Walnut Valley Water District New Headquarters Boosts Safety, Community Engagement
By Amy Bentley Contributor
meetings, and public engagement events can be held. Design elements like skylights for natural light, open office areas, outdoor seating spaces, shade structures, and thoughtful landscaping reflect the district’s connection to water and the environment. The project architect was La Cañada Design Group. “This has been decades in the making,” said WVWD retired General Manager and Chief Engineer Sheryl Shaw, who recently retired after 25 years with WVWD. “We’re elated because we are helping our employees and also the community that we serve. Our employees are working in a safe space that is accessible and designed to support collaboration. When you invest in your people, they show up stronger for each other and the community.” Shaw especially enjoys how the architectural features and design evoke the feeling of flowing water, from the curved wall designs in the interior lobby to the exterior entryway, where free-hanging aluminum square panels look like ripples of water in the wind and take on different color hues in varied lighting conditions. “We see this new headquarters as a foundation for deeper community connection,” said Lily Lopez, Director of Affairs &
T he Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) invites the community to join in celebrating the opening of its new headquarters, a project that was years in the making and reflects the district’s strategic investment in modern facilities to better serve customers, the community and support district operations. The headquarters was built on land already owned by the water district and represents a milestone achievement that will enhance organizational efficiency and community engagement. The new headquarters is a more modern, efficient, and welcoming space for employees and the public. The headquarters opened in January at 235 S. Brea Canyon Road in Walnut. WVWD’s previous administrative offices were built in 1952, when the district was formed, and had not been updated previously. The project repurposed existing warehouses into a modern office and community-oriented building with an elegant customer service lobby, expansive conference and boardrooms, and community spaces where workshops,
From left: Retired WVWD General Manager and Chief Engineer Sheryl Shaw, WVWD Board Members; Director Scarlett Kwong, Assistant Treasurer Theresa Lee, President Jerry Tang, Second Vice President Edwin M. Hilden, First Vice President Henry Woo; and Interim General Manager Jared Macias.
Sustainability. “As a community anchor, it allows us to bring people together, share knowledge, and build trust in meaningful ways. It’s about creating a place where our community feels welcomed, informed, and part of the bigger picture.” WVWD Board President Jerry Tang emphasized the importance of having a safe and accessible workplace for employees and the public. Tang noted that the old building did not have an elevator or escalator to reach the second floor, lacked earthquake safety measures, and lacked modern security systems. “The old building was obsolete. A safe workplace is our primary concern,” he said. Plans were already underway for the new headquarters when Bertha Perez joined the water district about three years ago as Director of Engineering. Perez is grateful she got to be involved in the construction. “We were long overdue for a new building,” Perez said, adding that the board room was too small,
the building didn’t meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards, and loose carpet was a tripping hazard. Manny Rodriguez, Water Maintenance & Facility Manager, said, “This building brings a lot of pride not only to our team members but to the community. We’ve been operating out of some pretty outdated buildings. To see something come to fruition this large that will affect our community is a big deal.”
The project was the first phase of a broader campus development, laying the foundation for future additions like an Operations & Maintenance building remodel and a new drought-tolerant community garden focused on water education and sustainability. “This is a long-term project for our next generation,” Tang said. The WVWD provides safe and reliable water to nearly 100,000 residents and businesses across the city of Diamond Bar and portions of Walnut, Rowland Heights, Pomona, City of Industry, and West Covina. Visit https://walnutvalleywater.gov.
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