Submitting Company:
WFC Inc. (Wilkins Family Construction Inc.), La Verne, CA
Project Team: (not all-inclusive)
WFC Inc., owner/developer/architect/job superintendent; Jane Kurth Interior Design, interior designer; City of La Verne, city planner.
Project Specifics:
Building type/use: office
Square footage: 30,000
Project cost: $3.5 million
Project completion: March 2007
Product Suppliers: (not all-inclusive)
Ari-Thane Foam Products Inc. | Arpa Ceramiche | Beaulieu Commercial | Budget Blinds | CaesarStone USA | Day-Brite Lighting | Dunn-Edwards Paints | Frigidaire | The HON Company | Kohler Co. | Koroseal | Lighting Control & Design | Louis Poulsen Lighting | Novitas | Pacific Architectural Door and Millwork | Schindler Elevator Corp. | Schlage | Silent Knight | Sloan Valve Co. | OMNOVA Commercial Wallcovering | USG Corp. | Versa Wallcoverings | Vistawall | YORK, a Johnson Controls Co.
Since WFC's office is the first structure you see upon entering La Verne, CA, the plan was to design a custom building that would act as a gateway into the city. This was accomplished through a contemporary tilt-up modular layout with large storefront windows and varying colors that create a visual stacking pattern. Besides the office space, WFC Inc.'s corporate headquarters includes a warehouse, a "Building B" (featuring company amenities), and a large parking lot.
Special Design Features
The exterior is highlighted by a large feature element called "the wedge," which creates a visual block and landmark to the building. The positioning of the wedge bisects the front modular tilt-up, but also provides a sightline block to the rear of the property, therefore keeping the unattractive components - the trucks, cranes, tractors, backhoes, etc. - hidden.
Various features play off the company's line of work: construction. For example, a gray masonry block wall was used in the front lobby as a backdrop for a custom-made water feature. This use of rugged materials is an unusual interior design move, but works well here.
Throughout the facility, the lighting offers potential clients a working example of applications for their own future offices and warehouses.