LA JOLLA GROUP

2008-2009 : I STARTED ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF MY CAREER. MY PROJECT MANAGER MATT VELTRE CALLED ME ON THE PHONE AND SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO REMODEL THE OLD E-MACHINES BUILDING INTO THE LA JOLLA GROUP AND THAT I HAD BEEN SELECTED TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT. I HAD NO CLUE WHO THE LA JOLLA GROUP WAS, BUT I WAS EDUCATED VERY QUICKLY. IT STARTED WITH A MEETING WITH MATT, BILL ZOLG(PART OWNER LA JOLLA GROUP), AND MIKE BROWN FROM THE IRVINE COMPANY. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT WAS THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD SPACE AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF IT. WE WALKED THE SPACE FROM END TO END AND BASICALLY DECIDED TO TEAR OUT 95% OF THE WALLS, BUILD A WALL TO SEPARATE THE OFFICE FROM THE WAREHOUSE AND IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER AND WE WERE COLD. THERE WAS SO MUCH DEMOLITION THAT WE RAN 2 CREWS OF 10-15 GUYS IN TWO SHIFTS 5 DAYS A WEEK. I WAS ALWAYS NERVOUS THAT THE NIGHT CREW WOULD HIT A FIRE SPRINKLER OR CUT A WATER LINE, BUT THEY WERE CAREFUL AND I NEVER DID GET THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WAKE UP CALL.

DUE TO DESIGN ISSUES AND MONEY COMPLICATIONS THE PROJECT SHUTDOWN FOR A MONTH AND THEN COME FEBRUARY WE WERE RIGHT BACK ON IT. BY THEN EVERYONE OF OUR SUBCONTRACTORS ASSOCIATED LA JOLLA GROUP WITH O'NEILL SURFING AND THEY ALL WANTED IN ON THE ACTION. THE SURF INDUSTRY IS BIG IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND MOST CONSTRUCTION WORKERS EITHER SURF, PRETEND TO SURF, OR WEAR SURF INDUSTRY CLOTHING. I WOULD GET CALLS EVERYDAY FROM WORKERS ASKING ME TO CALL THEIR BOSS AND REQUEST THEM TO BE ON THE JOB. THE O'NEILL NAME ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, MANY A DAYS I WOULD WALK THE JOBSITE AND THINK I HAVE THE BEST WORKERS FROM EVERY TRADE ON MY JOBSITE. THE GUYS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE THE PLACE NICE. THEY EVEN DID THINGS THAT THE COMMON OBSERVER WOULDN'T CATCH. THE PHOTOS BELOW TRULY ARE A TRIBUTE TO THEIR WORK.

LA JOLLA LOBBY

EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING RIGHT BEFORE ENTERING THE MAIN LOBBY. ONE NOTE OF MENTION IS THAT THE OWNER HAS TAKING A LIKING TO SUNNY AND SHE IS CURRENTLY DOING SOME ARCHITECTURE WORK FOR THE LA JOLLA GROU. SHE IS HELPING THEM TO ADD 6 FLAG POLES JUST TO THE LEFTOF THE LOBBY ENTRANCE IN THE GREEN LANDSCAPE AREA.

ENTRANCE TO THE MAIN LOBBY. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THE BEAUTIFULL PREGNANT SUNNY ENTERING THROUGH THE DOORS.

CORPORATE PHOTO OF LA JOLLA GROUP MAIN LOBBY

SIDEVIEW OF THE MAIN LOBBY. THE MOTORCYCLE IS FROM THE FAMOUS RIDER OF METAL MULISHA BRIAN DEEGAN. ORIGINALLY WE WERE GOING TO HANG IT FROM THE UPPER WALL, BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN A SEE HIS BIKE UP CLOSE. THE FLOORING IS PEBBLETECH FLOORING. IT WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT GIVES A WET SAND APPEARANCE, FITTING THEIR OVERALL SURF IMAGE. THE 3 TV'S ON THE WALL PLAY SURF, SKATE, SNOWBOARD VIDEOS ALL DAY LONG WITH SPEAKERS MOUNTED IN THE CEILING PLAYING THE BACKGROUND MUSIC TO THEM.

EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM: THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ROOMS. IT IS A CONFERENCE ROOM FOR THE MAIN EXECUTIVES AS WELL AS THE OWNERS WHEN THEY DECIDE TO HAVE THEIR MEETINGS. JIM FROM JPS CAME UP WITH THE DESIGN OF NAILING POPLAR BOARDS TO THE WALL, DISTRESS THEM THEN SPRAY THEM WITH A SATIN FINISH. I WAS VERY SKEPTICAL UNTIL I SAW THE WALLS THE DAY AFTER THE SATIN FINISH WAS APPLIED. WHAT A GREAT IDEA, I WISH I WOULD OF HAD IT, BUT JIM GETS THE CREDIT.

RECEPTIONIST DESK: THIS WAS A TRICKY AREA TO MANIPULATE. WE WERE TOLD TO GIVE OUR BEST GUESS AS TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE LIGHTS ABOVE AND WE HOPED LIKE CRAZY THAT THE POWER WE PUT IN THE WALL FOR ALL 4 PLASMAS TO COME TOGETHER WAS AT THE RIGHT LOCATION. BECAUSE WE HAD DEVIATED FROM THE BLUEPRINTS SO MUCH, WE ALSO HAD NO CLUE AS HOW TO RUN DUCTWORK LOW ENOUGH TO BE UNDER THE TRUSSES AND MAINTAIN AN ELEVATION THAT WOULDN'T BLOCK THE TV'S OR OBSTRUCT THE LIGHTS. GEROME THE ELECTRICAL FOREMAN AND I TOOK OUR PROBLEM TO MARK THE HVAC FOREMAN, WHO SAID HE HAD AN EXTRA EYEBALL DIFUSER THAT IN HIS OPINION WOULD COOL THE ROOM APPROPRIATELY. WE MADE A FIELD DECISION AND TO THIS DAY WE STILL HAVEN'T HAD ANY COMPLAINTS.

I ADDED THIS PICTURE BECAUSE ORIGINALLY WHERE THE ENTRANCE DOORS ARE WE WERE GOING TO BUILD 30FT TALL SLATS OF WOOD THAT WOULD STRETCH FROM THE FLOOR TO THE CEILING GIVING AN OLD WOOD SURFSHOP LOOK. BECAUSE OF COSTS WE HAD TO DELETE THAT FEATURE. ITS KIND OF A TWO EDGE SWORD, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PAIN IN THE NECK TO BUILD SUCH A FEATURE, BUT I WOULD HAVE LOOKED NICE.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE SECTION OF THE MAIN LOBBY THAT I PERSONALLY AM MOST PROUD OF. LONG STORY SHORT, WE DIDN'T CARE MUCH FOR WHAT THE ARCHITECT HAD DRAWN, SO THE OWNER GAVE ME PERMISSION TO REDESIGN IT AND BUILD IT TO MY RECOMENDATIONS. I SAT DOWN WITH MY 3 BEST FRAMERS JOSE, ANTONIO AND GEORGE AND WE DECIDED TO BUILD A SLOPING WALL WITH THE SAME POPLAR WOOD EFFECT AS THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM WHILE ADDING A LIGHT TROUGH THAT WOULD HAVE LIGHTS SHINING UP AND LED LIGHTS THAT WOULD ACCENT THE FLOOR BELOW. WE ADDED A WINDOW IN THE MIDDLE TO GIVE IT A SOMEWHAT LIFEGUARD STATION EFFECT JUST OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE. WE DREW THE WHOLE THING OUT IN PENCIL ON THE DRYWALL THAT HAS THE 3 TV'S ON IT. WE PRESENTED IT TO THE OWNER AND HE SAID BUILD IT. NOTICE HOW IT DOESNT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING. THERE IS SOME GENIUS IN IT.

LA JOLLA CORRIDOR

THE CORRIDOR IS THE HEART OF THE BUILDING. THERE ARE 400 EMPLOYEES THAT WORK IN THIS BUILDING AND THEY ARE ALL ENCOURAGED TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER EXCHANGING CREATIVE IDEAS WITH EACH OTHER. THE ABILITY TO SKATEBOARD THROGH THE CORRIDOR, SUPPORTS THEIR INDUSTRY AND ALLOWS DEPARTMENTS TO TRAVEL TO EACH OTHER MUCH MORE QUICKLY.

EXECUTIVE AREA OF CORRIDOR

LA JOLLA GROUP ARE TRUE TO THEIR OWN. WHILE WE WERE BUILDING THIS BUILDING FOR THEM, ONE OF THEIR BEST METAL MULISHA RIDERS JEREMY LUSK DIED WHILE PERFORMING A BACKFLIP ON HIS BIKE IN COSTA RICA. HIS PICTURE AND TRIBUTES CAN BE FOUND THROUGH OUT THE BUILDING.

SECTION OF CORRIDOR NEXT TO THE LUSK TRAINING CENTER AND THE ENTRANCE TO LOST SURF DESIGN AREA. THEY HAVE SO MANY ARTISTS ON STAFF THAT PROBABLY BEFORE THEIR 10 YEAR LEASE IS UP WILL HAVE PAINTED SOME SORT OF MURAL ON EVERYWALL.

EACH DIVISION OF CLOTHING HAS THEIR OWN DISPLAY AREA TO SHOW OFF THEIR PRODUCT AND IMAGE. THE ARCHITECT TOLD ME THAT WHEN HE WAS DESIGNING THE CORRIDOR ONE OF HIS INTENTIONS WAS FOR THE LA JOLLA SALES STAFF TO BE ABLE TO WALK THEIR CUSTOMERS FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING TO THE OTHER AND BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF THE PRODUCT WITHOUT THE CUSTOMER KNOWING IT.

ENTRANCE TO RUSTY SURFBOARDS. THEY CERTAINLY ADD THEIR OWN FLARE. ONE UNIQUE IDEAD THEY IMPLEMENTED WAS COVERING THEIR SIDELIGHT WINDOWS WITH GRAPHICS. I HAVE PROBABLY BUILT HUNDREDS OF SIDELIGHTS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN ANY ORGANIZATION DO THIS.

ANOTHER AREA FOR THE BRANDS TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCTS. THE IMAGINE IS ALLOWED TO RUN FREELY AT THE LA JOLLA GROUP.

MODERN LIGHT WALL THAT WE HELPED TO BUILD. THE MAN WITH THE IDEA BEHIND IT WAS JIM AT JPS AND TOBY THE CEO OF THE COMPANY. IT STILL HASN'T GROWN ON ME, BUT SUNNY LIKES IT. I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE CREATIVE IN ORDER APPRECIATE THIS EFFECT.

SKATE RAMP

A COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE WE FINISHED THE LA JOLLA GROUP PROJECT, JPS BROUGHT AN OLD SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL SKATER IN TO BUILD A SKATEBOARD RAMP. THE THOUGHT WAS IT WOULD ADD TO THE THEME OF THE BUILDING AND THEY COULD USE IT FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPYH SHOOTS AS WELL AS SOMETHING FOR THEIR SPONSORED SKATERS TO RIDE. THE POOL DECK COPING WAS THE IDEA OF THE PRO. HE SAID, "THIS IS HOW THEY BUILT THEM BACK IN THE DAY"



ONE NOTE OF MENTION IS THAT WE PROBABLY AVERAGED OVER A 100 WORKERS AT THE JOBSITE EVERYDAY, AND A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF THEM THOUGHT THEY WERE THE WORLDS BEST SKATER AND TRIED THEIR HAND AT SKATING IT. THE FOREMANS FOR EVERY SUB CONTRACTOR WANTED MY TO OUTLAW SKATING THE RAMP, BUT I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO DO IT. ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS LOGGING IN SOME TIME SKATING IT MY SELF. PLUS WHEN GUYS ARE HAPPY AT WORK THEY PRODUCE A BETTER QUALITY PRODUCT. ALL OF US ENJOYED EITHER SKATING THE RAMP OR WATCHING OTHERS TRY.




BECAUSE OF THE OVERWHELMING EXCITEMENT OF THEIR BEING A SKATEBOARD RAMP IN THE BUILDING, BILL ZOLG DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME MORE RAMPS AVAILABLE. IN ESSENCE A PORTION OF THE CORRIDOR BECAME THE LA JOLLA SKATE PARK. WHAT A GREAT IDEA THAT TURNED OUT TO BE. SINCE THEY HAVE OPENED I HAVE SEEN MANY EMPLOYEES SKATING THE RAMPS. MOST MAKE IT TO THE TOP AND TURN AROUND AND COME DOWN. OCCASIONALLY SOME OF THE GUYS WILL GET GOOD AIR OR RIDE THE WALL. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST IDEAS I HAVE EVER SEEN A CORPORATION IMPLEMENT

THE NEW RAMPS WERE BUILT BY CHAD WHO WORKS FOR THE LA JOLLA GROUP. HE ORGANIZES ALOT OF EVENTS FOR O'NEIL AND IS A PROFESSIONAL SKATER AND SNOWBOARDER AS WELL.