Reimagining Functionality
Pacific Energy Concepts
Overview
LSW transformed an existing, but unused auto repair shop and warehouse space into the new Pacific Energy Concepts (PEC) headquarters office and warehouse in Downtown Vancouver. This began with reimagining the space and identifying ways to make it safe, energy-efficient, and functional. At the same time, we needed to design with PEC’s culture of innovation and service in mind, making its client-facing and service needs a key design consideration.
Key Stats
Location
Vancouver, WA
Total Square Footage
16,000 SF
Completion Date
2017
Context
This former site of Eagle Street Automotive was remodeled and branded to become a modern, energy efficient home to one of the nation’s most innovative energy optimization companies, PEC. Capitalizing on the company’s expertise in the field of energy conservation and sustainability, Hurley Development partnered with PEC and LSW to create one of the best creative office spaces in the city by reclaiming an old, blighted, industrial building and turning it into a nearly 16,000-square-feet space that they proudly call their headquarters.
Design
When approaching the design for PEC’s new home in Vancouver, LSW needed to create adequate and accessible storage solutions for PEC’s vast inventory, while bringing customer-facing spaces to the forefront of the site. To ensure the two environments support one another, we designed several meeting and breakout spaces that deliver the privacy and acoustic quality needed in a traditional office.
Throughout the course of this Tenant Improvement project, we conducted seismic upgrades and reinforcements, fire and safety upgrades, and allowed for the addition of a second floor. Most notably, we re-skinned the exterior and replaced all the windows to maximize natural daylighting.
Sustainability
To make sustainability a key consideration with every project, we organize our efforts into the following categories: Energy Efficiency, Embodied Carbon, Human Health, and Resource Conservation. Each category is associated with goals, processes, and metrics that we use to hold ourselves accountable to our clients, our community, and to current and future generations. In alignment with our sustainability benchmarks for projects, the following features were implemented at Pacific Energy Concepts:
Energy Efficiency
Replaced existing single-pane windows with double-pane
Insulated and replaced roof to improve thermal envelope
LED lighting for task lighting as well as featured accents
Balanced daylighting provided through space with tubular skylights
Ceiling fans provided for cooling and destratification of air
Embodied Carbon
Reuse of existing building
Human Health
Program spaces to support work-life balance:
Fitness space
Kitchenette and collaboration space
Roof amenity deck
Shower room
Access to daylight and views
ADA upgrades
Access to outdoors via first floor and second floor roof deck
Resource Conservation
The team worked with existing structural grid to save the original timber structure
Low-flow plumbing fixtures
To read more about sustainability at LSW, download our Sustainability Action Plan here.
