Clive Wilkinson Architects

Fox Head

Fox Head
© Benny Chan

FOX HEAD

Clive Wilkinson Architects

CATEGORY
Offices

LOCATION
Irvine, United States

AREA
82000.0 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Benny Chan

YEAR
2012

MANUFACTURERS
Delray Lighting, Duchateau

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Melendrez

CIVIL ENGINEERS
Ware Malcomb

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS
OMB Electrical Engineers, Inc

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Howard Building Corporation

MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING ENGINEERS
TK1SC

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
Englekirk Structural Engineers

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Clive Wilkinson, Sam Farhang, Sasha Shumyatsky, Matt Moran, Chester Nielsen, Andrea Schoening, Mitsuhiro Komatsu, Annie Ritz, Meredith McDaniel

Text description provided by architect.

The leaders of the motocross apparel company, Fox Head, Inc. approached us in November 2011, with the goal of relocating their headquarters from Morgan Hill, in Northern California, to Irvine, California.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

They wanted a space that would inspire their staff and encouraged CWa to challenge preconceptions about how an office space can work and how this warehouse shell could become a cutting edge creative house.

The industrial warehouse on Armstrong Avenue in Irvine offered an opportunity of consolidating the company in one open, creative environment.The design solution for the 82,000 sq. ft. space evolved from the desire to create a functional yet playful environment that befits the Fox image.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

Equally significant was the company’s desire for an open, flexible and collaborative work environment for its employees.

Traditional urban planning concepts were utilized to provide the architectural frame to foster a community centered around place, interaction and innovation.

A Main Street concept, individual task-oriented neighborhoods, park-like landscape elements and circulation-oriented ‘facades’ were each enlisted to create a community unique to the company’s culture.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

The various departments were organized on either side of the warehouse connected through a ‘Main Street’ bisecting the ground floor. The need to articulate the ‘Main Street’ led to the adoption of diverse interior building frontages emphasizing the varied functions.

Fox’s operational needs were met through incorporation of open offices, workstation systems tailored to departmental needs and accompanying support spaces, such as sewing room, photo studio and tech-room.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

On the exterior, a sculptural addition was proposed to accommodate Fox’s main entrance and provide an identifying landmark.

From the main entrance, a wide street leads you through the single story reception area, defined by a red slatted ceiling, into the ‘Main Street.’

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

Here product showrooms define the boundary of the ‘Main Street’ terminating at the lounge/cafeteria zone with its 18-foot high glazed storefront opening to the outdoor recreation area.

Here informal meeting areas are housed on the ‘roofs’ of the ‘Main Street’ structures and a raised boardroom offers an unprecedented view of the ‘Main Street’ and the creative warehouse area.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

Existing and new infrastructure are exposed and coordinated to enhance the architecture, while thewarm palette of reds, oranges and yellows reference the original brand colors of Moto-X Fox while differentiating the ‘monuments’ in the city from the muted background.

Fox’s brand represents a diverse set of apparel, equipment, and lifestyle products. In order to celebrate this diversity, the architecture was enlisted to emphasize the different teams of designers, engineers and marketing professionals behind the company image.

Each area of the design boasts a uniquely identifiable character. The resulting ‘city’ is a reflection of the company’s character: an open and creative workplace that fosters interaction between varied groups of specialists.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

The exterior grounds offered an extension to the workplace and gave Fox the opportunity to embrace the active culture which it represents.

A scheme was developed with a raised garden area emanating from the warehouse, enclosed by hedges and shade trees. Outside the clubhouse, loose furniture under trees encourages people to meet, work and relax; while a bike track becomes a highly visible extension of the company.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan

To realize the project within a tight timeframe, the project team took a highly collaborative approach, enlisting early input from the contractor in order to streamline the design and construction process.

The project was taken from conception to permitting within 4 months, and constructed on a fast-track schedule over 7 months. The resulting efficiency of delivery ensured the client significant costs-savings without sacrificing quality of the finished product.

Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan
Fox Head
© Benny Chan


Fox Head
Floor Plan
Fox Head
Floor Plan
Fox Head
Detail

Clive Wilkinson Architects
T +1 310 3582200
Clive Wilkinson Architects
6116 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232, United States