Lauterbach Opens Branch in Van Nuys

There have been numerous reports of companies moving to Ventura County from earthquake-damaged facilities in the San Fernando Valley. But Oxnard-based Lauterbach & Associates is reversing the trend, at least partially.

Lauterbach, an architectural and planning concern, is maintaining its headquarters in Oxnard, but has opened a branch office in Van Nuys. The firm’s president and chief executive, John A. Parezo, is splitting his time between the two locations.

The Valley unit is getting a good deal of business from clients who suffered earthquake damage, but Lauterbach didn’t make the move because of the quake, reports John Grounds, the firm’s computer systems manager.

“Actually, we’ve been planning to expand into Los Angeles County for three or four years,” he said. “We’re working on several major projects in the Valley. A great many earthquake rehabilitation projects have come in, too, but none of them are very large.”