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. 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. 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. On the exterior, a sculptural addition was proposed to accommodate Fox’s main entrance and provide an identifying landmark. Existing and new infrastructure are exposed and coordinated to enhance the architecture, while the warm 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. The resulting ‘city’ is a reflection of the company’s character: an open and creative workplace that fosters interaction between varied groups of specialists.