Multi-Service Center: Ready for the Community

The Multi-Service Center in Long Beach opens its new doors to the public. Located mid-city, the 16,000 square foot facility is a social service access center that provides a wide variety of integrated, on-site services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The LBMSC provides accommodations for amenities such as shower and laundry facilities, a mailing center, abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS services, case management and housing coordination.  Twelve non-profit agencies operate from the LBMSC to provide a one-stop-shop for its users. Construction on the redesigned center commenced in early 2014. 

"Address Change" - a New Year Message from Alan Burks

The recession is finally over. Or, at least it’s beginning to feel that way. All of us in the architectural and building professions have been struggling for the last 8 years but 2014 seems to have been the turning point. 

Environ completed more buildings in 2014 than in the previous 5 years. And they are of varying project types: student housing, government laboratories, restaurants, higher education facilities, institutional facilities, several commercial building renovations, a multitude of tenant improvements and several master plans. We were able to increase our design staff by 30% and expect to add more talent in 2015. A lot of our long time clients have also experienced a growth spurt and have expanded or moved into larger facilities to accommodate  their needs. 

We have a new mayor, and there’s definitely a new energy in the air.  Change can be scary, however, and many of us proceed with caution. That said, I do see the potential for future integration of design disciplines, with more partnerships between construction and architecture forming, uniting to create a seamless experience for end users. This prospect is exciting and opens up opportunity to expand services into other areas like product design. 

The movie “Back to The Future II” portrayed 2015 as having flying cars. We’re not quite there, but things are looking up. 2014 was good. Here’s to making 2015 great.

~ Alan Burks

Sounds Like a Plan: The Need for Acoustic Consultants

So your finished project looks great, but how does it sound? Your response may be, “Come again?” or, “Say what?”

It is usually no surprise that when it comes to building an auditorium or concert venue, the project would require a noise specialist or acoustician. With the influx of demand for open creative space, there is an increased need for such services to ensure security and privacy in some professions that were previously occupying the more typical, compartmentalized office layout.

Belmont Point - Ready for Occupancy

After the success of Environ’s renovation of Mitchell Land & Improvement Company’s Naples Plaza, the Long Beach-based developer engaged Environ to reposition and expand the existing building at the intersection of 2nd Street, The Toledo and Bay Shore Avenue in Long Beach.  

The building will serve as Mitchell Land & Improvement’s corporate headquarters, with retail space available on the ground floor.

Tim Wilson, President of Mitchell Land and Improvement, said the property had been on his radar for the last ten years, not only for the many amenities 2nd Street has to offer, but for its proximity to his home.