A Unique Adaptive Re-use Project that Utilizes Natural Light.

In an effort to create a highly productive, communal workspace promoting employee health and sustainability, RDC and its sister company Studio One Eleven (RDC-S111) left their segmented, high-rise office space in Long Beach, Calif. in 2016 to undertake a customized transformation of a 25,000-square-foot, ground-floor building downtown. The architecture firms strategically chose this ‘80s-era building, a former department store, due to its location in a declining six-block shopping center, with the hopes that their efforts would launch a revitalization of the city’s urban core. The relocation would also directly insert the company into the heart of the community it sought to rejuvenate.

Approaching the former retail space as an architectural blank canvas, the project team targeted to transform the banal, overlooked building into a welcoming, creative hub that nurtured collaborative work and community unity with a brightly lit, open-plan design.

Creating a unified workspace that connected the entire office into one large, open setting involved stripping down to the building’s shell and adding a 6,000-square-foot mezzanine. The building’s redesign further created multiple gathering spaces for employees that required a pleasing, uniform distribution of light to encourage social interaction and collaborative work.

With sustainability also a top design priority, the project’s lighting needed to thoroughly brighten the interior without excessive energy consumption. It would additionally need to deliver even, high-quality light without solar heat gain or glare that would cause discomfort and distractions for workers.

As an additional health-driven strategy, the project team further sought to improve indoor air quality and circulation throughout the expansive space, also without significantly increasing energy demands.

Solution:

To meet these critical requirements, the project team installed 20 polycarbonate unit skylights from Kingspan Light and Air, which evenly diffuse natural daylight throughout the open workspace. The skylights maximize daylight throughout the interior space while controlling solar heat gain, connecting occupants to changes in light levels throughout the day and enhancing visual acuity without discomfort.

The installation included three ventilated skylights, designed to deliver robust daylight indoors while also being able to facilitate natural air circulation throughout the interior as needed. This improved circulation further lowers energy use by lightening HVAC loads. The ventilated skylights additionally elevate occupant health with improved air quality, by releasing hot air and pollutants.

The skylights integrated seamlessly into the large-scale retrofit, as their lightweight design required no additional support structure. 

Results:

Incorporating energy-efficient daylighting and ventilation solutions into the building’s open, retrofitted design achieved an inviting, harmoniously illuminated workspace filled with high-quality, natural daylight to promote productivity and occupant well-being, as well as provide a comfortable setting for collaboration and socializing. The integration of unit skylights and ventilated skylights significantly reduced HVAC use and dependence on electric lighting, helping the building achieve LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications. 

Setting a new standard for eco-friendly and health-conscious workspaces, the building’s transformation measurably improved employees’ wellness and focus. The transformed building also succeeded in revitalizing its local downtown neighborhood. RDC-Studio One Eleven's presence has increased visitors to the area, and the firm has leased spaces within the Long Beach headquarters to fellow professionals and innovators, fostering a creative and lively environment.