Timcor Financial Services - Culver City, CA

Timcor Financial Services was a 12,000 Sq.Ft. raw office space furnished exclusively by StrongProject. Working closely with an independent interior design firm and the general contractor early in the planning phase, we were able to coordinate the office furniture installations perfectly with the construction schedule. We were also able to assist in accurate budget forcasting by working closely with the interior design firm regarding their design concept and melding that with the client’s budgetary constraints. We participated in brainstorming meetings with the interior design firm and the client to assure all requirements were met and to share our knowledge of office furniture options. The end result was a beautiful project installation which ended up on schedule and on budget. For our participation on this project, our team was nomin ated for an IIDA Calibre Award by the Los Angeles design community.

PROJECT OVERVIEW: Having scouted several uninspired tenant spaces in conventional office towers, this client was intrigued when their broker suggested buying a property. The firm is in the business of providing financial services for the commercial real estate market and therefore understood the potential of such an investment. So, when their broker found an undervalued three-story, early 1970’s era brick building in a good location, they decided to become their own landlord. The building’s third floor, 12,000 sq.ft, had lain vacant for over a decade. The previous tenant build-out was a maze of small rooms which cut off the natural light. It included a cheap 2x2 tile ceiling at 8’-6” high throughout, to clear the existing enormous HVAC ducts and other conduit and pipes. In addition, the bathrooms and most of the base building systems had not been upgraded for 30+ years. The challenge presented to the design team was to renovate the base building in the same 12 week schedule as the third floor tenant improvement construction. This challenge became one of the project’s strongest design opportunities. Pre-construction discussions started early. Working in true collaboration, the project team – client, designer, general contractor, and key subcontractors such as HVAC, electrical, plumbing, cabling and structural – traded ideas and negotiated compromises. The goal was twofold: to open up the entire floor to natural light and bring unity and visual expansion to the interior space, while making wise long-term decisions about the base building systems. After considering several scenarios, the client agreed to completely replace both the roof equipment and all the 3rd floor ducts of the HVAC system. The new layout, with a split main feeder in lieu of a central one, became the path that the other systems followed, and allowed for opening up the main central area to the underside of the wood roof structure. It also left room for a series of new skylights, as well as several raised ceilings in key areas which now feature canted-faced metal ceilings. Other human-friendly moves the client stipulated included a request that all staff should have access to views and natural light, to support their democratic company culture. This was accomplished through a space plan that left some of the building perimeter open to the central work area, as well as glass on the room fronts and workstations, with “frosted” areas for visual privacy. The shared lunchroom, rather than being an afterthought, was designed to be playful and open to views beyond. The main conference room features a sectional table that can be reconfigured for varying levels of formality and different types of presentations, yet even in the “board room” setup, there is no head chair. Aesthetically, the client requested a space that would suit their image as a leader in a conservative financial services industry, while being progressive and agile in their approach to business. They also wanted to bring the hip 70’s modern look of their building to the interior detailing. Balancing a fine line between finished and raw, the center ceiling beam structure was exposed, but the infill areas were covered in acoustically absorbent white panels. The structural brick of the building shell was sandblasted and left exposed, in purposeful contrast with the fine wood millwork and limestone floors in selected areas. Patterns in the architectural materials were designed in reference to the linear staggered texture of the structural brick. Construction for the tenant improvement was completed for under $70./SF. The furniture was a combination of catalog product and custom designed pieces. Again, working closely with the client and the general contractor, StrongProject joined the team early to ensure that the furniture requirements were perfectly coordinated with the construction. In a hands-on approach, StrongProject and key product reps met individually with each executive to provide a custom solution for each office layout, using catalog items in deference to budget and lead time. The main conference table was custom designed as well, and all the wood featured a custom color stain, yet all the casegoods arrived on site within 6 weeks of order placement. The workstations were accented with selected COM panels and special finish materials, but with StrongProject streamlining the process of design, 3-D CADD drawings, and client review, the stations were also produced and delivered early. This project used a true team approach, and proved the old adage: timing in life is everything.