner and/or developer: Laserfiche
Design architect: Studio One Eleven
Architect of record: Studio One Eleven
MEP engineer: Southland Engineering
Structural engineer: Structural Focus
General contractor/construction manager: Millie & Severson
Related Stories
| Oct 4, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Methods, impacts, and opportunities in the concrete building life cycle
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub conducted a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study to evaluate and improve the environmental impact and study how the “dual use” aspect of concrete.
| Oct 3, 2011
Balance bunker and Phase III projects breaks ground at Mitsubishi Plant in Georgia
The facility, a modification of similar facilities used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. (MHI) in Japan, was designed by a joint design team of engineers and architects from The Austin Company of Cleveland, Ohio, MPSA and MHI.
| Sep 30, 2011
Kilbourn joins Perkins Eastman
Kilbourn joins with more than 28 years of design and planning experience for communities, buildings, and interiors in hospitality, retail/mixed-use, corporate office, and healthcare.
| Sep 28, 2011
Opus Group awarded contract for new Church & Dwight Co. headquarters
The campus will include two 125,000-sf Class A, energy-efficient office buildings that will be designed and constructed with sustainable practices and elements.
| Sep 26, 2011
Copper helps serve and protect Lightning Alley
Copper grounding upgrades add protection and reliability to Florida Sheriff's Department.
| Sep 23, 2011
Smart windows installed at NREL
The self-tinting heat-activated filter allows solar heat into the building when it is desired, such as on a sunny winter day.
| Sep 23, 2011
Wall Street adage proving true for the office market
Sale prices for office buildings enjoyed a moderate bounce to the upside, following the financial crisis of 2007 - 2008.
| Sep 20, 2011
Francis Cauffman wins two IDA design awards
The PA/NJ/DE Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) has presented the Francis Cauffman architecture firm with two awards: the Best Interior Design of 2011 for the W. L. Gore offices in Elkton, MD, and the President’s Choice Award for St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ.
| Sep 16, 2011
Electrical installation work completed at Rhode Island DMV
The facility was renovated in order to better the working environment for DMV employees and streamline the experience for Rhode Island drivers.
| Sep 14, 2011
USGBC L.A. Chapter's Green Gala features Jason McLennan as keynote speaker
The Los Angeles Chapter of the nonprofit USGBC will launch its Sustainable Innovation Awards this year during the chapter's 7th Annual Green Gala on Thursday, November 3.