About WATG and Wimberly Interiors

What makes a good commercial architect? For WATG and Wimberly Interiors, it’s about creating exceptional design that provides enduring value. This award-winning design firm has completed over 400 projects of varied complexity in over 170 countries and territories. Founded in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1945, it has grown into a 500-strong team of highly creative and well-traveled professionals. WATG specializes in hospitality, destination, and tourism design. Their designs are geared at driving revenue and rejuvenating commercial spaces. The firm is able to accomplish this thanks to its strong leadership team. President and CEO David Moore has more than 30 years of experience in design and operations. Regional Director and WATG Irvine Managing Director Monica Cuervo has over 23 years of experience in hospitality and entertainment destination design.

Featured Projects

The Park Hyatt Aviara Renovation is one of the firm’s biggest and most celebrated projects. Valued at $50 million, the project includes the addition of a lobby lounge, several cabanas, and two golf suites with an upscale coastal estate theme. The team also updated all suites and guest rooms in keeping with Park Hyatt’s reputation for luxury.

With designs like these, Wimberly Interiors won the 2019 AHEAD Europe Best Suite Award for their exquisite work on the Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. They have also been featured in Luxury Travel Magazine, Travel + Leisure, and Condé Nast Traveler.

About Gensler

Gensler is in the business of reimagining future cities. With a global team spread across 29 locations, the firm is committed to creating a better world through design. They are behind some of the most forward-thinking mixed-used and retail developments in the Carlsbad area. Founded in 1965, Ensler currently serves more than 3,500 clients in various industries thanks to its strong leadership team. Principal and Co-CEO Diane Hoskins, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), is also the recipient of the Outstanding Impact Award from the Council of Real Estate Women. Principal and Co-CEO Andy Cohen, FAIA, and member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) was named one of Los Angeles Business Journal’s Most Influential People. Together, these two principals lead the firm to build many beautiful projects.

Featured Projects

Their high-profile projects include Porsche Carlsbad, a modern dealership with a glass and steel exterior that evokes the brand’s fine sports cars. The clean and precise design gives it a museum-like atmosphere that instills an appreciation for the cars on display.

With beautiful projects like these, the firm has received the 2021 European Healthcare Design (EHD) Award in the Future Healthcare Design category, for their work on the National University Hospital Campus Master Plan in Singapore. The firm also topped Architectural Record’s Top 300 Architecture Firms of 2021. Aside from delivering many accredited designs, the firm is also concerned with sustainability in the built environment. Gensler releases annual reports to assess their efforts to eliminate net gas emissions associated with their work.

About Ware Malcomb

Ware Malcomb’s success is built on its people. The team benefits from a company-wide mentoring program that provides support and on-going coaching. As a result, they have delivered some of the most memorable retail and hospitality designs in the Carlsbad area. With a long history of top-notch designs, the firm continues to deliver exceptional service and a client-focused approach to commercial architecture. Chairman Lawrence R. Armstrong, LEED AP leads the Board of Directors for Ware Malcomb while Principal Tiffany English, CID, LEED AP is in charge of growth and management of the firm’s San Diego architecture and interior studios.

An industry leader in green building, Ware Malcomb offers sustainable and renewable options for healthier spaces in which individuals can thrive. To meet your green project requirements, the firm provides access to a team of LEED® and WELL™ accredited professionals. Their sustainable design solutions can help clients improve work environments, conserve energy, and reduce operating costs.

Featured Projects

One of the firm’s finest projects is the Callaway Golf Performance Center. To enhance the workplace, the team added an outdoor amenity space with comfortable seating, shaded areas, and a driving range. They also did branding and interior design for more than 5,000 square feet of fitting and research and development spaces.

About Safdie Rabines Architects

Safdie Rabines Architects believes that commercial interests can be balanced with environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible design. They deliver site-specific architecture and interior design in a variety of contexts and scales. This makes them one of the most versatile and adaptable firms serving the Carlsbad area. The firm specializes in mixed-use developments, educational facilities, and large master plans. Their team delivers exceptional service from conceptualization to project completion and beyond.

Founded in 1993 by the husband-and-wife team of Ricardo Rabines and Taal Safdie, AIA, RA this full-service firm excels in every facet of programming and construction. Through open communication, they provide comfort and confidence to guide clients through the most ambitious projects.

Featured Projects

Safdie Rabines Architects features an Interiors Studio led by Michele Arnold-Kush. One of their most notable projects include the Avanti Workplace, a creative work space in a corporate office building. The firm installed a storefront system that allows plenty of natural light to enter while still protecting office privacy. Aside from design, the firm also provided space planning and permit procurement services to ensure the project’s timely completion.

Many projects such as these have earned the firm awards such as the 2020 Design-Build Institute of America for Extended Learning Building and the 2020 California Transportation Foundation Structure Project of the Year for Gilman Bridge. The firm has also been featured in Dwell, San Diego Tribune, and ARCHITECT Magazine.

About BGI Architecture

At BGI Architecture, design is in their blood. The firm has two generations of licensed architects on their roster, offering in-depth knowledge of various architectural styles. Specializing in commercial design and tenant improvements, BGI is behind some of the finest retail and office spaces in the Carlsbad area. Founding BGI Architecture in 1985, Principal John S. Beery, AIA has more than 35 years of experience in creating built environments that enhance clients’ lifestyle.

Featured Projects

Some of these projects include Carlsbad Optometry, a 1,143-square-foot retail space in Bressi Ranch. For this tenant improvement project, the team sought to create a contemporary but warm interior with custom displays. The space includes the storefront and private eye examination rooms and offices. To give passersby maximum visibility into the store, the team designed a large storefront with glass panels and ample lighting. The result is a bright and airy commercial space that entices window shoppers to come in.

Aside from design development, the firm offers a wide range of services that include site consultation and building inspection and evaluation. They also assist clients with construction documents and as-built documentation for a seamless experience. The firm’s thoughtful process and successful projects have earned the firm features in Coastal Magazine and San Diego Home & Garden. The firm now has offices in California, Arizona, and Hawaii.

About Pacific Building Group

Under the leadership of Gregory Rogers, Jim Roherty, and Lisa Hitt, the company has accumulated a portfolio showcasing a diverse range of projects. Established in 1984, the company continues to be a top firm in California with the well-experienced team Rogers has assembled. Through the decades, the firm has fostered numerous relationships with various clients and vendors, aiding the team in providing its clientele with the best results possible. The intricate process allows consistency in each project, resulting in its reputable portfolio.

Featured Projects

Featured here is the Chula Vista Commerce Center featuring numerous retail, office, and warehouse spaces. The ground-up construction features a straightforward approach providing the necessities for a functional facility with ample space, a sturdy structural build, and quality materials. With the property’s large size, the Pacific Building team was able to efficiently and effectively utilize the space, promoting a healthy work environment with comfortable spaces for patrons.

About TSA Construction

TSA Construction’s primary goal is to take each detail into account, meticulously analyzing the best solutions possible that best fit the project. The amount of repeat clients and referrals the company has received further establishes the firm’s position as one of the top firms in California. A key component of the firm’s approach emphasizes a clear, transparent communication with the client to ensure accuracy in each phase of the project. This is also to ensure that the best course of action and service is available to offer the clientele a quality finish.

Featured Projects

Pictured above is the Showley Brothers Candy Factory located next to San Diego’s PETCO Park. The project features a classic facade using traditional materials such as bricks to create a vintage appeal from the outside. Inside, it features ample office spaces throughout the three floors the building has, offering employees the right amount of workspace. The City of San Diego Historical Resources Board and the Save Our Heritage Organization recognized this project. They would also receive the Structural Engineers Association of San Diego Merit Award for excellence in structural design.

About Burger Construction

This feature project is the ATA Engineering project with a size of 50,000 square feet. The ATA Engineering supplies the U.S. Government with innovative tests and analysis methods for aerospace and defensive structures. With these kinds of projects, Burger Construction understood the need to protect vital information, especially with the government involved with ATA. A step the team took was to build the project in a secure environment to ensure no data was leaked or compromised. The Burger team included a prototype lab, two server rooms, a machine shop, equipment test labs, and various office and conference rooms. A notable aspect of the project was replacing all mechanical and DDC controls, keeping its features up-to-date. These kinds of projects are possible with the experience Burger Construction has, resulting in long-lasting relationships and numerous client connections. Modern solutions and building methods are the foundation of the company’s projects, resulting in a diverse portfolio showcasing the company’s well-experienced team.

About Hamann Construction

Featured in this article is the Pinnacle Industrial Supply in San Diego, providing clients with pipes, valves, fittings, and metals. The property acquired by Pinnacle is 3.5 acres which allowed Hamann Construction to efficiently and effectively build on the site. The firm included a 32,213 tilt-up concrete building along with a 2,829 square foot second-floor area to take advantage of the remaining space the land can accommodate, which acts as Pinnacle’s outside storage space. Some architectural features included curtain wall glass, shade canopies, and exposed concrete portions. Other details include natural lighting through the skylights and the installation of a 69 KW roof-mounted photovoltaic solar array. These are the projects the Hamann team is known for since its establishment in 1954. Its focus on tilt-up Commercial/Industrial construction has resulted in an extensive portfolio that displays the firm’s knowledge on these types of projects. Today, it incorporates modern techniques and methods but still retains some traditional aspects that will best complement the project. This approach applies to all its projects ranging from 5,000 square feet to over 250,000 square feet.

About Pacific Rim Mechanical

Founders Jim Broyles, Terry Broyles, and Ted Keenan established the firm in 1987 and have since hired well-versed managers and have brought in numerous partnerships to form today’s current group. An emphasis on quality and value is the cornerstone of the firm’s process, offering its clientele the best quality possible with a strong structural foundation. Through the years, Pacific Rim Mechanical has garnered affiliations with various organizations, including the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), San Diego Building Engineers Association (SDBEA), and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).

Featured Projects

The Illumina B6 project above is a 275,000 square feet ground-up campus manufacturing/lab/office building. This project’s scope includes HVAC, plumbing, and process piping, which has a 50,000 square feet manufacturing space. An addition the company included is the addition of 1,600 tons of capacity to the existing central plant. Pacific Rim Mechanical completed this project in 2016 with a price of 24 million dollars.

About McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

One of the oldest firms on the list, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., has a deep understanding of various services that each client may need for their project. Its century’s worth of experience has equipped the team with a vast knowledge of numerous styles, design methods, material selection, and building techniques. Today, it incorporates new strategies to further improve its project’s quality and maintain a deep relationship with the community. Despite its numerous industrial projects, the team aims to include sustainable features in each project. An understanding of environmental concerns has allowed the firm to think outside the box on how to mitigate any ecological damage that may occur with these projects and has since received recognition for its efforts. McCarthy has a long, proud history of construction accomplishments in San Diego. They are prominent in the Life Sciences, Healthcare, Parking, Education, and Commercial sectors as well as specialty services and the renewable energy market.

Featured Projects

Above is the BP Gas — Oil Hydrotreater project. This project was part of a $320 million heavy crude refinery modernization project for the BP petrochemical refinery. The hydrotreater removes any sulfur from fuel, making it much cleaner. Structural steel, precision alignment, millwright equipment setting, and electrical features are some of the significant components of the project. Upon the project’s completion, the firm received the National Maintenance Agreements Policy Committee (NMAPC) Zero Injury Safety Award.

About Balfour Beatty US

Featured here is the Food Lion Warehouse Expansion with a renovation of over 10,000 square feet of space while working inside a distribution center for convenience and the comfort of the employees. Balfour Beatty included an additional 5,000 square foot break room and a small kitchen area acting as a leisure space for employees. This left enough space for a 30-foot high inventory rack to store items and other supplies. A second renovation is the 5,000 square foot warehouse, transforming it into a men’s and women’s locker room with storage rooms, a workout facility, a wellness room, and a time clock sign-in room. The result is a functional, efficient facility, promoting a positive work atmosphere. The Balfour Beatty team is a leading industrial contractor with up-to-date building methods and techniques. An approach leaning towards innovation allows the company to evolve its process that results in a wide variety of techniques that further enhances the finishes of its projects. With this, a collaborative and transparent communication between the firm and client results in consistent, accurate projects unique for each client.

About Sundt Construction

Sundt Construction has been in the industry for over a century and has since been able to adapt and evolve its process to fit the newer styles of construction. The team’s experience in numerous markets has allowed them to gain the sufficient experience needed to tackle various projects, incorporating contemporary techniques, modern solutions, and construction plans to further accentuate the quality of its projects. As one of the older firms on the list, Sundt Construction continues to be a well-known company in San Diego with its proven track record of accomplishments and array of projects it has completed.

Featured Projects

The project above is the OBRF MGD Industrial wastewater treatment facility. It manufactures rejected processed water. Planning projections and preliminary designs were vital to meet the short-term goals of the project and, at the same time, provide flexibility to accommodate future changes. Sundt Construction was able to fast-track the project with detailed designs and short-term operations to meet the client’s needs. The result of this process is a facility that is capable of maximizing water recovery and reducing the overall brine flow and volume of potable water use at the facility. It instead uses recycled water that is readily available upon cooling.

About Suffolk Construction Company

Currently, chairman John Fish oversees the construction of the firm’s projects to ensure a proper quality check of each project’s progression. Being ambitious and bold in its approach allows the firm to take alternate routes to provide quality finishes to the project it tackles. It has accumulated a reputation for being conventional in its work, driving meaningful and positive progress in each phase of building. The team’s distinct and diverse skill set continues to establish Suffolk as a top contractor in the area.

Featured Projects

Pictured here is the Martignetti Corporate Headquarters and Distribution Center, featuring a size of 650,000 square feet with a warehouse and corporate headquarters. This HQ serves as the new distribution center for Martignetti Liquors, with the Suffolk team providing a solid foundation for its structural shape. The use of a concrete slab system allowed the firm to reduce the overall thickness of the concrete slab, saving up to six hundred thousand dollars. The second feature of this project was the inclusion of a hydrogen generation system and over 250,000 square feet of solar panels, reinforcing a sustainable project.

About Performance Contracting Group

The feature project is the Valero Ardmore Refinery, initially constructed in 1913 and has since undergone numerous updates and expansions. The Performance Contracting Group included significant upgrades in its scaffolding, mechanical insulation, and industrial painting. Currently, the facility is a 90 barrel-per-day facility and continues to provide for the area of Dallas. The Performance Contracting Group continues its exemplary service in the commercial and industrial markets with over 40 offices nationwide. Around 6,300 workers bring a level of expertise in each project, contributing new ideas, alternate solutions, and modern building techniques. This results in its portfolio that showcases the specific needs of each client, with the company meticulously working on various details that contribute to the finished product. With the numerous services it offers, the company has gained a reputation as a proper “single-source” contractor that is capable of handling a wide range of projects.

About Jonathan Segel Architect

Jonathan Segel Architect is an award-winning firm best known for its stellar and comprehensive services. It is led by its founder and namesake, Jonathan Segel, who is also a proud Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), which is the highest distinction the prestigious organization bestows upon its members. Under his leadership and supervision, the company has worked on over 300 responsible and environmentally sound designs. These include not only single-family homes but also various medium to high-density urban residential and mixed-use projects. Since the firm’s inception, it has won over 40 local, state, and national AIA awards for residential and Urban Design. This has enabled the company to be one of San Diego’s most successful and premier residential architectural companies. The firm has also been featured in a multitude of publications. Its work can best be showcased in the project above.

Featured Projects

Labeled in its portfolio as “The Cresta,” this home is a 5,300-square-foot house in La Jolla. It is a single-family residence made entirely out of cast-in-place concrete. For this home, the firm’s team had to work on three stories and installed numerous floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The pool offers unique thermal cooling.

About IS Architecture

Best known for its award-winning services, IS Architecture dedicates itself to the highest standards. Aside from its single-family homes, it is also well-respected for its great preservation and historical renovations that are environmentally friendly and site responsive. The firm has worked on several adaptive reuses of existing structures and is well-versed in San Diego’s building codes and regulations. The firm assists its clients throughout the entire building process and even works with them with some of the more tedious and nitty-gritty parts such as obtaining permits and conducting feasibility studies. The firm is the proud recipient of a multitude of awards, including the 2014 Best in American Living Platinum Award from the National Association of Home Builders, as well as several distinctions from San Diego Home/Garden.

Featured Projects

The masterful craftsman revival above best exemplifies the company’s skill and expertise. It is located in Mission Hills and won the firm numerous distinctions. Some of its best elements include its kitchen opening up seamlessly to its family room. The firm’s team also worked on several white-painted columns and flat casing to articulate the spaces. We also loved the company’s choice of earth tone color finishes, custom shaker cabinets, and the great deep-stained oak island in its kitchen.

About BGI Architecture

Having established a solid reputation for itself over the years, BGI Architecture has completed projects across California, Arizona, and Hawaii. The firm has been in business since 1985 and offers a full range of architectural services. The firm is led by John Beery, a professional architect with nearly four decades of experience. In 2008, he expanded the firm’s services to include commercial design services, which encompassed numerous tenant improvements in the Southern California area. The firm works closely with only the best contractors and creative professionals. As a result, the firm is capable of creating a wide range of designs, including the latest contemporary and modern themes and the most intricate European and Tuscan styles.

Featured Projects

Located in Rancho Santa Fe, the project above best showcases the firm’s skill and talent. It sits on the edge of an equestrian park and challenged the firm with the design of over 9,577 square feet of interior space. It primarily features a Spanish style, with some of its most striking elements including great patios reminiscent of haciendas and various excellent outdoor spaces. For its green elements, the company installed a suite of solar panels and smart electronic systems. The home is incredibly energy efficient as a result.

About Domus Studio

Deriving its name from the Latin word for “house,” Domus Studio provides its clients with stellar and environmentally responsible architectural services. It has worked on numerous projects including religious structures, educational facilities, senior living facilities, and commercial spaces. It has garnered awards based on its great sustainable designs on LEED Silver, Gold, and Platinum-certified projects. The firm’s team achieves this success through the use of excellent local materials. The firm is known for its projects’ open floor plans and the use of natural light. The Domus process emphasizes the importance of client collaboration, as well as adherence to the latest building techniques. To ensure this, it maintains affiliations with organizations like the US Green Building Council. Since its establishment, the company has worked on over a hundred plus custom residential projects in La Jolla, San Diego, and Del Mar.

Featured Projects

The project above was completed in San Diego. It utilizes a contemporary design and maximizes its small lot. Some of its features include an underground garage, great windows, and unique fixtures. The firm opted for a recurring theme of bold straight lines.

About H2 Architects

H2 Architects is an award-winning firm that operates out of two offices in San Diego and Gig Harbor, in Washington. It focuses on infusing various sustainability and green methods into its projects, assuring its homeowners of the high efficiency of its work. It has been in business since 1998 and is the brainchild of brothers David and Steven Hawkins. Under their supervision, the firm has also become known for its outstanding commercial, cultural, residential, and mixed-use architectural designs. The firm uses a highly client-focused approach and assists homeowners throughout the entire process. That includes site planning, programming, feasibility studies, master planning, and space planning. The firm’s work adheres to LEED standards.

Featured Projects

The photo above is an excellent example of the firm’s work. Located in La Jolla, this home spans 3,500 square feet and won the company a Gold Nugget Award of Merit as “Best Custom Home.” It provides its owners with panoramic views of the shores and showcases an excellent courtyard plan and warm wood detailing. From the get-go, the company worked on various sustainability elements into this project including the site orientation, its great overhangs, and the deeply recessed plaster wall openings.

About Hubbell & Hubbell Architects

Established in 1995, Hubbell & Hubbell Architects offers a complete and comprehensive range of architecture and planning services. It strives to provide sustainable solutions that it achieves through innovative techniques and methods. Headquartered in San Diego, the firm has also worked on the design and remodel of numerous public facilities including churches, parks, and nature centers. The firm uses only the best materials, and materials that are recyclable and environmentally friendly. With all this in mind, it comes as no surprise that the firm is the proud recipient of a multitude of industry awards and distinctions. Its work has also been recognized in various publications including San Diego Home & Garden Magazine and BUILD Magazine.

Featured Projects

Burrowed in the quaint and inviting vineyards of Temecula, the project above best embodies the company’s talent and skill. For this home, the firm opted for a timeless Spanish style. It sits on over four acres and showcases panoramic views of the nearby Palomar Mountains. The design is notable for incorporating the client’s vision of having a green home that has enabled them to save quite a bit on their electric bills. The home’s strawbale provides great insulation qualities and Hubbell integrated other locally sourced natural building materials into this home.

About JLC Architecture

JLC Architecture offers a full range of services and uses a highly collaborative approach that emphasizes the importance of seamlessly incorporating clients’ needs and wants into the firm’s designs. The firm is also known for making use of innovative and creative solutions to otherwise challenging projects. JLC Architecture is led by its owner, Jean-Louis Coquereau, an experienced architect with an extensive background in the field. He comes from a family of architects and maintains affiliations with organizations such as the AIA and LEED. Under his leadership, the firm has become known for its transitional, traditional, and contemporary projects.

Featured Projects

The photo above best depicts the firm’s talent and expertise. Located in North Granados, it features a great open floor plan that seamlessly connects the interior to the outdoors. The home also features expansive multi-panel doors and a traditionally landscaped backyard. Its exteriors are made of smooth troweled stucco, charred cypress siding, exposed masonry, and glass. The firm also designed a pool and a spa.

About Kristi Byers, AIA

Kristi Byers works out of its office in Southern California and is well-respected for its modern designs, site-appropriate responses, and its use of excellent materials. The firm’s portfolio showcases a diverse portfolio of project types which include not only single-family homes but also the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, international industrial parks, and LEED Platinum office buildings. The firm strives to protect the environment through various sustainability practices. At its helm is its principal, Kristi Byers, who personally oversees each of the company’s projects. She draws inspiration from over two decades of experience and has taken on various commercial, industrial, civic, university, K-12, mid and high-rise mixed-use, residential, and master planning projects all across Southern California and the United States. The photo above is a great example of the company’s expertise.

Featured Projects

This home was a multi-phased update of a mid-century project. It was completed for a young, growing family that sits in the South Park neighborhood. For this project, it opted for a modern mid-century aesthetic and reworked the master bathroom to bring in a rich amount of ambient light. It also replaced several exterior windows and doors. The firm’s work has been featured in publications like San Diego Daily Transcript and The San Diego Union-Tribune.

About LUCE et studio

LUCE et studio is a collaborative studio that believes in infusing art into architecture. The firm takes on projects regardless of size and scale and is well-known for its great master plans. It also provides custom furniture, which is greatly influenced by the firm’s various museums, corporate design, boutique hotels, civic institutions, colleges, and private residential commissions. Since its inception, the company has secured a solid list of excellent clients. In terms of design, it is particularly regarded for its modern and contemporary work.

Featured Projects

In the space above, the home opted for a modern design complemented with sleek finishes. It also opted for various minimalist touches, wood panels, and a recurring theme of straight lines. It also installed a large kitchen island and worked on an open floor plan.

About Sanctuary Architects

With features in projects like San Diego Home/Garden and Dream Homes San Diego, Sanctuary Architects specializes in both commercial and modern architectural themes. It is led by its principal and founder Mark Lee Christopher, who holds a degree from the University of Michigan. He draws inspiration from over three decades of industry experience and founded the firm in 1987. Under his supervision, the company has also had the honor of winning a multitude of awards and distinctions. Its homes and spaces are best embodied in the photo above.

Featured Projects

Labeled in its portfolio as the “Woods Residence,” this home was first built in 1932 and was redesigned and laid out to accommodate a growing family. Its family and guest spaces were separate and distinct from its utility spaces and were arranged along a large C-shape. The firm also worked on various custom finishes and touches.