H. Hendy Associates Creates "Coastal Cool" for Birtcher Development & Investments.

Design Firm Infuses Love of the Sea and Fishing into Office Space

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- H. Hendy Associates (HHA) today announced the completion of a design and construction project for Irvine, Calif.-based Birtcher Development & Investments. The leading architectural design firm was retained by Birtcher Development & Investments to transform a 3,500-square-foot law office with traditional architecture into a contemporary space with sophisticated appointments. H. Hendy Associates managed all aspects of the renovation, including space planning, design development, construction documents, and furniture procurement.

"The finished product certainly exceeded my expectations," said Brandon Birtcher, owner of Birtcher Development & Investments. "Not only does the creative interaction between private offices and open work stations encourage collaboration, but the natural lighting creates a unique atmosphere as it filters through the building's exterior windows and onward through the office's accents of green sandblasted glass."

The previous existing penthouse space featured 11-foot-tall ceilings and a fair layout of offices and built-in workstations. H. Hendy's goals were to make the office as light and open as possible and to take advantage of the high ceilings, while capitalizing on Birtcher's unique idea of having a "virtual receptionist" which instantly greets guests.

California Coastal

H. Hendy Associates designed the space's color palette with a California coastal feel to capitalize on Birtcher's love of the sea and for fishing. Neutral sand and ivory colors were punctuated with greens and rich chocolate browns, and complemented with several natural textures.

The reception area was transformed from a traditional law office entry with a glass wall separating it from the conference room, to a beautifully inviting space featuring three wall textures, ivory leather and rich chocolate wood. Crema Marfil stone was used on the floor to enhance the size of the room, while articulated drywall, Venetian plaster, ivory architectural finishes and woven ivory wall covering create interest and depth.

H. Hendy Associates opened up the rest of the office space by creating large opaque windows in each of the offices. Custom Sapeli wood doors with a single pane of green sandblasted glass enhance the lighting effect. "The sandblasted inserts within the doors allow for privacy, while still maximizing the eleventh floor views of the Newport Beach skyline and Catalina Island," continued Birtcher.

The open area, featuring various workstations, is flooded with light and is complemented with indirect pendant lighting. The workstations were renovated with a rich textured wall covering, Sapeli wood and resin panels featuring beach grass accents, and finished with a brown marble transaction top.

Both the client and H. Hendy Associates were thrilled with the results. "The end result is a fluid space with a 'coastal cool' look and feel," said Heidi Hendy, managing principal for H. Hendy Associates. "We have received terrific feedback from the client and are thrilled they are happy with the space."

About Birtcher Development & Investments

Built on a legacy of integrity and the wisdom only gained from enduring economic cycles of the past, Birtcher Development & Investments has become one of the premier privately held real estate companies in the Western United States. Through the inspiration of its entrepreneurial management team and guided by a seasoned board of advisors, Birtcher today is a leading sponsor of creative industrial, office, research and specialized retail developments as well as a visionary in value-add industrial portfolio investments.

Founded in 1939 by Justus Birtcher, the company has become recognized for its hands-on capabilities in every diverse aspect of real estate: entitlement, design, development, construction management, and investment underwriting. Through the years, Birtcher has created collaborative partnerships with many of the leading financial institutions throughout North America. The Birtcher Development & Investment Company is solely owned by its fourth generation President & CEO Brandon R. Birtcher. Additional information is available at www.birtcherdevelopment.com.

About H. Hendy Associates (HHA)

For more than 25 years, H. Hendy Associates has provided interior architectural services to a prestigious client list including Nike, Verizon, Rockwell Collins, Ameriquest Mortgage Company, Pacific Sunwear, Buy.com and more. Consistently rated in the top design firms by Interior Design magazine, the company offers a full spectrum of services from strategic planning, creative design interior architecture services and ongoing facilities management. H. Hendy Associates is the only Newport Beach-headquartered company honored in the Interior Design Top 100 Giants list. The firm is located at 4770 Campus Drive, Suite 100, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660; [phone]. For more information, visit H. Hendy Associates on the Web at www.hhendy.com.