The Wilshire Grand Center in downtown Los Angeles has been an attention-getting project from the very beginning. As construction got underway, 21,200 cubic yards of concrete was poured at the site, setting a Guinness World Record for concrete in one continuous pour. By the time construction was completed it was 1,100 feet (335.3 m), the United States’ tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Naturally the Wilshire Grand Center’s architectural firm, AC Martin, had something extra special in mind for solar control on the first floor, and in the Hotel Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown’s “Sky Lobby” between the 72nd and 70th floors.
AC Martin’s design incorporated large scale venetian blinds, similar to systems used in the past on several buildings including Sony Berlin and Bayer’s headquarters in Leverkusen. For the Wilshire Grand project, however, AC Martin wanted louvers with more substance and greater presence than is typical. Since the louver systems are such a key building feature, their appearance and function were particularly important to the design team. That meant using extruded aluminum louvers, instead of the usual formed sheet aluminum louvers.
Moving to extruded louvers significantly increased the system weight, so a completely new drive mechanism had to be designed to meet the project requirements. In addition, integrating the systems with the building structure required different drive mechanisms for different parts of the building to address specific conditions and constraints. AC Martin drew the product they wanted into their project rendering and during the bid phase of the project, Draper® developed initial designs based on those drawings and produced 3D prints of louver profiles and connection details. Once Draper® was awarded the project, our solar control solutions engineering team further developed the design and a prototype was designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested at the Draper® Spiceland, Indiana, factory. This prototype allowed Draper® to better understand key elements of the system and refine various details, such as louver connections and the attachment of the stainless steel lift tapes to the bottom louver.
The prototype also provided a better understanding of the scale and appearance of the system. After working with the prototype, AC Martin and the construction manager, Turner, requested several changes, including a reduction in the number of lift tapes and tilt cables. Additionally, the prototype allowed Draper® and the installing dealer to dial in on how the systems could be shipped and installed on site. For those systems installed inside a pocket, Draper® produced a custom two-motor head rail with one motor to raise and lower the louvers and a second one to provide the tilt function. Draper worked closely with a motor manufacturer to develop a special tubular motor with enough torque and a slow enough speed to provide a controlled rotation of the louvers. For locations where the systems are not installed in pockets, Draper® installed a different drive mechanism with a remote raise/lower motor inside a horizontal beam, while an actuator provides the tilt function.
The majority of the systems on the project have 12" louvers, although in a number of sky lobby areas 6" louvers provide a different aesthetic.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
