Theater Plays New Role as Office

When office space became scarce in Calabasas several years ago, industrial designer Hauser Inc. took a chance and converted an abandoned dinner theater in nearby Westlake Village.

Although the half-finished building on Hampshire Road lacked a roof and a ventilation system, it did offer several advantages over traditional office space, namely cheaper rent and room to expand.

“We wanted to grow, and now we’ve got room for that,” said President Stephen Hauser of his 52-person firm. “We’re going to be here as long as I’m alive.”

The unusual digs also give the company an opportunity to entertain its manufacturing clients without compromising the security of its top-secret designs, which range from dental drills to computers. All visitors are whisked up to the venue’s mezzanine, where they get a view of the designers at work below, but not a close look at anyone’s computer screen.

The large balcony contains meeting rooms, a display area showcasing some of Hauser’s recent designs and a bar that leads out onto a small outdoor patio overlooking a duck pond.

“We serve lunch here almost every day to accounts,” Hauser said. “It’s very efficient.”

West Hollywood architect Erik Lerner designed the look of Hauser’s building to tie in with its industrial image. Structural beams and trusses were left exposed, red primer was left on the rails, and the floor was covered with a board made from wood waste products.

The firm’s brain trust of 17 designers is housed on the main floor in a maze of irregularly shaped cubicles made from recycled cardboard. Managers occupy two-walled offices on the outer edge of the building next to floor-to-ceiling windows. The theater’s stage area has been converted to a lounge for collaborating on projects or just kicking back.

“We love it, and it’s been ideal for our type of work. Our clients expect us to be eccentric,” Hauser said.