Project Visioning, Management & Commercial Relocation

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Challenge

MooseToysisoneofthelargesttoymanufacturersintheworldandbasedoutofMelbourneAustraliawheremostoftheproductdevelopmentoccurs.ManufacturingislargelyoutofChina.Theyspecializeinmakingtinyplastictoyswithexceptionaldetail.Likeallofthebigtoymanufacturerstheyhavemultipleinternationalheadquartersandshowroomlocations.FortheirUSheadquarterstheyhadtakenafewyearsbeforeonlyafewthousandsquarefeetofcommercialstorefrontspace,withalmostnobrandrecognition.Tomakemattersworsetheyhadtobuildtheirshowroomsinadifferentbuildingacrossthestreetsotherewasnocontinuityintheirsalesapproach.TheyrealizedthathadmadeamistakeandtheydidnothaveasophisticatedsalesapproachthatcameanywhereclosetotheircompetitorsMattelandHasbro.TheyboughtaprimedevelopmentsiteinElSegundowherebuildingswerealreadyentitledandpermittedforconstruction.Thebuildingswhichwerejustbreakinggroundweremeantfor4ormoretenants.Thechallengequicklybecause,1)howcouldtheygetthebuildingsmodifiedtofittheirculture,2)hottogettheinteriorsplannedtonotonlybefunctionalfromaheadquarterspointofviewbutalsoasahighlysophisticatedmarketingstrategy,3)howtointegrateallofthetechnologythattheyneeded,and4)howtocompletetheprojectinstagesbetweentheirsalesmarketingcycles.

Results

Moose Toys hired Jack Kozakar as their overall project manager. The first step for Jack was to vision how to implement their priorities which were primary a rapid project delivery with amazing aesthetic impact. For rapid project delivery, and to take advantage of the specific capabilities of each firm, Jack started with a design competition among some of the best architects in Southern California and ultimately led Moose to choose three architects: the first for the exterior and structural aspects of the building (Ware Malcomb), the second for the corporate headquarters portion of the project (EYRC), and the other for the showroom portion of the project (RipBang). This strategy paid off with the different teams working simultaneously on all parts of the project. With Ware Malcomb, Jack planned and implement modifications to the buildings, adding a bridge, one of a hind exterior treatments, relocating stairs and exits, adding an elevator, creating a two story open lobby and integrating technology infrastructure to make the buildings as one. With EYRC, Jack let the programming and planning of the interiors to give Moose the flare, functionality and growth factors that they needed. And with RipBang, Jack led the planning of a state of the art showroom with hidden rooms, circulation though amazing spaces and all manner of surprises. In the end the project was a tremendous success, coming in under budget with significant project savings.