Tasteful Commercial Design:
The El Pollo Loco Office

From the beginning, the design team focused on creating a workplace that inspires engagement. Rather than designing around a generic corporate aesthetic, Symmetry 8 developed an environment that reflects El Pollo Loco's identity: energetic, welcoming, and highly collaborative.

Lead designer Paige Lewis describes her approach for adapting to the unique needs of each client. “We like to be a chameleon for what the client wants,” Lewis explains. “An important part of the design process is making sure the space feels tailored specifically to them.”

That philosophy shaped every element of this project. A dramatic two-story vestibule welcomes visitors as a central gathering space for company-wide meetings and events. Beyond the entrance, employees move into workspaces, informal meeting areas, and a break room that unveils the sweeping mountain views near Costa Mesa. The headquarters also includes a dedicated test kitchen where chefs can develop recipes and bring the brand's culinary creativity directly into the workplace.

Materials became a key part of bringing that vision to life. To create consistency throughout the headquarters, the design team selected Wilsonart HPL in Fawn Cypress and carried it across millwork, furniture, and architectural elements throughout the office.

Fawn Cypress features a balanced mix of straight grain patterns with full and partial cathedrals in shades of brown and light gold. The natural variation introduces warmth and movement throughout the workplace while maintaining a refined, contemporary aesthetic.

Used consistently across multiple applications, Fawn Cypress establishes a visual thread that connects collaborative environments and employee amenities into a unified experience.

“Wilsonart has great quality, multiple woodgrain finish options, and a lot of designs,” says Lewis. “We wanted to make sure the designs worked together, so we used Fawn Cypress in lots of places throughout the space.”

A subtle woodgrain texture completes the design with another layer of authenticity, complementing the organic character while creating visual depth throughout the interiors. Together, the grain pattern and texture deliver the appearance of a warm, natural wood that fosters connection and comfort — while engineered surface innovation ensures the resilience required for everyday commercial use.

Lewis says that traditional wood veneer was considered for the project, but Wilsonart HPL is simply the smarter solution for beautiful, long-lasting commercial spaces. Fawn Cypress balances aesthetics, performance, budget, and project logistics for the perfect combination of design flexibility and practical benefits.

Wilsonart HPL helped eliminate the perceived tradeoff between performance and beauty. The premium surface boasts the cleanability and resilience needed in an office space while maintaining the warmth and timeless style that define the overall design vision. Lewis says, “Durability was super important. They intend to stay in the building a long time, and they want to make sure the space stands the test of time.”

HPL also offered practical advantages during fabrication and installation. Located on the upper floors of a commercial office building, this project required careful coordination to accommodate elevator access, transportation constraints, and installation logistics. Consistently sized HPL panels provided the flexibility needed to execute the design efficiently while maintaining the desired aesthetic throughout the space.

For any professional ready to elevate a commercial office project, the El Pollo Loco headquarters reveals how thoughtful material selection can support both visual impact and long-term performance. By using Wilsonart HPL as a unifying design element, Symmetry 8

created a workplace that feels custom, cohesive, and distinctly tied to the client's identity. The result has all of the ingredients for a modern corporate environment designed to bring people together.