OAKLAND COMMERCIAL FACADE
【CLIENT】
Private Commercial Office
【PLACE + TIME】
Oakland, CA / 2024
【PROJECT TEAM】
Because We Can ✦ Exterior design: colors and awning design
MayCo Commercial construction ✦ Construction & Installation
【MADE IN OUR SHOP】
Custom Awnings DFMA
Our client sought to elevate their small commercial building's façade, aligning it with the vibrant, up-and-coming neighborhood and providing essential shade to the second-floor offices.
We were excited to add a level of “pop” to this facade. Giving the building a bit of unique personality, while also assuring it did not clash with the surrounding architecture.
As usual, we initiated the project with an in-person meeting to thoroughly understand the needs of the project. Wanting to see a few options, we developed a comprehensive design set with scope outlines, in the direction alignment with the client's vision. The drawings, sketches, and vivid renderings developed by our team aid in making quick decisions, as we bring the design intent to life.
We crafted three distinct design iterations for the building's front, each with a unique aesthetic:
Wild and Organic: Embracing nature's dynamism.
Simple and Clean: Understated elegance and functionality.
Modern and Soft: A harmonious blend of contemporary style and inviting warmth.
Before and after photos show the building now with its new green awnings in place. The building exterior was also painted a new warm color, and all the trim painted black to match the existing metal window trim. These updates add a warm inviting look to the building and give the façade some dimension, to better match with the existing neighborhood buildings.
Before having all the awnings made, we created a prototype as we usually do. We fabricated this prototype awning in the full size, to assure the gauge of the steel was appropriate for the use. The lower awnings have a risk of a passerby grabbing them with some force, so the gauge & resistance of the material was crucial the the project success.
It is always helpful to see a physical example before you pull the trigger on a design. Our in house fabrication shop allows this to be fast and simple. Through prototypes & our comprehensive design process, we transform commercial spaces to enhance their aesthetic appeal and functionality, creating a lasting impression on businesses and their communities. Just like this little commercial project:
