Project Data:

Completion Date:     4/1/2022

Square Footage:      102840

Building Use:           Office

Project Description:

In 2018 this project, the foremost SaaS provider of intelligent content management and business process automation, commissioned the designer to reflect the company’s vision of reimagining how technology can transform lives by designing a new state-of-the-art global headquarters. Created during the pandemic, the building not only represents the company’s place as a cornerstone of technology-focused enterprise in Long Beach, but also demonstrates that forward-thinking creative offices are more vibrant than ever: It embodies a future workplace that is more sustainable, flexible, and efficient. The design team implemented ideas from the client’s products into the design of the building, ultimately making work more efficient and enhancing the quality of life for the company’s employees. While the digital-first experience is at the forefront of their thought and the core of how the space is designed, it also cultivates a spirit of collaboration through a shared workspace dedicated to a common purpose. This new hybrid workspace provides the best of both worlds.

The building core consisting of stairs, elevators, restrooms and utility areas is consciously 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 area providing ultimate flexibility in the work environment.

This project is targeting LEED Platinum Certification and WELL Gold Certification. The headquarters followed the principles of biophilic design, to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment. This is achieved with multiple outdoor areas, views to the ocean, mountains and dense tree canopy, and the integration of natural light. The shifted massing of the top floors allows for self-shading for the lower levels and the outside dining garden for the southern façade of the building. Horizontal fins shield the glazing and its inhabitants from solar heat gain. On the eastern facade, vertical fins were installed to also minimize heat gain while there are virtually no windows on the western facade in order to minimize heat gain.

Two locations have dramatic double-height spaces. One located at the entry provides for a two-story “outdoor porch” and lobby with a tranquility pond with koi. The second location is at the “Skylab” positioned on the top floor with views of downtown Long Beach, the Pacific Ocean and Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Skylab is a flexible ideation space for employee teams and serves as a beacon to the 500,000 motorists traveling on the 405 Freeway daily.

Framework for Design Excellence

Design for Integration

Architecturally, the new building responds to a “garden office” designed by Mid-Century Case Study architect Ed Killingsworth. That iconic landmark sits across the street from the new project, its scale and style a design reference point. In response, the massing of the project is turned 90 degrees and then 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 a deck on the north face for socializing and connecting to nature with treetops and mountain views. A double-height space known as the “Skylab” is positioned on the top floor with views of downtown Long Beach, the Pacific Ocean, and Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Skylab is a flexible ideation space for employee teams and serves as a visible beacon to the 500,000 motorists traveling on the 405 freeway daily.

Design for Change

Moving the core from the center of the building to the western edge created an expansive connected floor plate providing ultimate flexibility in the work environment. With no central core to bifurcate the floor plates, the interiors address the many ways team members work, with areas designated for groups or individuals and optimized to simplify communication between people working in the office with those working remotely. A variety of open and flexible spaces facilitates both teamwork and privacy and are a change of pace from workstations or private offices. Flexible furniture can be moved spontaneously in unstructured areas for team huddles while decompression spaces offer opportunities for quiet work, reflection, and play. Each floor features individual work areas, large and small conference spaces, and expansive flex areas that can physically change on a daily basis with mobile furniture to promote collaboration and an innovative setting.

Design for Well-being

The new headquarters facilitates innovation and collaboration for Laserfiche’s rapidly growing team and launches a new chapter in its 46-year legacy. The conveniently located wide and naturally lit stairwells that connect all levels are inviting passageways that encourage use to promote health and wellness. Staff proudly share they can attain their walking goals while at work. Expansive glazing that allows for filtered natural light, warm woods, stone, and concrete paired with the brand color of dark blue and distinctive orange provides for an inviting and comfortable work environment. With limited interior partitions, all employees have access to natural light at their workstations. Each level provides access to the outdoors with decks or terraces while the ground floor cafeteria provides free nourishment to employees and is connected to the lushly landscaped outdoor garden by three large garage doors. The lobby has a dramatic double-height space with a tranquil koi pond. The sound of water provides a calming effect for employees upon arriving and departing work.

Design for Energy

Laserfiche has achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Gold Certifications. The building was designed to maximize access to natural light while reducing glare and heat absorption. The design team located the building core on the west edge of the building, adjacent to a 4-story parking garage. This strategy limits excessive heat gain from the afternoon sun during peak demand hours. Additionally, the team shifted the upper floorplates to the south to create natural shading on the ground floor and pair the Solarban 70 glazing with horizontal fins to the south and vertical fins on the east to minimize solar heat gain while maximizing natural daylight. The 50% window-to-wall ratio and passive daylit design reduce lighting needs and thus lighting loads. The mechanical design was also onboarded in the concept phase to conduct a mechanical life cycle assessment to evaluate multiple systems options and the right sizing for a high-performance and low-carbon operation. This 100% electric design includes a high-efficiency VAV system resulting in a predicted EUI of 34.6 and 24% energy reduction compared to the LEED baseline. This is equivalent to avoiding 200 Metric Tons of CO2 annually. The 4-story parking garage includes 16 electronic vehicle charging stations, 19 carpool and two vanpool parking spots, plus a bike kitchen with repair tools and an air compressor accessible for 52 bike parking spaces. As one of the nation’s most bike-friendly cities, employees are encouraged to bike to work in lieu of driving.

Design for Water

The design considers water consumption and rainwater retention, as well as energy uses, air quality, and ventilation. The building includes high-efficiency water fixtures resulting in a 35% domestic water savings compared to the LEED baseline. The 100% drought-tolerant landscape includes low-impact development water retention systems designed to capture 85% of the onsite rainfall during a 100-year storm.

Design for Ecosystems

The corridor was once part of the expansive Long Beach Oil Field, with the site considered undevelopable until the client capped eight abandoned oil wells and removed several storage tanks. Once mitigated, the building design shifted massing of the top floor, allowing for self-shading of the three lower levels and outside dining garden for the southern façade of the building. Horizontal fins shield the glazing and its inhabitants from solar heat gain. On the eastern facade, vertical fins are installed to minimize morning sun while there are virtually no windows on the western facade to minimize heat gain. This design increases sustainability by reducing the need for electric cooling while allowing the natural daylighting of floor-to-ceiling glass on three sides resulting in less artificial lighting loads.

Firm Name:              Studio One Eleven

Completion Date:     4/1/2022

Square Footage:      102840

Building Use:           Office

Location:                 Long Beach, CA

Design Architect:
Studio One Eleven

Associate Architect or Firm:
N/A

Landscape Architect:
SALT

Owner / Developer:
Laserfiche Enterprise Content Management

Engineer:
Southland Engineering (MEP Engineer),
Structural Focus (Structural engineering),
Walden & Associates (Civil Engineering)

General Contractor:
Millie & Severson

Consultant:
Urbana Development (Project Management)
HLB Lighting (Lighting Design)

Photographer:
Paul Vu