Kia Motors elevates the typology of the suburban office park through a thoughtful embrace of the economic constraints of tilt-up construction and standardized components. The project was built in two phases: a Phase One Headquarters Building and Phase Two Design Center.

The Design Center’s program resulted in a large footprint that supports a triangular workflow between design, modeling and presentation disciplines. Suspended from the roof, a canopy shades the entrance of the building and unites the various functional areas within. This monumental steel roof structure creates an identifiable address for the Design Center, while admitting controlled amounts of natural light and accommodating the required vertical clearances for shop equipment.

Project Facts

Completion Year: 2008
Site Area: 265,025 ft²
Project Area: 71,687 ft²
Building Height: 40 ft
Number of Stories: 2

Project Awards

2009 • Building Owners and Managers Association: Orange County Chapter • Outstanding Building of the Year

At the westernmost portion of the building, suites of shops are located alongside the modeling and design studios. To the east of these design studios, two specialized presentation rooms and an outdoor court allow designers to study and present “in progress” full scale designs in both natural and artificial light.

The character of the building is loft-like. Exposed structural elements and building services support the often sprawling and expansive nature of the work taking place within. These creative work functions are able to move from interior to exterior through a series of operable doors that connect with enclosed courts on two of the building’s three sides.