Urban Billboard: Stretching along Orange County’s 55 Freeway, the project’s 7-story, 2,000 foot long south façade is conceived of as a giant billboard to advertise the products, technologies, and identities showcased inside. The twisting and banding of alternately perforated and solid metal panels provide a shimmering texture for the freeway façade, as well as natural breaks for a variety of electronic and digital display systems.
Koi: The project’s shape is a direct result of the site’s property lines, but it intensifies its resemblance to a fish with textured surfaces and color inspired by the much revered koi. Its head contains the main entrance, an auditorium, a conference center, and an exterior glass “funnel” that carries visitors from the ground all the way to the rooftop garden and restaurants. Its tail includes a triple height exhibition space. Its spine is comprised of 600 showrooms in a back-to-back arrangement that allows ample natural light and views between inside and outside. Punctuating this spine are freestanding conference pods and other gathering spaces that foster creative interaction and the free flows of ideas.
Sustainability: The project has been designed to attain LEED Gold status. Green strategies include a rooftop photovoltaic system, rooftop windmills, ample use of natural light, daylight dimming systems, automated windows, and super-efficient mechanical and lighting systems. A thin, low-maintenance green roof system slopes down into the building, forming the focal point of an indoor courtyard atrium......more
