WHL Architects • Planners, Inc.
"firmitatis….utilitatis….venustatis" - Vitruvius
Eckhart Beatty 3/20/2005
Douglas White Architect, AIA, of WHL Architects designs intensely demanding workspaces and buildings
for visionaries at leading Bay Area firms such as those in the biotechnology sector. With its staff
of ten associates in its Sunnyvale, California office, WHL creates the building architecture and
interiors for companies at the forefront of their respective industries—from biotech, electronics,
and computer technology, to aerospace, and beyond. A number of them, such as Amgen, have become
household names. WHL designs strike a dynamic balance—enabling them to define their unique styles
comfortably within the confines established by stringent industry-specific codes governing each firm’s
operations.
WHL projects structures have become key to catalyzing the inspirations and creative genius prevalent
within its broad client base. Its philosophy is to help foster the genesis of often paradigm-shifting
technologies. In their new facilities, clients are ready to introduce revolutionary ideas—moving from
the confines of a an AIDS research laboratory into manufacturing facilities.
White relates how he drew inspiration early in his career from legendary architects Joseph Ehrlich Ehrilich
and Jack Rominger. They are credited with conceiving the first facilities for some of the original
architects entrepreneurs of the integrated circuit itself—giving rise to the semiconductor industry and the
fascinating follow-on story of Intel and the rise of the integrated circuit industry. In the infancy of
Silicon Valley, innovative and increasingly unique facilities were required to house the evolving
"state-of-the-art" for these original fathers of high technology.
Mr. White recalls the year 1980 when he was invited to participate in the design of a then-obscure research
start-up. "Genentech" would become the progenitor of the biotech industry itself. The vast majority of his
present client base can be traced back to his earliest contacts at that wunderkind of today’s pharmaceuticals.
WHL maintains a steady focus on construction projects for healthcare-oriented facilities at research
institutes, hospitals, universities, and other organizations.
Guiding the Next Flash of Genius
Every so often, WHL is presented with the unique opportunity of "collaborating with a few incredibly smart,
young kids with freckles and fresh out of MIT," relates White. He continues, "Kovio, a start-up intent on
"creating an active printable circuit line for next-generation electronic displays" relied on WHL to design
build their startup’s first organic chemistry lab. In the process, White experienced a first-hand glimpse of
the burgeoning young field known as "nanotechnology"—yet another incipient industry with enormous potential
to transform health care in the future. WHL is confident its relationships with such new firms will continue
to prosper as they grow and invent. In fact, this has been his experience with nanotech clients, such Agilent
Techologies, Protogene Laboratories, Nanostructures, Inc., and Zyomix, Inc. Rigel Pharmaceuticals.
With a degree from the UC Berkeley in College of Environmental Design, he likes to strategize with clients on
the subject of energy-efficiency. With increasingly "tight-fisted" clients, he enjoys guiding them as they
explore their full range of options—from novel power infrastructures to time-tested, simple designs exploiting
natural lighting wherever feasible.
Taking design scenarios to the next level, WHL is currently investigating the use of "4D" software—enabling them
to exploit the potential of state-of-the-art "predictive modeling" technology. So equipped, its accomplished
architects can better meet exacting clients’ evolving rigorous requirements unique to specialized workspaces—such
as clean rooms, vivarias, and associated labs. Thanks to WHL, one of these facilities may become the place where
the next big cure to a life-threatening disease is discovered.
Accredited by NCARB, WHL White is active licensed in 15 11 states across the country. Ciphergen, San Bio, Roche,
NuGen, ParAllele, Argonaut, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Plexxikon, XenoPort, ViroLogic, Impax Pharmaceuticals,
Tularik (acquired by Amgen), Genencor International, Chiron, Scios, Elan Athena Neurosciences, Millenium
Pharmaceuticals, Stanford University, Renovis, Agy AGY Therapeutics, Microgenics, and Vaxygen VaxGen are local
clients. (EB – added a few candidate names here for your review and discernment, pick the names you like for
general interest and " technology-like sound"- Thanks DW)
firmitatis…utilitatis…venustatis ("strength...utility...beauty")
