Arktura SPARKS Newsletter - Volume 3 - May 2024

The Newspaper

From the Desk of Patricia Hoffman

For this latest newsletter, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible pride that fills our team. Each time we visit our projects in the wild, we feel the presence of our hard work. Arktura in the Wild photos give us an opportunity to share the impact we make through our craft.

Our team contributed recently in a special project to give back to our community - it’s important to note that giving back does not always have to be financially, but we can volunteer with our strongest tools, our skills and time. Our participation recently at Mychal’s Cafe was near and dear to my heart and is a cornerstone of our community engagement.

Looking to the future, we have been sponsoring events that bring together young professionals in our Architecture and Design industry. By supporting the incoming generation of designers, leaders, and innovators, we are supporting an environment ripe for creativity. We will join their journey and see the fresh perspectives that are brought into design.

Together, we are not just building a business; we are utilizing our values of A.R.T. to craft a legacy of excellence, service, and innovation.

Enjoy this Sparks edition that showcases our continued passion and dedication.

CASE STUDY – LA JOLLA COMMONS TOWER 3

In the heart of La Jolla, California, Arktura’s Solutions Studio® undertook a project that cemented a distinct focal point into the new commercial development of the La Jolla Commons corporate campus.

This project involved designing and implementing a custom exterior for the ground-floor expansion of Tower III of the La Jolla Commons. The goal was to create a distinct yet cohesive space separate from the central office tower for two of the complex’s buildings, the dining and fitness facilities.

Taking about two years from the start date to project completion, our team created a series of perforated exterior panels with a custom powder-coat finish to match the Core Ten Steel used. The fluted panels feature a distinct oval perforation throughout. The team then rolled these panels to give them a distinguishable curved aesthetic. EHMCKE Sheet Metal then installed these concave panels along the exterior facade of the ground floor of Tower III.

Architect: SOM

Installer: EHMCKE Sheet Metal

Rep: Architype

Engineers: Christian Montanari, Guido Paris

PM: Holden Whitmarsh

Job Capitan: Kai Qian

Our team set out to achieve a unique identity for the new facility while maintaining a clear connection to the existing Tower III. The fitness center features over 200 panels, and the restaurant space touts 250+ rolled panels.

The custom facade successfully transformed the ground floor of Tower III into a vibrant and distinct space for dining and fitness. It gracefully extends outward from the tower’s base, creating a visually striking offshoot. Cladding wraps around the entire structure, slanting dramatically upwards before revealing a crown of floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the interior in natural light.

However, this project wasn’t without its hurdles in designing and developing this complex arrangement. To successfully wrap all four sides, the team needed extremely precise measurements of the building. Tight corners on the facade demanded innovative tooling and the development of entirely new processes. Additionally, the irregular building shape and the extreme angles of the panel profile presented a unique installation challenge. Precise measurements were paramount; once the custom powder coat was selected, the installers could no longer rely on trimming in the field because that would void the warranty.

CASE STUDY – LA JOLLA COMMONS TOWER 3

Arktura Project Manager Holden Whitmarsh states, “The architects, SOM, really propelled the project forward, determined to see every detail perfected. They pushed the envelope as much as possible.” He adds: “The panels look great from both the front and back of the restaurant building, which has a huge presence on the campus. The facade has a striking profile with fluted panels and perforations that immediately draw your attention from afar. The multitone Core Ten powder coat gives the facade depth and texture, even at a close scale. The way the light filters through the perforations creates an unexpectedly intimate area that can normally only be found in nature, transforming the space behind the panels.”

La Jolla Commons Tower 3 features an 11-story office tower - totaling 212,851 RSF. The project has been LEED Gold Certified and has received a Fitwel v2.1 Building Certification. The campus’s Fitness Center and Restaurant can be seen from street level.

Arktura’s innovative approach not only delivered a functional space but also imbued it with a captivating aesthetic. La Jolla Commons Tower 3 demonstrates the power of custom facade solutions in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing commercial spaces.

NEW LAUNCHES LUMANGLE™

April saw the release of LumAngle™, a series of linear and angled light pendants. At launch , there are three models to specify: LumAngle™ 90, 120, and 180. Building upon years of expertise in lighting accessories for our acoustic and panel systems as well as custom projects, we crafted a linear lighting collection that effortlessly brings a sleek, modern presence to commercial spaces

• LumAngle™ 90 creates a striking right angle of lighting, offering a sharp new way to elevate your commercial project.

• LumAngle™ 120 is a blank canvas for architects and designers to create unique lighting experiences with its 120° angled form factor.

• LumAngle™ 180 provides a straightforward, linear way to light up your next project.

LumAngle™ can be installed as a singular statement piece or in combination with other units, offered in various standard lengths and angles, to create stunning, multi-dimensional lighting arrays. It can also be installed alongside our acoustic or metal panel systems to enhance the client’s commercial design. Arktura brings its architectural craftsmanship to dynamic illumination.

ARKTURA GIVES BACK MYCHAL’S CAFE

Giving back to our local community has always been a part of Arktura’s ethos. From our annual Share the Love charity drives and Winter Blanket drives to one-off projects partnering with charitable organizations, we are always looking to give back. We are excited to announce that we recently partnered with a local charity, Mychal’s Cafe, in Redondo Beach.

Mychal’s Cafe is a social enterprise by Mychal’s Learning Place that serves breakfast, lunch, and coffee in a casual environment while offering employment to youth with developmental disabilities. From Mychal’s website, “All of our bakers and baristas are young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities using this opportunity to demonstrate that they are talented and able contributors to our community.”

Arktura donated two acoustic ceiling cloud systems to their newest location nearby in Redondo Beach to bring a colorful acoustic accent to their latest eatery. We contributed and installed a SoftGrid® Rosette, one of our newest collections, in a vibrant Elementals Soft Sound® finish. Wayne Davis was on site to install the module at the upcoming cafe.

Renders for this pro-bono project were done in-house, presented, and finally accepted by the team at Mychal’s.

Learn more about how you can continue to support this vital organization at www.mychals.org/bakery/

“We first reached out to Patricia and the Arktura team when we realized that our new social enterprise space (Mychal’s Café) desperately needed some sound deadening. We were hoping that Patricia and team would be able to offer some suggestions or advice but were blown away when she offered up the opportunity to add some features into our space that could not only fix the issue, but add to the overall beauty of the space, and all pro bono.

The team from Arktura was able to quickly evaluate the space and determine how many of the gorgeous new “SoftGrid Rosettes” we would need. Before we knew it their team volunteered their time to assemble and install. The installation was quick and made a world of difference regarding the sound and echo in this new space. Before Arktura installed the modules, our baristas couldn’t hear customers across the counter from them, but now it’s the perfect place to connect with friends and see how capable and able our staff truly is.

Thank you, Arktura, for helping us to create this wonderful community café where our staff, who want to have gainful employment despite having a developmental disability, can learn and thrive while providing a delightful dining experience.”

- Page Sacks, Development Director - Mychal’s Learning Place

WATCH VIDEO

EVENTS

AAAE Transportation Expo

Arktura takes flight as we attended a recent AAAE event, the Airport Planning, Design, and Construction Symposium, held in Nashville, TN, from April 28- May 1.

CISCA

SUMMIT

This past March, the annual Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Agency (CISCA) Summit and Awards show was held in Orlando, FL. Team Arktura attended the event and even received a Manufacturer’s Award at the ceremony.

ID 30/30 - Houston

Now in its third year, Interior Design‘s 30/30 program facilitates connections among design creatives under 30. Arktura was on hand for their event in Houston, TX, on March 20.

ID 30/30 - Phoenix

Our team was so pleased to meet the next generation of design talent at Interior Design’s 30/30 event in Phoenix, AZ, this past April 10th.

SOFT SOUND® COLORS

Sneak Peek: Vivids Collection

Coming Soon... Following our first Soft Sound® color refresh in years, we have a new batch of colorful options for our collection of acoustic systems. Check back in the next issue for more information.

New Available Colors:

Buttercream

Bamboo

Azalea

Nori

Tidal Cosmos

Seafoam

Blush Plum

Sorbet

LIBRARY BOX

In February, we began distributing our new Sample Library Box to reps and their clients. This exciting new collection of samples and swatches is housed in a custom “Library Box” made of our Soft Sound® material.

Our Library Box creates an interactive showcase of Arktura’s innovative capabilities, highlighting a curated selection of our top materials and finishes guiding clients on their next project. This materials showcase offers a wide range of stunning architectural products made with two specialty materials - PET felt and metal. Materials are offered in various finishes, configurations, folds, and cuts, providing a variety of options to choose from.

From acoustics to panel designs, these library sample boxes contain a rotating taste of Arktura’s full capabilities, including:

• Soft Sound® Essentials Collection

• Soft Sound® Wood Textures

• Soft Sound® Elementals Collection

• Pure+FreeForm Finish Samples

• Perforated Metal Panels include Vapor® Bloom, Trace® Straight, Particle® Code, and more.

AWARDS ARKTURA’S CUSTOM CREATIONS BRING HOME 2024 CISCA AWARD WIN

Arktura has done it again! We were recently awarded a prestigious “Manufacturer’s Award” at the CISCA (Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association) Construction Excellence Awards. This award is given to the project that scored the highest marks by the judges for the projects submitted by manufacturers and marks our third year in a row winning at CISCA. Our Solutions Studio® created a custom project for Textron Systems.

In collaboration with HKS Architects, our team designed, manufactured, and installed two unique focal features: an acoustic ceiling baffle system functioning alongside a faceted wall panel system nicknamed the “Geo Wall.” These expansive systems were arrayed throughout the entire office floor, wrapping around corners to provide a fully immersive Artkura experience.

The “Geo Wall” consists of triangular panels arranged in various formations to create a sharp, geometric design. Based on our Atmoshera® Analog 3D system, custom baffles were finished with a natural-looking Soft Sound® acoustic wood texture. These linear baffles complemented the heavy metal design of the Geo Wall for a striking contrast.

Representatives from Arktura, including Patricia Hoffman, Steven Ranta, Wayne Davis, and others, were on hand to receive the award in person. These accolades were handed out at this year’s CISCA Summit, which took place in Orlando from March 25 to 27.

SUSTAINABILITY

Building a Greener Future with Arktura

Arktura is expanding on its goals to continually become a more environmentally conscious company. While part of this lies in our materials and actionable steps, transparency is a significant aspect of our green journey.

We recently unveiled a comprehensive set of sustainability goals. These goals focus on innovative and responsible practices that minimize our environmental impact. We’re dedicated to creating a healthier built environment for a healthier planet, from the materials we use to our production processes.

We’ve outlined our current sustainability efforts and are committed to expanding on these initial steps to positively impact the world around us.

You’ll find details on our initiatives to reduce our environmental footprint, including:

• Sustainable Materials: We prioritize using recycled content and responsibly sourced materials.

• Product Longevity: Designing products for extended use reduces waste and resource consumption.

• Minimized Waste: We’re continuously implementing strategies to reduce waste in our offices and factories.

This new document expands on our first steps toward becoming more transparent about our environmental impact. Last year, we published a blog containing direct links to various online sustainability databases. These databases provide critical information that eco-conscious builders need, such as material content and performance data.

EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) are also available for 83% of our products. These reports detail a product or material’s environmental impact from beginning to end, helping people understand its ecological effects, including its carbon footprint.

Everyone at Arktura has a role to play in creating a more sustainable office and world. We invite you to learn more about our journey by reading about our goals linked here:

ARKTURA IN THE WILD

Arktura Employees Spot Our Products in the Wild!

Last year, the marketing team created a guide highlighting Arktura projects local to the Southern California region, encouraging you all to visit these sites, capture yourself there, and send them to us to be featured in what we call “Arktura in the Wild!”

Our incredible team members have been busy exploring the built environment and spotting Arktura products making a real-world impact. From Tesla to even an out-of-state project, their eagle eyes have captured Arktura in action through our exciting Arktura in the Wild initiative!

Project Manager

Calling All Adventurous Arkturians:

Do you have a knack for spotting Arktura products in your daily travels? We want YOU to be part of the next Arktura in the Wild adventure! Snap a picture of an Arktura installation you encounter and submit it to the Marketing Team. Your contribution could be featured in the next edition of Sparks, and you’ll help us celebrate the fantastic places where Arktura makes a difference. To help guide your adventures, you can download the So Cal Project Guide here Let’s keep exploring and showcasing Arktura’s reach together!

Aaron Robin - Senior

Graphic Perf® Solutions Exterior @ Santa Monica Beach Signage

Ricardo Ortiz - Copywriter and Communications Lead Atmosphera® Adaptive Analog 3D @ National Museum of African American Music – Nashville, TN

My Nguyen - Marketing Analyst Graphic Perf® Solutions Exterior @ Tesla Santa Monica

INDUSTRY NEWS & REPORTS

Architecture Around the World

Inspired by Nature

Biophilia shows no signs of slowing down, staying at the top of this year’s design trend list. To showcase this nature-inspired design language, here are some features of architectural projects from around the globe. These ambitious projects feature natural materials or organic shapes, tying the overall structure to mother nature.

Henning Larsen tops World of Volvo with “forest-like canopy”

HKS Architects Unveils Geology-Inspired Design for Sports Arena in Saudi Arabia

LAVA Unveils Winged Design for Kuwait’s Pavilion at World Expo Osaka 2025

Foster + Partners Begins Construction on “The Grid” Office Development in Athens, Greece