Famous Footware, Inc.

Distribution Center
Total Square Feet: 526,000. Two story.
Completed 2008

Architectural Design (Full Services), Interior Design, Landscape Design

Famous Footwear’s 526,000-square-foot distribution center is located just a few miles north of Los Angeles. The national footwear retailer’s new facility is part of a commercial and industrial complex in Lebec, Calif. The single-story building features a concrete tilt-up warehouse and offices for staff departments. The materials handling system is extensive and complex, requiring an additional 129,000 sq. ft. of mezzanine space. Detailed coordination was required with municipal building officials to design life safety systems and occupant exiting. The building is constructed with concrete tilt-up panels and structural steel, and has a timber roof deck (typical for west coast buildings) that adds a warm natural feel to the storage and operations space.

The architectural design features a banded concrete office block that has floor to ceiling punched glass openings at the base. Accent lighting is provided at the office façade. Entry for the public and employees is through two concrete portals that punch through the front wall. These open into a connecting hall along the front exterior wall that links all spaces of the Owner’s office and amenity functions and then terminates into the distribution center. The color-way for the office space is a warm umber and cream palette accented with bright bands and swatches of cool contrasting colors.


This project completed while at Forum Studio.