Life is filled with fleeting moments. If you don't pay close attention to opportunity tucked into the seams, you may miss the minute when the window is open.

Luckily for the team at Border, we discovered a unique and architecturally outspoken building in San Diego at just the right time. Torr Kaelan is the home and studio of renowned architect Rob Quigley; suite two-hundred of this mixed use building is Border's new headquarters. Over the first few months of occupancy, we've transformed the spartan space with the help of craftspeople, designers and architects to respect the building and establish a creative and inspiring environment.

The Canvas ​

It's possible you've sauntered by the unassuming building on a run-of-the-mill urban street in the burgeoning neighborhood of East Village. The Central Library looms large over the area–itself one of Quigley's signature buildings. But this cinder block structure, with mortar smooching out between the joints, might be taken as an industrial has-been sitting steady as it is engulfed by new apartment buildings and eateries.

Take a step back. From across the street glancing up toward the spiky horns of the roofline, one can start to realize this building is far from ordinary. Swept behind the sidewalk is a soaring courtyard of rich wood, sleek aluminum and glimmering glass stacked on slabs of poured concrete. Arrive in the evening with a crystal clear sky and the building comes alive with twinkles of its own.

Step through a hidden door and emerge from the pyramidal antechamber. March up the delicate, white porous bent metal and arrive at the second floor's two office suites. During the day, indirect sunlight echos from the glowing windows while prismatic refractions dance across the concrete belying the solid exterior of the building as one without windows. Leafy stalactites stretch from rooftop planters and the gray-water collection tank ticks away on rainy days as drips and drabs escape the building's crown. For such an uncompromisingly contemporary space, the ambiance glows softly.

Raw Beginnings ​

The previous tenant utilized the space as simply a place to work. Standard office chairs flanking simple A-frame desks, a frosted glass conference table and minimal comfort furnishings filled the space. A lack of textiles and partitions permitted sound to bounce and the fluorescent warehouse lighting failed to illuminate inspiration. This makes sense, however, as the space wasn't originally intended for use as an office, but rather building storage.

The office had two features that would stay in place through the renovations. The lighting over the old conference table, while fluorescent, has fixtures that are quite elegant and matched the space well. Also staying were the floor-to-ceiling wood columns. They acted as lazy turnstiles along the entrance and as supports for a retaining wall by the HVAC system. These columns, with their pressed wood composition and warm color, would form the foundation for the dividing walls and offices. Bolted to the concrete with industrial "L" brackets, the splintery supports offered the only respite from gray and glass.

From Start to Finish ​

The "wall" studs were simply obstacles

The "fin" lights in the offices

The "halo" light over the conference table

Build Out ​

It's impossible to fully convey the collaborative nature of the build out. From architectural drawings to blue painters tape marking measurements on the floor, the evolution came in fits of creativity—and availability. The team constructing the space was assembled from skills often utilized on other projects. We would steal contractors away from other endeavors to keep the effort progressing on evenings and weekends while the Border team worked during the days.

There is something that comes from this slower pace: opportunity. We often changed the design of an element half a dozen times prior to fabrication. Had we laid out a firm plan with exact measurements, it's unlikely we would have ended up in the same place. Still amazing, possibly, but without the flare a leisurely approach affords.

Lighting ​

Light is everything. Yes, it's important to have the right materials, spaces and design, but if fluorescent lights tint the world blue and flickery, it's all for naught. Each fixture in the office was chosen to create warmth and subtle elegance. They are familial, but uniquely sculptural. Our friend Fadia Pastrano at Urban Lighting in downtown San Diego helped choose just the right elements for our office.

The private office ceiling dropped industrial fluorescents for LED fins. Each light glows gently as a matrix of dots diffuse the illumination disguising the point of emanation. From Tech Lighting, the Span Linear Suspension system allows for continuous light runs as each fixture is positioned in sequence.

The bar top receives a very different aesthetic. Also from Tech Lighting, the Mina Pendants project LED light through pure optic crystal from a light source cleverly hidden from sight. The effect feels like a pure white Jupiter floating in a protective atmosphere, the laser etched crystal giving texture to the inner planet. Yes, they are very heavy.

Finally, the Corona light ring from Sonneman levitates above the conference table like a UFO. Contrasting with the rectilinear shapes of the table, white boards and carpets, the loop of light trades brightness for subtlety.

None of the lights demand attention. Rather, they are lavished with praise only when noticed. Each visitor has a favorite and the lights' organic illumination balances the straight lines of the space and warms the cool materials.

Glass, Steel + Wood ​

Glass was always a part of the plan. Steel and wood were later additions. The existing space had two pre-existing "walls" that would become the foundation of future structures. The studs of composite wood, bolted to the floor and ceiling with metal brackets and hefty bolts, lend a lot of warmth to the concrete to which they are anchored. Rather than design a new set of walls, these columns would become the stanchions for glass dividers.

Small eighteen inch walls of white painted strand board mirror the texture of the studs. Atop these "pony" walls, strides of metal provide a finishing touch as well as a stable footing for glass panels. The team at Advance Glass & Mirror, specifically Bill and Jaco, ordered and installed our custom panels. The glass is held in place by bolts and washers sandwiching the sheets against the studs. The effect is industrial, yet delicate. It doesn't seem possible for the glass to stay in place, yet it holds strongly.

The doors to the private offices quickly emerged as a focal point with incredible craftsmanship. Throughout the project Fernando Ramirez constructed diverse finishes. From wood wall fabrication to welding custom door frames, he stepped up to each challenge the team concocted. The blackened metal doors each frame a pane of glass and welded cross pieces provide lateral strength. The position, angle and direction of the cross bars were greatly debated. The final result, once again, balances strength with simplicity. When closed, the two chevrons, one for each door, point to a false hinge. In reality, the entire height of the door is woven to the support with a piano hinge.

Furniture + Door ​

Each custom piece of furniture–the bar top and the conference table–came to light under the skilled hand of Bill Murphy. Starting with raw materials and building each piece to size and spec, the natural surfaces fit well with the overall aesthetic. The conference table sets on a pair of craning legs. The entire table can escalate to forty-eight inches giving the team a great collaboration space when standing. Powered grommets and custom carve outs hide the electric outlets and phone cords to keep the conference space nice and tidy. The finished Wenge wood is deep and dark.

The bar top is very special. The reddish amber of the African Mahogany stands in sharp contrast to the lighter colors of the bamboo desks and composite studs. The wood slab juts out from the wall, anchored with a hidden bracket and rising over thin metal legs. The aft legs sit parallel to the wall. The fore leg is rotated ninety degrees. When viewed straight on, the front support is nearly invisible. The bar top legs and pony wall ledges share the same metal further unifying the space. The leather-wrapped stools purchased from AT-HOM in Little Italy perfectly match with juxtaposed leg orientation in the same gray as the bar top legs.

The front door to the office is another custom creation. Nearly ten feet tall, the door slides along a sixteen foot long aluminum track mounted to the concrete ceiling. The door has a groove cut in the bottom through which several aluminum pegs slide. Avoiding a track on the floor was imperative. Considering the door is wider than the distance between the columns, any sway is completely inhibited as the door is always restrained by a floor peg. Quite ingenious (nod to Babbo). The pegs are nearly invisible along the floor in front of each stud soaring upward as the barn door glides by. The door itself is made up of strand board with metal and aluminum caps and containers. The interior is painted the same orange as aspects of the building exterior to pull sunny days into the office. When fully opened, the door slides all the way out of sight enabling free flow in and out of the office.

The Final Office ​

The clever bisection of the door with a thin aluminum detail"

TA wide shot of the private offices, bar and cozy corner

The private office doors butterfly back against the dividing panel

If you're ever in the neighborhood, drop us a note and stop by. We'd love to share our space with you and let you experience the studio in-person. Thanks again to all of the amazing people who helped make our studio a reality.

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