Cultural Heritage in Long Beach

A city is only as rich as its culture. How do we maintain that richness? Well, there's a Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) in Long Beach that strives to do just that. Today, we sit down for a Q&A with CHC Chair and Environ Architecture President Alan Burks.

How and when did you first get involved with the CHC?

In the mid 1970s I participated in the first survey of significant structures in Chicago for the Illinois Landmarks Preservation Council. Since then I was always interested in preserving and reusing the historic buildings that create places. In 1980 I co-founded Environ, Inc. Some of our early projects in Chicago repurposed warehouse and factory buildings into grocery stores, spas, housing, and offices. We also designed renovations at several National Register sites, such as the Chicago Academy of Sciences and the Field Museum of Natural History.

My interest in historical buildings continued after I established Environ Architecture, Inc. in Long Beach. While serving as President of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, we provided the design for many building improvements in the historic Pico-Union district, as well as the Westlake and Mid-Wilshire districts. We also renovated the Watts-Wilmington Train Depot and created the restoration plan for the Chinatown Gates. Knowing about our work, Amy Bodek asked me if I would be interested in serving on the Cultural Heritage Commission. I agreed, and then-Mayor Bob Foster appointed me in 2012.

"Architecture belongs to culture, not civilization."
Alvaar Alto 1898-1976

The Significance of Branding in Your Workplace

Most small and medium sized businesses overlook an important first step when they start their company: their workplace branding. Existing businesses need to revisit their workplace branding from time to time as well because their products, employees or services change and the marketplace does too. 

·    How does workplace branding differ from branding in general? 
·    Why is it important?     

Workplace branding is an extension of your personal or your company’s brand. Your workplace (skyscraper, office, warehouse, desk, etc.) is where you do your work. The simple branding model is YOU + your passion and knowledge or a company’s collective passion and knowledge. For companies of any size successful branding begins with the honest appraisal of your company’s main business, your strengths and your customers’ needs…and how you address them. Workplace branding is like putting the clothes on the model.
If you have not chosen the location for your business, or if you’re thinking of moving or upgrading, make sure your workplace and the company’s culturally distinct workspace inside it are a direct extension of the simpler branding ideal. Be it a warehouse, an office or a trendy loft, your workplace brand should reflect who you are and how you want both your employees and your customers to perceive you. 

What the FORK are you throwing away? How you CAN end hunger by EATING UGLY.

CANstruction is an annual competition in which participants create large structures out of canned food. The purpose of the contest is help end world hunger. Winners are announced and after a brief exhibit of the structures, all the cans are donated to local food banks.

For this year’s CANstruction competition, Environ’s Vice President Willetta McCulloh came up with a concept that promotes a simple message: “EAT UGLY.”

Her inspiration was an article by National Geographic in which the statistics of food waste were astounding:

Nearly 800 million people suffer from hunger.

46% of fruits and vegetables never make it from farm to fork.

According to the largest grower of mandarins in Peru, 30% of his crop won’t be exported because it won’t be the right size, color, or sweetness, or it might have blemishes or scars.

Time Well Spent with Environ's Barbara Hordyk

This month we celebrate Environ's Project Designer Barbara Hordyk, who has been with the company for ten years.

Barbara's talent for design first showed itself in high school, when her mom gave her a budget to redecorate her room. Though she loved the experience so much that she came away feeling this could be her career, she opted to study International Business in college. But after a couple years, she yearned for a more creative experience. Recalling the feeling she got from redecorating her room, she changed her major to Interior Design.

Environ originally learned of Barbara through Alan's wife, who worked with her at the Getty Center. After the project at the Getty Center was complete, Barbara took time off to raise two boys. When she was ready to return to the industry, Environ happened to be looking to hire another associate for its Interiors Department. Perfect timing.

Barbara maintains her credential with the National Council for Interior Design Certification. The certification requires three exams that test one's knowledge of theory, principles of design, building codes, project management and running a business.

As Barbara says, "There's more to it than just picking pretty colors."

Spring 2016 Newsletter

COMPLETE: TENANT IMPROVEMENT  FOR CRC-VENTURA Our client California Resources Corporation recently moved into their fresh offices in Ventura, CA. The new space now serves as a consolidated facility bringing multiple departments and disciplines together.  Improvements included glass entry doors, new finishes, playful pendant lights and blue accent walls.  Previously a maze of high panels, Environ's Willetta McCulloh and Barbara Hordyk worked with the client to achieve a more modern and open look.

Hats Off to Environ's Aimee Mandala!

Aimee Mandala sits below Environ's mission statement in the reception area of its downtown Long Beach office. It's an apt place for this eight-year employee, as she embraces the company's philosophy in everything she does as Environ's Director of Operations.


In college Aimee studied English and creative writing, never imagining she would end up in a position like the one she holds today. But coming from four generations of architects whose work stretches back to the 1800s, it seems unsurprising that Aimee wound up in the same field. 

As a child, she and her siblings tagged along to work with their father to his architectural office above the famed Bake 'n Broil in Bixby Knolls. It's a formative experience that took hold: her sister is an architect, while her brother is a BIM manager for a construction company. During college Aimee waited tables at Bake-N-Broil, and post-grad she worked for a prominent property management firm in Orange County, but found herself yearning for something more. In 2007, it clicked. Aimee's enthusiasm and excitement for the architectural profession was clear, and she decided she needed to be a part of it.  

MHALA partners with Environ, Inc. to relocate programs, their corporate offices and revitalize Long Beach Boulevard

Mental Health America of Los Angeles (MHA) is working with Environ Architecture to expand and relocate their Downtown Long Beach facilities to 1955-1965 Long Beach Boulevard. The urban revitalization project was prompted by the agreement between the City of Long Beach and MHA which provided MHA with the two multi-level buildings where they will locate their administrative offices, a primary health care clinic, a drop-in service center and a community room. Also planned is a coffee shop and restaurant featuring street side dining, bringing new life and activity to the Long Beach Boulevard corridor.

Architect and President of Environ Architecture, Alan Burks states, “This is an investment in a part of Long Beach that has been ignored for too long.” Burks goes on to say, “We enjoy working with organizations which focus on improving the community and serving the people who live there.” Coincidentally, Environ worked on the interiors of the Social Security Administration building at 2001 Long Beach Boulevard back in 2003 and is currently working with the owner of 1975 Long Beach Boulevard to renovate that building as well. “It will be a true pleasure to see these buildings come alive again and thrive in their communities.”