The Griffin Club
The Westside Tennis Club, founded by Elmer Griffin in 1926 and located in west Los Angeles, has seen numerous owners and design updates in its nearly century-long life. Today, it’s known as the Griffin Club and exudes a polished-yet-family-friendly atmosphere. Its latest design overhaul, spearheaded by CCY Architects, mixes California cool styling with the latest vogue for nature-inspired, meditative spaces.
Product(s) in use
Info
Type
Hospitality
Client
Griffin Club
Location
Los Angeles
Designer
CCY Architects
For the Club’s outdoor entryway, the CCY team used B+N Industries’ Fortina. Fortina—aluminum louvers and slats that are covered with a hyper-realistic, non-PVC finish—is indistinguishable in appearance from natural wood but comes with the durability of man-made materials. The team initially considered natural wood for the building’s exterior, but these did not meet roofing code requirements. Natural wood also requires a refinishing process and regular upkeep, while Fortina does not.
The product worked so well in the Club’s entrance that the architects seized the opportunity to incorporate it inside, as well. Generally, the architectural system is lighter weight, less costly, easier to install, and more consistent in terms of color and finish over time than real wood – offering a bevy of design perks. It also meets “green” building design standards and shortens construction time given its variety of system-ready hardware.
