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 | Oct 26, 2016
Zaha Hadid Architects’ Dominion Office Building employs a fantastical design for its atrium
The office is located in Moscow’s southern district.
High-rise Construction | Oct 5, 2016
Plans for Hudson Yards skyscraper from Bjarke Ingels have officially been filed
The 65-story tower will be primarily office space and has an estimated development cost of $3.2 billion
Office Buildings | Sep 30, 2016
How to choose the right amenities for your office
No matter how lavish the amenities, they’ll prove ineffective in making any kind of positive impact if they don’t align to a company’s culture and the characteristics that make an organization unique, write Gensler’s Lena Kitson and Kimberly Foster.
High-rise Construction | Sep 23, 2016
A massive redevelopment in Tokyo reunites developer and architect
Mitsui Fudosan and SOM join forces to create OH-1, a mixed-use complex with a prominent public square.
Office Buildings | Sep 22, 2016
‘Floating’ triangular glass building from Foster + Partners breaks ground in Copenhagen
The glass building provides the illusion of floating above a stone plinth.
Office Buildings | Sep 20, 2016
Sterling Bay proposes SOM-designed office tower near Chicago’s newly opened Transit Center at Union Station
The building is one of several projects that are filling this developer’s plate in this city.
Office Buildings | Sep 8, 2016
Taipei’s Lè Architecture, designed by Aedas, is almost complete
The 18-story building is designed to resemble a moss-covered river pebble in Taipei’s Nangang District.
Office Buildings | Sep 2, 2016
Eight-story digital installation added as part of ESI Design’s renovation of Denver’s Wells Fargo Center
The crown jewel of a three-year makeover project, the LED columns bring the building’s lobby to life.
Codes and Standards | Sep 1, 2016
Overuse of air conditioning hurts office productivity
A study found temperatures in the low 70s reduce worker performance.
| Aug 12, 2016
OFFICE GIANTS: Technology is giving office workers the chance to play musical chairs
Technology is redefining how offices function and is particularly salient in the growing trend of "hoteling" and "hot seating" or "free addressing."