Contract - April 2010 - (Page 42)

design The concierge desk (below) maintains the logo and graphics wall from the entry courtyard. A series of uniquely designed pendant lights unify the showroom while providing adjustable accent lighting for furniture and general ambient downlighting and uplighting. A central, circular product display lounge and seating area (bottom) creates a sense of boundary but with inclusiveness and cohesion to the entire space. development over the past 10 years. Trendy restaurants, organic cafés, chic clothing boutiques, and innovative small businesses have replaced dilapidated storefronts and abandoned buildings. Still considered an up-and-coming locale, Herman Miller believed it was the ideal place to reestablish its presence in Los Angeles. “We were very intentional in our purpose,” remarks Lori Gee, director of workplace solutions for Herman Miller, based in Holland, Mich. “Our green showrooms demonstrate our way of thinking about what is possible for spaces and products, and how those two things work together.” This showroom represents the 14th project that the Herman Miller team has developed to meet LEED certification criteria. Nine are Gold certified, and this is the company’s first Platinum certification. Gee and her team recognized the showroom’s draw for Southern California, but also realized its potential attraction to clients from around the globe. She and Clem worked closely to transform what was once a cavernous, cold space into a “green dream” that not only showcases beautiful product, but the company’s vision for the future. It was conceptualized as a platform for education and discovery from both a product and sustainability perspective, leading clients through a holistic journey of great design and equally commendable business principles. The original space was composed of two adjacent warehouse rooms separated by a concrete wall, and the bowstring wood trusses had minimal structural capacity to support display components. It was necessary to create a contiguous space that could be easily reconfigured to host a variety of events for client and community use. “The focus was on innovation, yet we wanted to tie in the integrity, creativity, and craftsmanship for which Herman Miller is known,” Clem says. This was accomplished through the use of rich woods (a nod to Charles and Ray Eames and their iconic designs), elements of the company’s headquar- 42 contract april 2010 www.contractdesign.com http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - April 2010

Contract - April 2010
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry
Resources: The Green Scene
Focus: Land of Opportunity
Green: Post-Occupancy Green
Practice: Legal Green
Lean & Green
Environmental Extraordinaire
Above the Legal Limit
Informing the Masses
Luxury in the Raw
Designers Rate: Green Products
Process: Science in the Age of the Invisible
Sources
Ad Index
Perspectives

Contract - April 2010