Haley Nelson on Vallarta HQ

Building LA

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.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, or on your favorite podcast platform.

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

Guest Info:

• Connect with Haley on Linkedin
• Learn more about HGA on hga.com
• Learn more about Haley on hga.com/people/haley-nelson

Follow Us:

• Visit the Building LA website
• Connect with Sam on LinkedIn