Project Data:

Completion Date:     1/24/2022

Square Footage:      150000

Building Use:           Corporate Headquarters and Research Labs

Project Description:

The Design:
A design is measured by the ability for a space to embody the very soul of an organization. Glaukos is a unique research and development company specializing in the creation of medical devices for the treatment of glaucoma. This facility occupies three former multi-tenant office and R&D buildings in Aliso Viejo, California for a total of 150,000 SF.
A family-owned business, the concept for the facility revolved around the priorities of collaboration, socialization, and brand proliferation. This design required the creation of a connected campus bringing together three very separate buildings through site linkages and indoor/outdoor connections.
As a medical device designer and manufacturer, the facility is research based, incorporating various labs and support spaces.
Situated on a large site overlooking a riparian park area and the community beyond, the Glaukos campus engages the site and the community through strong indoor/outdoor connections and relationships.
Art, branding elements and product displays are integrated throughout the staff and public spaces, creating a solid connection to the heart of the company. A large social space embodies the family spirit of Glaukos and is connected to outdoor dining, amenity spaces and group sports activity zones.
The goal of the design was to meaningfully express the family-oriented nature of the company while expressing the cutting edge technology for which Glaukos is known.
The Challenges:
The three existing buildings provided a framework for a campus, however, large expanses of parking and misaligned entry and circulation systems were in direct contrast to the connectedness with which the design team was attempting to achieve. Additionally, the site provided no focus or visual narrative from the roadside to the buildings. The buildings existed as rather unremarkable, simple two level boxes garnished with landscape and buried in asphalt.
The Solutions:
With a limited budget, architectural and exterior improvements had to be limited but impactful. Creating a campus through connection was paramount. To achieve this, the parking was consolidated to create a large expanse of open space which joined what would become the lab building with the office buildings. A highly developed exterior social space became the link which brought the lab and office staff together. This space also linked to the interior campus amenities. The combination of the exterior and interior spaces also provides a venue for family events and is available for use by the community and outside organizations.
Expressing the brand was crucial in developing a specific sense of place for the campus. The oculus, as a symbol for the company, became a base for much of the form and graphics. A large entry billboard connects the buildings and provides focus from the street. Interior stairwells were opened up to create greater connection between floors as well as branding opportunities. The reception space turns the oculus form, creating a dynamic three dimensional manifestation of the brand. Connectedness drove the development of the interior spaces and included a digital portal for connection to other Glaukos facilities.

Design for Integration, Design for Equitable Communities, Design for Ecosystems, Design for Water , Design for Economy, Design for Energy, Design for Well-being, Design for Resources, Design for Change, Design for Discovery 

Design for Integration:
One of the driving forces for the design of the Glaukos Headquarters was the creation of a sense of place. A place based on a sense of community, a sense of family and a connection to the brand and what they do. This need for connection and community is derived from the fact that this is a family run company and the idea of “family” has been extended to the staff and as a result embedded into the company’s unique culture.
This culture is manifested in robust social and amenity spaces which are directly connected to highly developed exterior environments. These interior and exterior spaces become places for connection not only with each other, but with each other’s families creating a distinct bond within the staff.
The exterior spaces were designed and programmed simultaneously with the interior spaces and became extensions of the work and social spaces.
The design for the facility connects the space to the place, but more importantly connects the staff to each other, providing a robust corporate culture, increased staff satisfaction and a healthier environment. This effort demanded a close integration between architects, landscape architects, graphic and branding designers and workplace strategists.

Design For Equitable Communities
The site location for the new facility was chosen in an effort to provide available, nearby housing for the many displaced as well as new staff. In contrast to the previous facility, the local housing options offer a wide range of product types from lower income apartments to luxury homes and condominiums. As a result, most commutes have been drastically shortened and the quality of life for the staff improved. The site connects to the community thru a series of pedestrian and visual connections to nearby open spaces and retail centers. The facility was located and designed as a direct link to the surrounding neighborhood and often hosts community events and gatherings. The large outdoor environment, once a large surface parking lot, as well as the connected interior break and fitness rooms, create a social heart to the facility as well as the community.

Design For Ecosystems
The design for the Glaukos Headquarters transformed three unremarkable buildings surrounded by asphalt into a connected, robust campus which provides highly developed exterior environments, connections to the community, surrounding open space and retail and a physical manifestation of the corporate brand. The new exterior gathering space connects directly to the interior amenity spaces but also links the community through the site. Landscape and open space was used as an intuitive wayfinding device for the interior spaces. A more internalized courtyard space which offers views to the riparian area, anchors the lobby, coffee bars and conference rooms, and includes a branded water feature. A walking path along the outside edge of the facility physically connects the exterior open space areas and internally links the open office environments. This path provides respite and exterior collaborative and social spaces which relate to internal departmental structure.

Design For Water
The site is focused around a massive outdoor amenity space which joins Glaukos to an existing riparian area. Construction of the space involved removal of over 22,000 sf of impervious surface
Water quality compliance provided underground detention volume exceeding 12,000 CF and 4 proprietary biofiltration vaults and 100% of stormwater is captured, treated and released on site
The site added native and adaptive plant material back to the site is increasing the biodiversity of insect and bird life. Extending the native landscape slope into the property, reducing the amount of asphalt heat island and runoff but converting the surface parking area into a green park.
All fixtures utilized within the facility are water efficient and low flow exceeding the baseline by 30%. A robust reclaimed water system is used for all flushing fixtures and irrigation reducing portable water use.


Design For Economy
There is no greener building than an existing building. The Glaukos campus transforms three prosaic multi-tenant structures into a lush, connected and branded campus. Much of the interior structure was maintained however layered with impactful gestures opening up the plan and creating more meaningful connections. The long term value of effective retainment and recruitment of top employees led to a high concentration of the budget dollars into both interior and exterior amenity spaces as well as state of the art lab spaces. Throughout the facility, dollars were spent wisely in creating specific "moments" connected by simple, yet effective workspaces. Existing stairs and egress systems were maintained to save costs, yet walls were removed creating a visual connection between the floors and departments. Materials were selected wisely and enhanced materials used sparingly. Accent paints, applied graphics and art provide brand connections, humor and visual interest while also being flexible for future adaptability.
Workplace strategies helped to provide alternative workflows and processes which became an integral part of the planning and design of the spaces and labs. It was imperative that the space not only met the needs of Glaukos upon move in but also addressed future growth and change within the industry and available employee base.


Design For Energy
The space plan pulls 85% of enclosed offices and conference rooms to the core of the buildings allowing most of the staff open office and collaborative areas direct adjacency to daylight and views. The research labs also have full access to natural light. The lighting exceeds the baseline LPD by 54% and is controlled by an automatic dimming system. Window shades adjust automatically based on the movement of the sun allowing the lighting systems to dim accordingly. Break and social spaces are mechanically separated from the workplace to allow for natural ventilation and reduced energy consumption.

Design For Well-Being
Glaukos is a campus that is rooted in the health and well-being of the staff and visitors. The design features highly developed exterior work and social spaces, physical community linkages, indoor, outdoor connections and direct physical as well as visual relationships to views, daylight and nature. Workplace strategies prior to design, led to an embrace of inclusiveness on a multitude of different levels. The staff prioritized the connections between each other and the outside connections to family and friends. Social spaces were designed to accommodate a wide range of family friendly events such as regular BBQs, and picnics, casual sporting events and promotion ceremonies. A defined food truck area invites both staff and local residents to come together, dine and socialize. Event and conferencing spaces can be accessed directly from the exterior to allow for secure public accessibility for educational and civic events. A digital connection allows for a direct link to other Glaukos facilities encouraging staff interaction and engagement. The facility caters to the mental and physical wellness of employees with walking paths through a park, spaces for exercise with a direct connection to the interior fitness space, showers and bike storage.


Design For Resources
This project was designed and constructed during the height of the pandemic. The supply chain was severely compromised. The overriding goal of the material selections was for them to be sourced locally for, convenience, availability and a minimized carbon footprint. Enhanced materials were used very sparingly while those that were readily available were exploited. The aesthetic remained raw and unfinished whenever possible to limit additional finish materials, applied paints, sealers and treatments. Careful cost, schedule and lifecycle analysis mandated that much of the building and interiors be re-purposed. Understanding the fact that there is no greener building than an existing building fueled and focused the design narrative. All perimeter walls were left in tact with seismic upgrades. The interior was carefully reviewed with 50% dissected to leave as much in place as possible while still creating the openness and emphasis on daylight that was the primary goal of the project.


Design for Change
The Glaukos Headquarters was designed for the ever growing and changing needs of the organization. As the building owners, Glaukos had an obligation to consider long term site and building strategies. Considering the uncertainty of the future, the campus was designed to grow or constrict in many different ways. Short term growth is handled through integrated departmental growth and reserved growth areas within the plan. A conceptual strategy for a ground up campus expansion and parking structure for more robust growth was also explored.
Downsizing was also studied and multiple options implemented including full building sublet to a multi-tenant strategy. The lab building and one office building share the open exterior amenity space. All crucial program and infrastructure spaces were located in these two buildings leaving the third building as pure workplace in the event that it would be sublet in the future. Alternate entrance and branding strategies were also explored to provide multiple identities on the site.
The amenity spaces are also mechanically separated from the rest of the facility providing natural ventilation, connection to the exterior, water, showers and storage providing a safe refuge during emergencies.

Design for Discovery
The Glaukos facility was an experiment in discovery. Starting with a robust workplace strategy, the company was open and willing to change the very nature of how they worked. Designing a fresh, modern, sustainable, and cost effective space within the context of three existing buildings required new ways of thinking and planning. The campus became an opportunity for Glaukos to re-examine who they are understanding that this was a moment for change. This discovery effected the organization as a whole and sparked the re-design of their other facilities to reflect the design and functional strategies of the new headquarters

Completion Date:     1/24/2022

Square Footage:      150000

Building Use:           Corporate Headquarters and Research Labs

Location:                 Aliso Viejo, CA

LPA INC

N/A

Glaukos / Owner

JLL Real Estate and Investment Management

TK1SC Mechanical Engineers

LPA INC : Civil Engineering

LPA INC : Structural Engineers

LPA INC. / Danielle Cleveland, Landscape Architect

Turelk Inc.

Tangram Interiors

TK1SC Mechanical Engineers

JLL Real Estate and Investment Management

LPA INC : Environmental Graphics, Wayfinding and Branding

Cris Costea