By SUE RYAN
News staff writer
September 28, 2007

An architectural study shows that the cavernous Expo Center could be remodeled to fit DaKine Hawaii’s needs.

Michelle Vo, of Henneberry Eddy Architects, explained her work at the Sept. 18 meeting of the Port of Hood River. Commissioner Kathy Watson complimented her on the design plans.

“I think you’ve done an excellent job of taking away the feeling of a big, ugly box,” Watson said.

Vo said she began her work by visiting DaKine and talking with employees about their needs and company culture. She said their space was very casual so she worked on carrying that over to the Expo Center.

“With the Expo Center there were some structural issues such as getting light into the interior,” Vo said. “We tried to add as much as possible without compromising the structural integrity of the building.”

She explained that while the interior would be divided into office cubicle spaces, she had retained a corridor through the building from the prow-type entrance to the West to a new entrance on the East as well as adding skylights and windows on the eastern side.

“With DaKine, the different departments as they come to understand more of an open office space, this has generated a lot of discussion as it’s very different from what they are used to,” Vo said.

For the exterior, plans call for planting a diagonal screen of poplar trees and possibly some 4-foot-tall wind turbines atop the building.

“It’s one proposal for the roof that we felt was representative of Hood River and the company in using nature to make yourself go,” Vo said.

The port and company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year to see whether or not the space could be converted for the sporting goods manufacturer.

“The presentation was the culmination of the architectural feasibility, it represents how the building could be architecturally remodeled,” said Executive Director Michael McElwee.