EP.06 / Haley Nelson, HGA on the Vallarta Supermarkets HQ
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Vallarta Supermarkets is a Los Angeles success story, owned by the same family since it was founded in 1985. In their new corporate office, Haley Nelson was tasked with telling the story of the company, and reflecting their values through the workplace design.
In this episode, I’m joined by Haley Nelson, Design Principal at HGA, to discuss her recent collaboration with Vallarta Supermarkets on their new headquarters space. Vallarta is a family-owned Latin American grocery store chain with a significant presence in Southern California. After immigrating from Mexico to the US in the 1960s, the Gonzalez brothers founded Vallarta as a full-service grocery store catering to the needs of the Hispanic community. Today, they’re known for their customer service, quality, and fresh and authentic food. The design of their new HQ aims to reflect their values, enhance flexibility, and motivate employees while creating a sense of pride in the brand.
In our discussion, we explore the unique aspects of this project, including the collaboration with the Gonzalez family during the design process and the way Haley and HGA view design and architecture. Haley prioritizes trust with her clients, which was especially crucial with the Gonzalez family due to their fast-paced one-year timeline for the project. We touch on various workplace design elements, such as the lobby, central café, test kitchen, meeting rooms, private offices, and workstations, highlighting the attention to detail and quality. Plus, we address the impact of the pandemic on workplace design, emphasizing the need to redefine the purpose of the office and provide employees with a sense of autonomy in their work.
We discuss the collaborative nature of HGA and their commitment to understanding the people each space serves. Haley also expands on her role as the National Interior Design Practice Leader at HGA with her inspiring client-centric approach to design.
About Haley Nelson
Haley Nelson is a Design Principal and Associate Vice President in the Los Angeles office of HGA. With expertise as a workplace designer and strategist, Haley builds trust with her clients and her team while focusing on the cultivation of original insights that support the creation of places for people and organizations to thrive.
Haley is currently serving as a National Interior Design Practice Leader at HGA, where she is responsible for connecting and empowering designers while elevating interior design excellence and expertise for all project types across the firm.
Many of Haley’s projects have achieved the highest levels of certification for sustainability and well-being, have been published, and have won design and sustainability awards. Haley is a thought-leader and has presented at numerous venues on how design can positively impact people.
Learn more about HGA
Topics Covered
How the original goals for the HQ were reflected into the final design
The personalized involvement of the Gonzalez family in the design process
The fast-paced timeline and challenges of completing the project within a year
Balancing Vallarta's vibrant public brand with a more sophisticated office design
The ways the project focuses on making employees feel valued and seen
HGA's human-centered culture and collaborative approach
Haley’s role as the National Interior Design Practice Leader at HGA
What Haley invisions for the future of workplace design post-pandemic
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