Sole Technology Research and Design Building
Pierre Andres Senizergues' vision was to create a building rooted in his company's values: Creativity, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork and Enjoyment. A design concept that merges warm Contemporary Modernism with Ecological design. Stepping into Sole Technology's R&D Building is like taking a virtual tour of the former skateboarding champion's mind…filled with the same creativity and challenges Senizergues brought to skateboarding and now embodied in his company's design and manufacturing of skateboard and action sports footwear and apparel.
Project Description
At the entrance to the building the skate culture is represented by the “curved wall” (representing riding), which is broken into the block wall of the warehouse (defying convention). The project is spread over four acres, which includes over an acre of eco-sensitive landscaping.
The majority of the materials used in the building are eco-sensitive: Recycled limestone, wood shavings, galvanized metal, seamless stainless steel railing, glass walls and eco-sensitive fabrics and carpeting. A plethora of portals, pillars and light combined with exposed rafter lights create an elevated “lofty” thinking (representing elevated thinking).
A portion of the lobby is dedicated to the Wall of Wheels…a 160 sq. ft. wall created by using hundreds of skateboard wheels, which opens up and showcases key shoes that contributed to the growth and success of the company.
The first floor houses the lobby level, showrooms for Sole Technology's etnies, éS, Emerica and Thirty Two lines, the Footwear Development & Design Department, Footwear Samples and Merchandising area, two conference rooms and a 50,000 SF warehouse. A Rotunda accesses the showrooms displaying the many Sole Technology products. Hanging from the center of the Rotunda is a 17 ft. garland of 24 collector’s edition skateboards belonging to Sole Technology’s professional team riders.
A bold, single-flight stairway accesses the corporate offices on the second floor which houses Pierre’s Creative Room, Executive Offices and the Apparel Development and Design Department.
Senizergues’ vision for the building was conceptualized with the help of Emile Bouret of Bouret Design in Carlsbad, CA and executed by award winning architect Jon Lundstrom of Lundstrom & Associates in Irvine and designer/artist Xavier Llongueras of Studio X in Hollywood. The building has been the recipient of the following awards: National Award of Honor 2004, Society of American Registered Architects; Design Award for Excellence 2004, Society of American Registered Architects, California Council; and Award of Merit for Best Office-Professional Building 2004, Gold Nugget Awards.