Type
Commercial
Location
Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Year
2024
Area
6,500 sq ft
Materials
4,200 board feet of mixed reclaimed hardwoods
Timeline
14 weeks
Budget Range
$180,000 - $220,000
Wood Species Used
- Reclaimed White Oak (conference tables & reception)
- Reclaimed Walnut (shelving & accent panels)
- Reclaimed Maple (flooring)
- Salvaged Industrial Beams (decorative)
Finishes Applied
- Matte water-based polyurethane on tables
- Natural oil on walnut
- Commercial satin polyurethane on flooring
- Clear natural finish on beams
Project Story
This project transformed a raw warehouse shell in downtown Los Angeles into a premium coworking space that serves freelancers, startups, and remote teams. The client wanted a space that felt warm, creative, and distinctly different from the sterile corporate office environments that coworking spaces often replicate.
The design concept centered on reclaimed wood as the primary material language throughout the space, creating visual continuity from the reception area through the open work floor, meeting rooms, and lounge areas. Every piece of wood furniture and most surface treatments were fabricated from our reclaimed inventory.
The reception desk is the first thing visitors see — a dramatic 10-foot curved structure built from reclaimed white oak slabs, with a live edge that wraps around the front face. The oak was sourced from a deconstructed library building in Burbank, and the warm honey color of the 80-year-old oak sets the welcoming tone for the entire space.
Three conference rooms each feature a large reclaimed white oak table with steel hairpin legs. The tables seat 8, 12, and 16 people respectively, and each table was made from slabs cut from different oak logs, giving each room a unique character. We preserved the natural edge on one side of each table for visual interest.
The open work floor features reclaimed maple flooring, chosen for its exceptional hardness and ability to withstand the heavy foot traffic and rolling office chairs of a commercial coworking environment. The maple flooring was salvaged from a school gymnasium in Glendale and retains a warm, lightly honeyed tone.
Throughout the common areas and lounge, reclaimed walnut was used for open shelving, accent wall panels, and built-in bench seating. The walnut's rich, dark chocolate tones provide warm contrast to the lighter oak and maple elements.
Decorative salvaged industrial beams were installed at ceiling height in the main work area, breaking up the flat ceiling plane and adding the rugged, lofty aesthetic that the warehouse conversion called for. These beams are purely decorative — hung from the structural ceiling with steel cables — but they define the character of the space.
Before & After
BBefore
The space was a raw warehouse shell with exposed concrete floors, unfinished concrete block walls, open ceiling with exposed ductwork, and no interior partitions. The previous tenant had used it for garment storage and distribution. The concrete floor had significant wear and staining from decades of industrial use.
AAfter
The coworking space now features gleaming reclaimed maple floors, a stunning curved oak reception desk, three conference rooms with unique reclaimed oak tables, walnut-accented lounge and common areas, and dramatic industrial beams overhead. The space feels like a modern creative studio that has the warmth and authenticity of a reclaimed wood workshop. It operates at 95% occupancy.
Material Specifications
Reception Desk
Reclaimed white oak slabs, live edge, ~80 years old from Burbank library. 10'L curved form. Matte water-based polyurethane.
Conference Tables
Reclaimed white oak slabs, three tables: 8'x4', 10'x4', 12'x4.5'. Natural live edge detail. Matte polyurethane finish.
Flooring
Reclaimed hard maple, 3/4"x2.25" strips from Glendale school gymnasium. Commercial satin water-based polyurethane, 4 coats.
Shelving & Accent Panels
Reclaimed black walnut, various dimensions, natural oil finish.
Decorative Beams
Salvaged industrial timbers, mixed species, 8x10" nominal, cable-hung from structural ceiling.
Project Timeline
Design & Specification
3 weeksWorked with the interior design firm to specify all wood elements, select species, and create detailed shop drawings for all custom furniture pieces.
Material Sourcing
2 weeksSourced oak from Burbank library demolition, walnut from our existing inventory, maple from Glendale gymnasium demolition, and industrial beams from a Long Beach warehouse.
Custom Fabrication
3 weeksFabricated reception desk, three conference tables, shelving units, and accent panels in our mill shop. All pieces finished before delivery.
Flooring Installation
3 weeksInstalled 6,500 sq ft of reclaimed maple flooring. Four coats of commercial-grade polyurethane applied with 24-hour cure times between coats.
Furniture Install & Beam Hanging
3 weeksDelivered and installed all custom furniture pieces. Hung decorative beams with engineered steel cable system. Final touch-ups and protective coatings.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge
The 10-foot curved reception desk required bending thick oak slabs into a smooth arc, which solid wood strongly resists.
Solution
We used a kerf-cutting technique on the back face of the oak slabs, making thin parallel cuts that allowed the wood to bend without breaking. The kerfs were then filled with epoxy to lock the curve permanently. The front live-edge face remains solid and uncut.
Challenge
The 6,500 sq ft maple flooring needed to withstand rolling office chairs, which can quickly destroy conventional floor finishes.
Solution
We applied four coats of a commercial-grade water-based polyurethane specifically rated for rolling chair traffic. We also recommended that the client provide hard-surface chair mats at each workstation as an additional protective measure.
Challenge
The decorative ceiling beams, while non-structural, each weighed 300-500 lbs and had to be suspended safely from the existing warehouse roof structure.
Solution
A structural engineer designed a cable suspension system with redundant safety cables. Each beam hangs from four attachment points rated for 10x the beam weight. Installation required a scissor lift and took two full days.
“We toured dozens of coworking spaces before designing ours, and they all felt the same — cold, corporate, generic. The reclaimed wood completely changed the energy of our space. People tell us it feels like working in a friend's really beautiful loft. That is exactly the vibe we wanted.”
Rachel M.
Founder, The Workshop DTLA