Easterseals Offices – Irvine
H. Hendy Associates redesigned the offices for Easterseals, a non-profit located in Irvine, California.
Inspired by the former Easterseals logo, a lily symbolizing growth and new beginnings, Hendy’s design incorporates greenhouse-motivated elements to metaphorically signify protection, nurture and growth from seedlings to full bloom. This theme can be observed in patterns of seeds and sowed fields crafted in plaster-covered walls throughout the building, the skylight-lit staircase with terrariums hanging from the walls, and in the bold and vibrant oversized photographs of floral blooms from local artist Laura Lejuwaan.
A primary challenge Hendy overcame when designing the Center was creating a common space for two different entities serving diverse clienteles. To solve for this, Hendy created a warm, cheerful lobby that forms a comfortable environment for the more than 100 people with autism served each day. The space also features greenhouse structure-shaped common areas and watercolor landscape prints by 9-year-old Iris Grace, an English child on the autism spectrum. The new branded corporate office space also enables Easterseals to perform important daily administrative functions that will help further the company’s mission.
Easterseals’ mission and vision are infused throughout the building’s design. Upon entering the office, four pillars symbolize Easterseals’ foundation and core support areas: Live, Learn, Work and Play. The Resysta wood planks for the exterior cladding application are produced with fiber reinforced hybrid materials consisting of approximately 60 percent rice husks, 22 percent common salt and 18 percent mineral oil. This choice of material plays on the greenhouse theme as an environmentally friendly and weather-resistant alternative. Inside, a brick wall dotted with clay pots of gradating sizes arranged in the sunburst pattern found on Easterseals’ newly introduced logo nods to the English garden walls.
Behind the lobby stands a two-story mission-highlights wall beside an open staircase incorporating graphics that celebrate Easterseals’ mission statement. Additionally, the light fixtures sprinkled throughout the space emulate beehives and are representative of bees pollinizing the plant life and the continuity of growth. Each design element was intentionally chosen to honor and reinforce Easterseals’ values.
Designer: H. Hendy Associates
Photography: RMA Photography
