ALISO VIEJO, CA—From adaptability to clean rooms and R&D-informed designs, Ware Malcomb had its work cut out for it with its design for a recently completed project: the new MicroVention Worldwide Innovation Center at 35 Enterprise here. Ware Malcomb provided architectural design, interior design and lab-planning services for the project.

The new facility for MicroVention, a leading medical-device manufacturer, consolidates the company's Orange County operations prepares the company for anticipated growth; the firm was previously located in Tustin, CA.

The 205,0000-square-foot, four-story, build-to-suit corporate headquarters includes office, laboratory and manufacturing space. The laboratory features s 28,000-square-foot clean room and 26,000 square feet of research-and-development and neuroradiology-imaging laboratory space, while the manufacturing area includes a 7,500-square-foot machine shop and 27,000 square feet of warehouse-and-distribution space including two loading docks and an equipment yard with hazardous-material storage. The design also includes a 3,500-square-foot employee lunch area and training and conference facilities.

The exterior building design features a curved-aluminum-panel curtain wall and low-e grey glazing with large exterior patio spaces. The site also includes a design-build parking structure, a bioswale, tree-well integration and drought-tolerant landscaping. The project meets CalGreen requirements for sustainable building.

GlobeSt.com spoke with Tom Myers, regional VP for Ware Malcomb, about its strategy for the design and completion of this project.

MicroVention Worldwide Innovation Center lobby

GlobeSt.com: What was your firm's approach or strategy for the design of the MicroVention project?

Myers: MicroVention is a fast-growing company with a rich company culture. It was important to the company to maintain its culture while providing flexibility for current and future growth needs. It wanted a facility that represented its advancements in technology, yet wasn't ostentatious. Since the MicroVention Worldwide Innovation Center is the last phase of Parker Properties' the Summit at Aliso Viejo, the architecture also needed to be harmonious with the existing campus. Ware Malcomb worked closely with MicroVention and Parker Properties to create an architectural statement that completes the Summit while also representing MicroVention's brand. The inner core of the building was designed with interior flexibility in mind. This includes adequate clear space to reconfigure the interior workspace easily in the future.

GlobeSt.com: How were you able to achieve MicroVention's vision for this space?

Myers: The MicroVention project was kicked off with on-site tours of its existing facility, helping our team to gain an understanding of its work flows and processes, current space usage and the vision for its new space. Ware Malcomb held weekly design meetings to work through programmatic adjacency requirements (including vertical stacking), architectural massing studies, aesthetic preferences and product and pedestrian circulation flows. This constant feedback through the design charette process allowed the project team to analyze quickly various scenarios to determine the best design solution for function, flow and architecture.

From an interior perspective, the design concept was to create a contemporary environment with clean lines and simple yet refined materials. The goal was to utilize sleek and glossy surfaces to help reinforce the concepts of technology and healing. This was realized through: a high contrast color palette used throughout the project to promote a sophisticated approach to the industry as well as add a timeless feel to the interior; unique millwork solutions implemented within amenity areas and strategically placed throughout the space to promote collaboration and socialization within the company; ambient light glow used within ceiling soffits and under cabinet lighting to help highlight areas of interest and add a sense of depth within the space; and glass wall systems used within the open office area in private offices and in conference rooms to help promote a sense of transparency and teamwork within the office.

GlobeSt.com: What is different about designing for medical-device firms versus other types of users?

Myers: The unique design considerations for a medical device firm include the need for adaptability. The medical-device industry is constantly changing, requiring space needs to be flexible to accommodate change. For example, MicroVention's manufacturing space requirements expanded by 20% during design. Cutting-edge imaging equipment was incorporated into the floor plans to facilitate the company's training initiatives. Our design incorporates utility drops in the clean rooms and R&D spaces allowing for flexibility.

One of the other considerations for this type of user are that service programmatic needs increase—additional electrical rooms, closets and exterior yard space to accommodate equipment and process gases were needed. Also, vertical heights between floors are often higher than other areas to accommodate increased MEP loads. And, design is centered around work flow—how raw product enters a space, is manufactured in a clean environment and packaged for distribution, which affects the facility design. Lastly, functionally, clean rooms and R&D inform design. There are specialty-equipment and bench requirements for multiple labs dictate space planning. For the MicroVention project, accommodations were made for multiple large mechanical chases and duct runs throughout the building.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about designing for this type of user?

Myers: MicroVention continues to grow, outpacing the original growth estimates used in the design of its Worldwide Innovation Center. We accounted for this growth by providing parking for 100% office use should the company's needs change. This adaptability and designing for scale allows it to utilize the space for its needs while providing long-term real estate value should it choose to sell.

GlobeSt.com spoke with Tom Myers, regional VP for Ware Malcomb, about its strategy for the design and completion of this project.

GlobeSt.com: What was your firm's approach or strategy for the design of the MicroVention project?

GlobeSt.com: How were you able to achieve MicroVention's vision for this space?

GlobeSt.com: What is different about designing for medical-device firms versus other types of users?

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about designing for this type of user?

Instant Insights /

Helping Medical-Device Tenants Through Design

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