SOCAL TESTING CENTER
The goal of the SoCal Gas Testing Center project was to take a former industrial building—a garage and wash bay—and turn it into an employee testing center and outdoor lounge, connecting it to the larger Sempra Energy campus. Kamus + Keller worked with SoCal Gas to also elevate the building and brand standards to a level that would appeal to a younger generation of employees. The result was a project that made the best use of existing industrial elements and merged it to create a unique, multi-functional office space.
The opportunity in the Testing Center renovation was to use industrial elements to serve the updated design. The HVAC conduits and piping assessment determined what was needed for utility, what needed to be eliminated, and what could be worked into the design, in the example of using exposed pipe as a foundation for custom light fixtures. This efficient use of existing elements served to highlight the new industrial feel of the SoCal updated brand. Once the Testing Center was complete, new designs were drafted that moved the outdoor lounge next to the Learning Center where employee trainings take place. This enabled the outdoor lounge to be used as a waiting room spill-over space, creating greater utility and impact to the entryway.
SPECS
- Reception and waiting area
- 24 computer stations
- 2 physical test stations
- HR offices, conference room, 3 work stations
- Exterior custom shade structure with built-in Brazilian Walnut bench seating and lounge seating
- Drought-tolerant landscaping
- Custom signage/graphics
- 447 stalls for parking included removal of 11 spaces, relocating 8, and adding 3 new ADA spaces.