G-P in LA-A Model Disfribution Cenfer

By DON DICK

NCE UPON a time-as most 1-f happy-ending stories used to begin -factories and warehouses were grimy, dark, box-like affairs with four walls and a roof for keeping the weather out and the employees in. If they were efficient unto their purpose, it was probably more by accident than by design. You had a building, and you shaped your production layout to fit into the box.

Today, as most businessmen know, the story is drastically changing. Today's factory or warehouse is funtionally designed for its purpose, attractive in appearance, light and airy, and representative of the best in industrial architecture and planning.

Georgia-Pacific Corporation's new distribution center and office for the Greater Los Angeles area is an admirable example of what modern industry,through such planning, can achieve in efficient utilization of space, flow of work, service to its customers -and, finally, in visually being one of the best advertisements for itself.

Opened in late summer, the G-P building is located at 7240 Crider Avenue, Pico Rivera. Note from the sketch left that it is just a couple of short turnsfrom the iunction of Rosemead and Washingion Boulevards, convenient to reach from almost any section of the vast metropolitan afea.

The new Georgia-Pacific plywood and lumber center is a two-storv structure of contemporary design,- of reinforced concrete. It provides 61,000 square feet storage under cover, over 4,000 square feet of office space, plus several thousand more feet of outside yard and loading area. Ample parking is available for both customers and employees.

This is the second largest distribution center for the huge building materials firm-the largest being in South Chicago-and, we understand, has been planned as a model for all future facilities. Certainly it isa model in every sense, one thatthe company can be proud of and that should serve it well.

Large double plate glass doors open intoa light and attractive foyer, one wall of which is adorned with a "conversational piece" of a small tree, complete with acorns. To the right is the receptionist's counter, and beyond this a large work area which is the hub of operations of the sales order desks and automatic inventorv control.

HAROID E. SAND Wcltcrn Rcaionol l/lcnogcr

Ground floor offices are devoted to operations of the building materials warehouse activities of Georgia-Pacific. In addition to the large general office, there are those of the executives, an outside salesmen's office, a coffee room for the convenience of employees and other utility rooms.

The Lumber Division of G-P keeps things humming on the second flodr, with again all offices and furnishings being "showcases" for wood. Also here is a large display room where retailers may bringtheir customers for selection of the plywoods and paneling which will best suittheir tastes and purposes. One end of this room is attractively furnished with a sofa, easy f' ch:rirs:ur(1 c()lfce tab1e, so that clier-rts ma\- rel:r\ itr conrfort n'hile making their rlecisions.

Naturally, wood has been used most effectively in paneling and trim throughout the entire ofifice area. \&'e saw probably over 20 different varieties, each enhancing the area or office where used; and it becomes something of a problem to determine which kinds you like best. In fact, if a woodpecker wandered in there, he might well suffer a complete collapse frominability to decide the wood rnost to his taste !

Ceilings througl.rout the ofiice area :rrc ct.rvere'cl 'n'it1"r u'1-rite acoustical tile; corrirlors ancl general office areas tilcrl irr:L pleasing r-ari-blockerl patterrr of t:ul anrl u'hite. E,xecutir.es' offlces -\\'ell, ".\ Name orl the Door ltates a l',igelou'otr thc Ifkior." Tl.rere is air cr.,nrli tiorrirrg tltrour:horrt.

Itrs. \-irgi1 Olivcr, Jr.,."vife of G-P's I':rcillc Southn,est I)istrict lI:rnager, l'as irr ch:rrgc of the ilterior clecoratiorr anrl frrrrrishings, zr"rrrl a beautiful job shc has tkrtte. Iivcryrvliere \-o11 see evi<leucc of professiorral skill conrbirred n'ith the rlrralities of u':rrnrtlr, conifort anr'l functionalisnr. 'fhis is rL place tcr n'ork, ycs, brrtirr srrrroutt<lirre s tlrat are goirrg to srrbtll' ;r<l<l to \'()11r 1)crf ormance.

\\'ell, thzrt's thc f rr-rnt of the builtling, u'here tl're orciers corne in, tlre bills gcr orrt, the lnanagers think, thc u'orkers (Contm,ued, on Nert Page)

Visiiors to Georgio-Pocific's hqndsome new Los Angeles distribution center foyer ond lorge, cenlrol "order desk" ors.. os seen in lhe phoio qt top left. Division. Right: o view of the immense outdoor storqge qreq.

Middle row, from left, Pot Monoghon, personoble ond energetic sqlesmon in working for her pop before entering rhe Universiry of Oregon rhis foll; oh, ro with its vqulted roofline, Righr: Mrs. €olleen Fox, grocious secrefqry fo Messrs.

Boflom row. from left: onother view of the highly efiicient, olwoys busy centrol Right: o lree grows in-the foyer, compleie with ocorns; Virg Oliver could be ore immedioiely impressed wirh the beouty of wood.- so eftectively used in the Nexi we hove geniol Ken Conwoy. ossislonf to mqnqger 8ob Heberle, Lumber the Lumber Division. Next, cule Roberto Heberle, who spenl ihe summer be so young ogoin! Middle: qn exlerior shot of the oll.oclive front enlronce Sond, Bergstrom ond Oliver.

"order desk" oreq. Middle: Lloyd Cole, longtime veterqn in the [umber Division. checking iis growth to see if it is coming olong occording to G-P stqndords.

G-P In L. A.

(Continued from Preuious Page) work, and the wheels go round.

Behind this is the huge two-storied warehouse, wide-aisled, amply sprinklered for fire protection, stacked high with all of the many plywoods, doors, interior and exterior finishes and varied products which create G-P's fine reputation-and all as immaculate and orderly as grandma's pantry. A normal inventory encompasses about 100 carloads of building materials. Running the length of the warehouse isa rail siding which accommodates six cars; the covered dock provides convenient unloading during all kinds of weather. (Yes, Southern California will sometimes have weather which isn't always "good, better, or best.")

A large customer loading area assures ample and efficient access and fast loading. Modern materials handling equipment and methods complete the operation designed to keep overhead down and service up.

Georgia-Pacific executives who make their offices in the new building are: Harold E. Sand, recently transferred from the Portland ofifice, Western Regional Manager; R. J. (Bob) Heberle, Manager, Lumber Division; and Virgil Oliver, Jr., a pioneer G-P man in the development of plywood, Pacific Southwest District Manager.

Also important to the area operation are Frank E. Bergstrom, regional credit representative, and William C. Holzer, branch manager. Both of these gentlemen were away from the building on the day of our visit and so do not appear in our pictorial presentation on these pages.

We understand that Georgia-Pacific plans a grand opening of their attractive, service-oriented distribution center in the near future. We think it will be well worth your while to attend. Not just to have a good time-which undoubtedly you will have. But, more importantly, to inspect this outstanding plywood and lumber sales and distribution center for the progressive firm of Georgia-Pacific.

Gilbreqfh Ghemicol Opens Portlqnd Ofiice

R. I. Gilbreath of Gilbreath Chemical Company, San Francisco, has announced the opening of a sales office at 1238 N.W. Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon. Manager of the new location, which will cover the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, is Bradley G. Burton.

Gilbreath Chemical Company, established in 1936, is a major supplier of wood preservatives, sealers and stains to the wood industry, and miscellaneous chemicals and raw materials to other manufacturing industries.

Gilbreath Chemical Company has been marketing its products in the Northwest for many years. The establishment of the Portland office will enable the company to give closer attention to the needs of the industrv.

Portland manager Bradley Burion has established his residence at Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Gilbreath Chemical's main office in San Francisco is located at 383 Brannan Street.

"N.F.P.Uf.',l ',N.F.P.W." lThis is not s]!g- if's the obbreviotion of "Nqlionql Forest Products Week, October 15-21" I

Dick Voelzke Appointed Sclles Monoger Wcrlton-Smith Go.

Bill Smith, administrative executive Walton-Smith and Company, Inc., Southern California wholesale lumber concern, announced last month the appointment of Dick Voelzke to the important position of sales manager.

Dick Voelzke has beeh identified in lumber production and sales since the close of WorldWar II. He has been contacting Southern California and Arizona retail lumber dealers for more than 10 years and is active in civic and social affairs, including Los Angeles Hoo-Hoo Club 2.

"We are building a close-knit organization of experienced personnel in an efiort to offer the retailer paramount service at all times." said Mr. Smith. "Dick Voelzke has the leader- ship and 'know-how' to head the important sales department of our firm," he continued.

Walton-Smith offer a complete line of western softwoods to the trade including Pine, Fir, Cedar, Mouldings and specialty items with offices and yard located just three blocks from the Long Beach Freeway at 20940 South Alameda St., North Long Beach.

Here one of the ftrct locds of 24 ond 25-lool dimension is recdy to roll to o cu3lomor in Colgory. Colgcr's Sqwrnill Soles Moncger, W. R. (Ross) llcCutchcon ond the driverore shown in lhe piclure.

White Fir lumber production in the Western Pine region hit an all-time high of 1,461,000,000 feet in 1959. This was nearly 15 times the WhiteFir output of.I94O.