Bold New Look for The Olander Company Headquarters
April 23, 2015
Established by Phil Olander in 1962, The Olander Company is one of Silicon Valley's early "nuts and bolts" suppliers of fasteners, adhesives, wire management products and other mission-critical components to technology and medical manufacturers. The company's headquarters in Sunnyvale had a very dated feel and the 4,445 square-foot layout wasn’t being utilized efficiently.
Toeniskoetter was brought in to improve utilization of the space, update the look and feel, and also to replace aging utilities and other infrastructure.
Starting with the entry and extending throughout the offices, the ceilings were raised, immediately creating a lighter, more open experience. The old entryway and reception space doubled in size and were reconfigured by removing an unnecessary second front door and central partition wall. The old storefront windows were replaced with dual-pane, energy-efficient glass, and a new reception desk and visitor seating were installed.
“Working with Toeniskoetter was like working with family. They always got back to us and always made sure we were happy,” said Cindy Olander.
The Toeniskoetter team also expanded the conference room, remodeled the bathrooms, and enlarged the break room. The break room also received a unique community-building tool – a bulletin board made from a wall of galvanized steel panels covered with clear IdeaPaint on which messages can be written with dry erase markers.
In the reception area, the aging flooring was replaced with polished concrete, which, in conjunction with galvanized wall panels, create a contemporary, industrial design scheme. The lighting system was upgraded to LED, the mechanical system was modified and the electrical system was updated. Together with new partitions and new paint throughout, the result is a completely transformed facility. The architect for the project was Robert Kelly of ID/Architecture.
Because the renovations were being done while the space was occupied, Toeniskoetter's work was divided into two phases. The first phase included a majority of the office area, half of the break room, and two of the bathrooms, while all of the employees relocated to the remaining half of the building. Phase two included the remainder of the break room, the other two restrooms, and the remaining portion of the office space. In order to complete the whole project in three months, some night and weekend work was necessary.
"This is one of the most dramatic office renovations we've ever done as far as the before and after looks," said Toeniskoetter project manager Adam Toeniskoetter. "Working with the Olander team was great. They had some very creative suggestions, such as raising the ceiling height, which made a huge difference. They were also very accommodating of the tight timeline, and really helped to make the phasing of the work as easy as possible for everyone."
