Category Archive: Our Projects

  1. Everyone Loves Green Walls

    Inspired by Nature

    Whether they’re multi-story living-wonders or a preserved accent box, everyone loves green walls! And now there’s plenty of research indicating that a connection to nature through biophilic design is of great benefit. Including design elements such as green walls, photos of nature, or fractal shapes in the workplace provides benefits to both the employee and employer. Those benefits include lowering stress levels, uplifting mood, increased productivity, improved concentration and a reduction in absenteeism.

    ResMed Refresh, Floor 1 Tower, design by ID Studios, including a preserved green wall box

    Whether they’re multi-story living-wonders or a preserved accent box, everyone loves green walls! And now there’s plenty of research indicating that a connection to nature through biophilic design is of great benefit. Including design elements such as green walls, photos of nature, or fractal shapes in the workplace provides benefits to both the employee and employer. Those benefits include lowering stress levels, uplifting mood, increased productivity, improved concentration and a reduction in absenteeism.

    Mission Fed Green Wall for Wellness, Design by ID Studios, including feature green wall

    A 2006 meta-analysis published in Heath Promotion International found “empirical, theoretical and anecdotal evidence… of the human health benefits of contact with nature,” which can include, not only a natural environment like a park or garden but “any single element of the natural environment (such as plants, animals, soil, water or air).”

    With the evidence piling up that, “…seeing nature is important to people and is an effective means of relieving stress and improving well-being,” consider including a green wall in your office to bring nature into your workplace!

  2. Historic Building Rejuvenated for Brixton Capital

    As we look back on summer, we’re thinking of some of our Coastal Clients and Brixton Capital comes to mind. With its space-ship-shape and rich history, the Brixton Headquarters building is iconic in San Diego’s coastal north county. The building’s location afforded the opportunity to capture breathtaking views of the only cove in Solana Beach, and yet it was starting to show it’s age.

    On a mission to bring this beauty back to life, Brixton retained ID Studios to consult on its design transformation, both inside and out. As we researched the building’s history, we quickly discovered that the story of this uniquely shaped building is as interesting as its unique shape.

    Brixton Corporate Headquarters, Design by ID Studios, Photos by Stephen Whalen
    Brixton Capital Building Today

    The History

    The building currently located at 120 South Sierra Avenue, started as the Solana Theater in the 1930s with its main entry, and address, on South Acacia Ave. It was built by Smith Construction which was run by Dorthea Smith and her husband Milton Smith who built several landmarks during their tenure in Solana Beach, including the simple, rectangular theater.

    [note: The best pictures we’ve found of the original theater are by photographer Eleanor Antin in her “King of Solana Beach” series. Due to copyright issues, we can’t post them in this article, but they’re out there if you do an image search.]

    The earliest reference to the theater we found was in the book Seabiscuit, An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand. In the book, she recalls a famous 1938 horse race, Seabiscuit vs Ligaroti, which was reportedly replayed at the theater after being run on the nearby Del Mar Racetrack. The theater stayed in business for decades and holds a fond place in many people’s memories and is often recalled in the Facebook Group, “You Might Be From Solana Beach If…”

    In the late 1970s business at the theater waned after the more modern Flower Hill Mall Theater opened just two miles away in Del Mar. When the Solana Beach theater closed, a family took advantage of a then-current trend and opened “Organ Power Pizza Parlor.” They purchased and moved a historic organ built by famed organ builder Robert Morton onto the theater’s stage.

    Unfortunately, the pizza restaurant didn’t last long, and the building started its next life when it was converted to office space. In the ’80s, big changes were in store for the building. Following a leveraged buyout of The Chart House, the executives turned its sights to Solana Beach and the historic theater for their new headquarters building. They hired Architect Joe Lancor, who added the curved roof and nautilus shell shape which is now prominently featured as the entrance.

    When Chart House decided to move its headquarters to Chicago in 1997, the building continued its corporate identity, by housing various companies. When Brixton purchased the property in 2016 they did so with the intent to modernize it for their Corporate Headquarters.

    The Rejuvenation

    According to CEO, Travis King, Brixton wanted their offices to reflect the “hardworking, get it done East Coast/New York mentality combined with the laid-back vibe of San Diego.” ID Studios brought those ideas together, with a design based on an open concept, maximizing the coastal views of Fletcher Cove and to bring those elements to the interior of the building.

    When Brixton approached us, we knew the almost windowless wall that previously housed the large movie screen, hid a stunning view of Fletcher Cove. The design team went to work relocating restrooms and other core services to maximize the potential held in this solid wall. Piercing this wall with a line of windows also created access to fresh air for its occupants along with the coastal views.

    The renovation also features a new monument stair which took into account the circular theme inherent in the nautilus shaped entrance. With office space on the two upper floors, the basement was converted into a fitness area, complete with a jiu-jitsu studio, showers, and surfboard storage. Separate access to the fitness studios is directly accessible to the community park and beach access which has the added benefit of minimizing the intrusion of beach sand into the main office. The result is a refreshing interpretation of Coastal Modern, bringing an infusion of natural light, fresh sea breezes, and an active vibe to the entire building.

    ID Studios is proud to have been a design team partner to this beautiful, coastal restoration and to join the mission bringing this historic building back to life.

  3. Project Feature: Mission Federal Credit Union Headquarters

    In 2018, we had the opportunity to work with Mission Federal Credit Union to help them transition from an office they had occupied for the previous 30 years, by designing a future focused home and headquarters that will ensure flexibility to live and grow for the next 30 years.

    The design process started with an interactive Visioning session to help focus the extended team on the long-term strategic goals. Lisa Chappell, Vice President of Corporate Facilities for Mission Federal said, “The process was collaborative, fun and exciting, which is exactly what the final design achieved.”

    The team then sought insight into their employee’s day-to-day work lives by obtaining feedback to validate data about their daily work requirements. With those results, the team created a design that fulfilled their need for greater collaboration and openness, natural light, flexibility, wellness-focused design, and a fun, inspirational environment.

    The interest in openness and collaboration drove the need for private, quiet spaces that provided an environment for employees to focus and achieve heads-down work and open spaces that provided energy and collaboration. ID Studios was able to design a wide variety of spaces to fit all of these requirements. Utilizing architectural and finish elements to convey a message of strength and reliability was equally as important to Mission Fed as creating an environment that was welcoming and approachable.

    Our Mission Fed Moment can be summed up by Associate and Senior Designer, Jill Russell when she said, “It was inspiring and a true pleasure to partner with Mission Federal Credit Union, Level 10 Construction, and Jones Lang LaSalle on Mission Federal Credit Union’s new headquarters.” We are very proud of what our whole team was able to achieve for such a forward-thinking company!

  4. Introducing our Hospitality Studio

    Seacrest Village Dining, Bar and Pre-function space, Design and Rendering by ID StudiosYOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN __ ID Studios has a team of extremely talented hospitality designers within our multi-faceted studio. Project experience includes multi-family housing, restaurants, country clubs, event spaces, boutique hotels and even cruise ships! We are especially excited about the inroads ID Studios is making in the hospitality and senior living arenas. As we take on more senior living projects, our designers are integrating the resort and hospitality experiences into these projects that appeal to our retiring population. Hospitality design elements are also showing up in our corporate and creative office space. The common denominator in all of these design solutions is blending work, life, wellness and play. These unique spaces fit to our client’s needs, individual experiences and truly define a new genre of ‘place’.

    Our industry partners know us as a trusted advisor in the corporate and higher education realm and we hope to inspire more introductions and connections in the hospitality and senior living world as our portfolio expands. We intend to provide the hospitality and senior living industry the same high standards, knowledge base and creativity that we have been providing since our beginning 14 years ago.

    Stay tuned for more new and exciting hospitality and senior living projects from ID Studios. In the meantime, take a look at some of our latest projects in the works.

    Please contact us  for more information.

  5. IIDA Well Building CEU at JLL’s Office

    The IIDA SoCal held a Well Building Standard CEU at the offices of JLL San Diego and the lobby of the Aventine Building in La Jolla. It started with a tour of the lobby, and ended in the JLL flexible conferencing and entertainment area. Senior Designer, Annie Wilson, ID Studios newest Senior Project Manager, was on hand to point out all of the wonderful design features of the office.

    Thank you to everyone who attended. It was fun showing off the office to the design community. IIDA posted more pictures of the event on their website.

  6. Corporate Branding in The Built Environment

    Moz Metals has posted an article about Corporate Branding in The Built Environment which includes an ID Studios client, Moss Adams.

    With branding all around us in both the physical and digital world, corporate identity has seeped into nearly every aspect of daily life. In the 21st century, we have to ask ourselves: how can a brand establish a unique identity without getting lost in this information overload? How can a brand evoke industry values of technology, hard work, and innovation through the lived experience of its physical spaces? How can an office create a positive response from users through branding?

    Moss Adams (design by ID Studios) use of Moz Metals in their reception desk.

    Moss Adams office in La Jolla, Ca., designed by ID Studios. Móz metal counter fronts in Khaki with a rectilinear pattern engraved on the surface to mimic tiles.

    Read the entire article here:
    https://www.interiorsandsources.com/article-details/articleid/22076/title/corporate-branding-built-environment

  7. Inside WD-40’s Slick New Headquarters

    WD-40 Company’s office was featured in Hatch Magazine.

    WD-40 Company Headquarters design by ID Studios

    The company’s homey new digs in Scripps Ranch pays homage to its past and the industries that made it a success. Photos by Paul Body

    BY JENNIFER MCENTEE

    The WD-40 Company has been reinventing itself ever since its founders figured out that the solvents and degreasers they were creating for the aerospace industry might also be useful to consumers with squeaky doors and rusty lawnmowers.

    While WD-40’s worldwide workforce has grown from 3 to 450 over the years, and its product mix has expanded well beyond that flagship lubricant in the blue and yellow can, its San Diego headquarters had been stuck in a bygone era until last August, when they moved from the Morena District to a two-story, 42,000-square-foot building in Scripps Ranch.

    Read the entire article here:
    http://www.hatch-mag.com/2018/03/09/inside-wd-40s-slick-new-digs/

  8. WD-40 Company on the web

    News about WD-40 Company’s new corporate headquarters is making it’s way online. First, it showed up on OfficeSnapshots and now on Emser’s blog. Check out what all of the buzz is about!

  9. Voit’s office complete

    Here’s a sneak peak at a feature wall at Voit Real Estate’s new La Jolla office. We loved designing this custom surfboard wall to show their team’s love of surfing in a new way.

    Voit Real Estate La Jolla Surfboard Feature Wall, Design and picture by ID Studios

  10. An Iconic Renovation: Brixton Capital

    Brixton Corporate Headquarters, Design by ID Studios, Photos by Stephen WhalenThis stand alone, 2-story building with basement was originally designed as a movie theatre and converted to office space in 1950. Brixton Capital acquired the building with the intent to modernize it for their own Corporate Headquarters and to share with tenants. The design was based on an open concept, maximizing the coastal views of Fletcher Cove and bringing those elements into the interior of the space. The renovation features a new monument stair which took into account the circular theme inherent in the existing architecture.

    To see more pictures of this project, click HERE.