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
Office Buildings | Feb 3, 2021
A towering helix will mark the spot at Amazon’s corporate headquarters in Virginia
The tech giant has invested $2.5 billion in a project that will encompass five office buildings for 25,000 employees.
Office Buildings | Feb 1, 2021
609 W. Randolph begins construction in Chicago’s West Loop Gate
Antunovich Associates designed the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 27, 2021
New creative office space completes in Silicon Beach
SPF:architects designed the project.
Office Buildings | Jan 19, 2021
Anchorage to receive new glacier-inspired office building
Perkins&Will is designing the building.
Office Buildings | Jan 12, 2021
Epic Games purchases North Carolina mall to convert into new HQ
The video game company is currently valued at over $17 billion thanks to Fortnite, its massively popular battle royale game.
Architects | Jan 5, 2021
Ware Malcomb finds itself in the mix for multiple diverse projects
Its latest completion is an office/factory/warehouse combo for one of Marvin Window’s brands.
Giants 400 | Dec 16, 2020
Download a PDF of all 2020 Giants 400 Rankings
This 70-page PDF features AEC firm rankings across 51 building sectors, disciplines, and specialty services.
Giants 400 | Dec 3, 2020
2020 Office Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. office building sector
Gensler, Jacobs, and STO Building Group head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest office building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2020 Giants 400 Report.