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")