Office parks are the new "it" places to work. They offer everything that a traditional office park has, in addition to plenty of space for employees to collaborate and innovate. That creativity in design is something that's becoming more important than ever as we face increasingly complex challenges like climate change and sustainability.
We need to separate our traditional viewpoints from the cement towers of older office park design and open our minds to innovative creations that foster a sense of collaboration and build community identity. Here are the key components of creating a sense of place in your office park:
You can create a sense of community by providing spaces for people to meet and gather. These can be informal, like a coffee shop or cafeteria, or more formal, like an auditorium or conference room. But no matter what kind of space you choose, you want to be sure it fits the goals of your office park, has enough space for an audience, and provides the amenities you need for residents to succeed. As a side note, never forget the importance of good bathroom placement!
Accessibility should be a vital component of any office park design. Not only is it an essential factor in creating a sense of place, but it improves employee experience and enhances overall satisfaction with your workplace.
As part of this effort, some companies have begun prioritizing accessibility features like wheelchair ramps at entrances, elevators that are large enough for wheelchairs, accessible restrooms with wide doorways, designated parking spaces close to buildings, and even lower countertops in break rooms so that wheelchair users don't have trouble reaching them. There is a delicate balance between legal requirements and personalization that residents will appreciate.
Identifying your company's values and culture is an excellent place to start with office park design. What do you want employees to feel as soon as they walk into the building? Is it important that each department has its own identity, or are there specific spaces where everyone will congregate regardless of their role in the company?
This comes down to the various colors, materials, and design elements that support your overall feelings and goals as a business park. Not necessarily branding, but a way to self-identify the space so the surrounding community feels welcome and appreciated.
Nature is an integral part of your employees' lives. It can help them feel refreshed, inspired, and renewed. Office parks that incorporate nature into their design create a sense of place for employees, which in turn leads to better collaboration and community.
Create outdoor spaces with plants and trees that provide shade and privacy. These areas should be located near buildings so people can easily walk between them if they want to take a break from working inside all day long.
If possible, include a fountain or pond in one area of the park so people can enjoy listening to its sound while they're taking breaks away from their desks. Even a tiny waterfall can make an excellent addition.
It's easy to overlook the importance of creating opportunities for socializing. After all, you're probably thinking about how to design your office park to accommodate its employees' needs. But if you don't consider how people will interact with each other at work, you might end up with a very isolated office park design that doesn't support collaboration or community building.
The building is only part of the office park design. The rest of the property should also be designed to be a place that people want to spend time in, and can be used as a destination for events or social gatherings. You can do this by creating walkable paths through your property, including outdoor seating along them, and even adding decorative lighting or art installations along those paths.
Do not forget to focus on the roads, parking areas, and pathways where your visitors will travel the most. You want them to get a positive experience from the moment they arrive at your office park property.
Office parks can be a great place to work, but they need to be designed with balance in mind. They have the potential to be more than just places where people go each day. Instead, they can become communities that foster collaboration and productivity.
As long as you take the time to consider all the various features of office park design, you can have a beautiful space that people will enjoy for generations.
The art of restoring older buildings should never be lost by any generation. On the contrary, it allows our society to embrace all kinds of cultural and emotional heritage that would otherwise be lost. These old buildings tell a unique story of our past, struggles, and ambitions. They are a physical manifestation of our history and often represent a specific architectural style or era that acts as a landmark to local cities and towns.
With that in mind, we were thrilled at SFJones Architects to take on the project and subsequent award-winning Urth Caffe restoration. This was an incredible opportunity for our team to showcase our creative expertise in building restoration and repurposing of historical spaces. We take immense pride in capturing these valuable assets to repurpose them for local communities.
With the Urth Caffe, we received a 2020 Preservation Design Award for Restoration focused on celebrating architecture firms like ours that are carefully selected by our peers, engineers, planners, critics, journalists, and other industry leaders. This is an award focused on those projects that further the purpose of the design industry while remaining aligned with the California Preservation Foundation’s mission of providing statewide leadership, advocacy, and education to preserve California’s diverse cultural heritage and historical places.
Focusing on restoring older buildings is always thrilling because of their sustainable value. Instead of demolishing something that connects our past with our present, we reuse existing structures and minimize the environmental impact of any new construction. Many historic buildings are crafted using high-quality materials and artisan skills that would usually be lost if not preserved. By restoring these fantastic facilities, we reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote sustainable development as well as a part of our collective history.
When we first took on the Urth Caffe project, we knew it was going to require innovative restoration from the very beginning. This European-inspired building was first constructed in 1888, but was subject to multiple alterations over the years. The result was a collection of materials and design elements that had drowned out the original character of the space. That is why we were so determined to restore the building back to its former glory while also undergoing some necessary structural improvements for safety and regulatory compliance.
We worked closely with the city of Orange historical department and a local society of the preservation of the city . That means meticulously studying the building’s history and conducting exploratory investigations into the original structural intent of the designer. This unique approach and dedication to history allowed us to capture the complete restoration of the building’s exterior façade back to the era of significance and integrate it into the structural improvements.
As we moved through this process, we stumbled upon a significant challenge with the ground-floor storefronts. These have been covered multiple times from previous alternation and restoration attempts, leading to a height restriction we needed to overcome. Our skilled team inserted a steel moment frame to allow for full-height restoration, giving the external façade a more natural and inviting aesthetic. We also made sure to restore the building’s original wood-framed structure, an integral aspect that boosts the overall restoration process.
While we always love pouring our creativity into the look of a restoration project, we also made significant interior improvements for a more functional and welcoming space. We wanted to balance the building’s historical character while repurposing the space for modern needs. With that in mind, we transformed the first floor into a modern café and restaurant that is absolutely worth visiting. This is complete with restaurant support spaces.
The second floor was repurposed into office spaces that can support the first-floor activities or be rented out to other professionals. Our design team took plenty of time to select specific elements that boost the look and feel of the space, including lighting, art, and furniture. It is crucial to our firm that we maintain a building’s character and story when supplementing its design with visuals.
The final result was a stunning restoration that earned the Urth Caffe a 2020 Preservation Design Award for Restoration. At SFJones Architects, we are honored to have received this prized recognition from a jury of our peers. California is a competitive marketplace, and recognition for hard work and commitment to a project is always a welcome opportunity.
Our team at SFJones believes wholeheartedly in bringing every one of our client’s unique visions to life through the skillful use of various design elements. This way, we can create memorable guest experiences that maximize the potential success of any space. We do this by taking a holistic approach to design, allowing us to elevate some of the most talked about social spaces throughout Southern California.
Overall, we were able to repurpose this unique building with attractive modern amenities to attract all kinds of new tenants. This is a fantastic location to bring innovators, workers, and remote freelancers together without requiring a closed cubical space. Having a vibrant new space for the community to enjoy is critical to our role as designers. It improves the cultural significance of a space so the former glory is just as important as the current value – so all future generations can experience the same rewarding experience.
The new owners’ goal of this beautiful building was to restore it to its original Italian Revival character and bring in new tenants from the many amenities we infused into the building’s character. Not only do we believe we excelled in achieving this goal, but the result was so successful we received an award that helps the community foster a sense of collaboration and a dining space full of delicious tastes and scents.
The next time you are roaming around Santa Monica, be sure to stop into the Urth Caffe. Take your time exploring the various design and architectural elements we have painstakingly brought back out into the limelight. We hope you will have a rewarding time enjoying the hard work of our team, stakeholders, clients, and peers. We want to thank the California Preservation Foundation for this unique honor. We will cherish it!
As a restaurant owner, you know that keeping up with the latest design trends is crucial to staying relevant and modernizing your business. In an increasingly digital world, customers evaluate restaurants on more than just food; they value the ambiance, décor, and overall look and feel of the space. For these reasons, combining fashion trends with the design elements of your establishment can give it an edge in today’s crowded restaurant market.
From mid-century modern furniture to modular designs that create flexible spaces for guests to use in multiple ways, there are countless creative strategies for developing a visually appealing eatery - all while utilizing stylish ideas from top fashion houses along the way! Read on to learn about some of today’s most popular approaches for incorporating a fashionable flair into restaurant design.
The past decade has seen an incredible evolution in the way restaurants design their spaces, from quick service and take-out to upscale dining. Fast food chains have gone from outdated interiors with plastic seats to modern layouts with sleek furniture, warm colors, and fast technology such as tablets. Upscale restaurants have incorporated design elements such as strategic lighting, art installations, and open concepts for a more inviting feel.
Even previously unimportant features like bathroom decor have seen a major upgrade from companies that care about delivering a cohesive atmosphere from start to finish. These changes may seem small, but they show that the restaurant experience has been given new life through thoughtful design decisions that create a sense of comfort, efficiency, and pleasure throughout the entire space.
When designing your restaurant, consider incorporating natural elements to provide an organic, modern feel. Natural materials such as wood, stone and glass create warm textures that entice restaurantgoers and make them feel comfortable. Consider balancing light-filled mid-century modern furnishings with unique pieces made from reclaimed wood or handmade ceramics for a textured and inviting atmosphere. Incorporating natural elements into restaurant design is an effective way to emphasize visual appeal and create a unique dining experience for customers.
Using efficient lighting options in restaurants is a great way to enhance décor, create a mood, and draw attention to menu items. Consider carefully where to place your light fixtures and what type of bulbs to use. Creative lighting can really set the ambiance and capture the attention of customers. Whether you choose an eclectic mix of pendant lights or a simple spotlight above particular dishes, the right lighting will make diners feel more comfortable while encouraging them to explore the menu. With innovative lighting techniques, even a smaller space can feel welcoming and inviting for your guests.
Room size can often be a challenge when it comes to designing an inviting space. Utilizing open shelving and modular furniture are great ways to maximize the available space while creating an inviting atmosphere. Open shelving not only provides storage options but also allows for easier access to items, giving an air of openness and providing a great way to display decor and other personal items, thereby making a room more inviting. Modular furniture adds flexibility, giving you the ability to customize both the form and function of your space. It allows for greater layout options that may not have been available before and provide easier maneuverability throughout a room. With these strategies, you can turn even small spaces into inviting havens full of personality.
Adding texture to walls or floors is a great way to bring a unique style to any room. To create the desired effect, you can consider a range of options such as wood floors and brick walls. Wooden floors provide a classic look and come in many different designs and materials, while exposed brickwork can lend an industrial or rustic appeal. Depending on your budget and preferences, you could opt for either real hardwood flooring or laminate versions, while faux bricks are often easier to install and allow for more creative freedom when it comes to customizable design solutions. With some careful thought, incorporating natural elements with added textures into your home decor will result in the perfect balance between style and comfort!
Providing comfortable seating for patrons is an essential contribution to their overall experience of your space. Ensuring that the chairs and benches are ergonomic, durable, and aesthetically pleasing can make a remarkable difference in the comfort of guests. Good seating also has practical advantages such as making it more inviting for groups to linger and potentially purchase more items. Improving your venue’s seating will result in higher customer satisfaction and could increase future visits to your space.
Restaurant design has changed significantly due to advances in technology over the past decade. Many modern restaurants are designing their spaces with digital elements such as touchscreen menus, wireless payment terminals, and even interactive walls or self-service ordering kiosks. Technology is also driving the use of artificial intelligence to make better decisions about customer service, leading to a more efficient and enjoyable experience for diners.
Innovative interior designs that incorporate audio-visual equipment have become popular, both to create atmospheres conducive to relaxation or dining out with friends, as well as for live entertainment at larger venues. With these new technologies, restaurants can offer unique experiences that fuse food and hospitality in an intimate setting.
Joya is a contemporary restaurant that serves farm fresh produce, sandwiches, and pressed juices. It has 4,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space and is perfect for large or small parties. This restaurant space features a variety of versatile and functional indoor and outdoor spaces, making it an ideal location for private and corporate events - from weddings and birthdays to meetings, reunions, and more.
Joya is the focal point of all the amenities space of the 3-building Class A Lab campus. SFJones helped in the development and design of the indoor & outdoor amenities, including half of the ground floor (footprint of 11,400 sq. feet)
Noon is a unique food program that includes 3 rotating “pop up” diverse restaurant that serves catered food.
SFJones developed the 3,750 sq. feet design that features the ability for a new “pop up” to occupy a station for a period of time before another food concept could occupy the same station. It includes a permanently manned lunch grill, breakfast pastry, coffee, and a smoothie bar program with indoor and outdoor seating.
It is located in a completely renovated 20-storeyed office building that includes lounge, fitness and office areas too.
For restaurant interior design, these tips are an essential part of creating a modern yet inviting atmosphere. By utilizing natural elements, efficient lighting, open shelving, modular furniture, textured walls and floors, comfortable seating, and technology to customize the experience for each patron, you can dramatically elevate your restaurant design.
So remember: when creating a beautiful and captivating atmosphere for your customers - get creative and go with the flow! If you need help getting started on designing this kind of space for your restaurant, just reach out to SFjones - we would be more than happy to help!
As our work environment and retail experience has been evolving so has been our strategies to design them.
No longer is a simple coffee shop in the office lobby or a food court in a shopping center an amenity that the consumers expects. The work environment has blurred the line between work and social interaction. Creative amenity spaces have become part of what defines a class A environment that companies want to provide to their employees.
It’s what Google has been doing for years for their employees to retain them longer and to create an energetic and productive environment. Retail spaces have been experiencing a similar, but different evolution. With the decline of the “big box anchor tenant” developers have been looking for the new draw for shoppers to bring people to their retail centers. Curated experiential environments that give reasons other than just shopping has been at the center of the trend.
This trend is what I call designing “social spaces” and the common thread in all social spaces is food and beverage. This is where SFJones Architects sets themselves apart from other architectural and interior design firms.
With a keen understanding of how food & beverage work, from the flow and operational needs to mechanical and permitting requirements, this understanding is essential to the creation of the social space. Often developers need to design their projects in absent of an operator until they are already permitted and under construction and the challenge becomes how to make sure that the spaces they have allocated and infrastructure they need to accommodate will work for a potential operator without a major redesign or disruption while trying to keep on schedule. The added value is that the designs that SFJones creates are innovative, efficient, and often becomes the selling point to potential operators that allows them to realize how the spaces are going to work for them.
Examples of these projects are Foundry and Lux, Pavilions, LAFC with shipping container beer garden and maybe some screen shots of the renderings of Boardwalk and 800 N. Brand.
HCP Inc. retained SFJones to develop and program a 26,000 sf amenities facility for a million square foot biotech office campus in South San Francisco. The goal was to create a destination for the employees in an area that was lacking adequate food and services. We partnered with Bon Appetite to develop the food program and intermixed the social actives such as gym, yoga studio, bar/lounge area and even included a bowling alley.
This project located in Concord, California was to provide a small amenities area of a larger tradition retail complex to create a destination for social events including; a music concert series, water fountains, a grass area that transforms into a skating rink during the Christmas seasons and children’s play area. SFJones was challenges to create six “tiny restaurants” for local mom and pop food outlets and an outdoor seating area that became the nexus for the whole center.
With the completion of the new soccer stadium in the Banc Of California in Los Angeles SFJones was hired to create a beer garden using a shipping container and part of a larger food hall called “the fields LA”. The challenge here was to design and fabricate the unit in Oakland and have the unit shipped to LA in time for the grand opening. We created an outdoor seating deck with shading structures and designed the container to house 35 kegs and cocktails for high demand needs during events at the stadium.
Are you a real estate developer looking to include rich amenities and “social spaces” in your next commercial real estate project? SFJones has been a leader in developing new concepts venues from the bowling lounge craze to office amenities facilities for office campus environments, we strive to blur the line between fun and work. Let SFJones Architects help your vision come to life.
As office doors started to shutter and working remote was a mandate, employees and executives alike were faced with one glaring question: what is going to make my office space standout and attract good tenants?
One thing the pandemic made us realize is that the office is not so much a place to clock in and clock out, but an environment of productive social interaction, camaraderie and togetherness, that you just don’t get over zoom calls.
Working remote didn’t make for effective and pleasant collaboration, especially as remote working also meant “always-on”, blurring the lines of work-life balance.
We believe there will be a rush back into office space, primarily co-working spaces, as businesses realize prioritizing employee health and happiness breeds a more effective workforce.
The lure of a more normal routine in an office, coupled with amenities should be the main concern for landlords of office space.
Whether thats a health and fitness center, lounge or event space, the more the better! But above everything, successful work sites always have a great food and beverage program.
At SFJones we have over 20 years of experience developing social spaces with an emphasis on top-tier food and beverage programs. We understand the intricacies of the operations and what most developers or landlords might overlook. Whether is the mechanical requirements, the customer experience, or service accessibilities, SFJones has the insight and expertise to manage and lead those requirements in the early stages of development.
If you’re looking for help programming and designing the new amenities for your development, download the deck below and get in touch for a consultation.
Download the Social Spaces Deck Get in Touch With our teamWhat will fast-casual dining look like in a post-pandemic world? This is a question restauranteurs, chefs and patrons are asking themselves as the world begins to slowly open back up.
One such idea offers both a smaller and safer physical footprint. Tiny restaurants. Sometimes made out of shipping containers or smaller brick-and-mortar buildings that primarily house just a kitchen with limited or no interior public space, usually with alfresco seating.
Repurposed shipping containers effectively function as affordable and mobile eateries. SFJones Architects has been lucky to put this concept to the test, both with the beer garden located at the Fields LA (home of the LA Football club), and Pavilions at Veranda in Concord, CA, where tiny brick and mortar structures and a common seating area offer a refreshing outdoor twist on the traditional mall food court.
Watch the LAFC Stadium Beer Garden Installation.
Containers are manufactured in a factory, streamlining the approval process and the ability to create a fleet of units more efficiently and cost effectively. The shipping containers act as a module that can be arranged as site conditions dictate. Containers allow the ease of mobility and flexibility for not only new restaurant owners, developers, but also 3rd party delivery drivers with easy accessibility. With our concept (located in the deck below), it also acts as a destination for hungry patrons who want a fast-casual experience.
Not only that, but the investment into an outlet that has the ability to be moved to another location changes the way that a restauranteur evaluates their investment costs, since they are creating an asset rather than investing into a build out to a landlord’s space. Resale of a unit offers opportunities to recapture investment costs if necessary or moved to a different location.
Mobil units also offer established food outlets to expand their brand or to provide pop up locations to test markets or to provide seasonal operations as well as running as ghost kitchens to service to-go and delivery options for mobile apps.
Want to learn more? Download our deck here!
Download the Container Drive-Thru Concept Deck Get in touch with our teamIt’s no secret there has been a big shakeup in the restaurant industry. Many small business owners were forced to shut their doors in the fallout of the world flipped upside down due to the pandemic. But with every crisis, comes opportunities for entrepreneurs to create new and exciting concepts for the world and local communities to enjoy as we build out post pandemic industry to new heights. As I have helped many new restauranteurs and chefs, I have seen first hand how restauranteurs have faired when acquiring new restaurant spaces. Here’s a few things to look for and avoid when acquiring a new space.
Need help?
Get in touch today!
GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR TEAMAs the need for smaller interactive work spaces and the way that businesses collaborate evolve, so must the way that designers address the function and design of the work environment. El Camp is a coworking space for “like minded” companies to share office space, and collaborate on projects together. Companies or individuals can either rent small enclosed offices, open seating, or become a member to have access to “hot seats” on an as needed basis. Conference rooms can be reserved for meetings, and “social seating areas” are scattered throughout the 50,000 sf facilities. SFJones was assigned the task of creating the “social spaces” throughout the office arena designed by others. The solution was to create a “living room” space using a camping theme to tie the spaces together. A rope structure that represented a tented entrance sets the tone as one entered the space and was greeted by the camp director. The “living room” also serves as an event space for speakers to lecture, and kitchen facilities allow outsourced catering companies to prepare event spaces. A grand staircase leading up to an additional second floor office space creates an interior deck for spontaneous gatherings. In addition, there is an exterior space with games, seating, and a barbecue grill making the office tenant feel right at home while working.
https://www.dwell.com/collection/el-camp-832003a4
The Urth Caffe is the winner of a 2020 Preservation Design Award for Restoration. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. The Award will be presented on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at an online awards ceremony. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/awards.
The two-story brick and wood-framed building was originally constructed as a smaller one-story building in 1888 and widened and a 2nd floor added in 1907. Subsequent alterations resulted in the loss of significant integrity, covering the exterior with plaster, loss of the original storefronts and replacement with inappropriate windows. The building was purchased to adaptively reuse it as a café and restaurant. The new owner’s goals were to restore it to its original Italian Revival character that was long lost. Historic research and exploratory investigation were performed to ensure the accuracy of the restoration. The building’s exterior façade was completely restored to the period of significance. A steel moment frame was inserted to allow for the full height ground floor storefronts to be restored. New period compatible interior improvements included a restaurant and café on the first floor with restaurant support spaces and offices on the second floor.
You’ve heard of tiny houses – but tiny restaurants? Well, that’s not too far off one of the many innovative new design concepts from Stephen Francis Jones and his team at SFJones Architects. They’re going against the cliché that “bigger is better” with the beer garden located at the Fields LA (home of the LA Football club), where Jones has repurposed shipping containers to function as affordable and mobile eateries. The same holds true at the Pavilions at Veranda in Concord, CA, where tiny brick and mortar structures (not much bigger than a food truck) and a common seating area offer a refreshing outdoor twist on the traditional mall food court.
His other recent projects run the gamut: restoring the classic Ashley residence (built 1908) in Coronado; developing the Foundry and Lux business campus at Oyster Cove; rebuilding homes destroyed by fire in Santa Rosa; and creating new spaces for clients ranging from medical collectives to legendary restauranteurs. Whatever the project, Jones brings thirty years of experience and success, making him well-prepared for the challenges of the future.
His assignments are all reflections of the ways in which Jones is evolving his business from mere architecture and design to “placemaking” – using thoughtful and efficient design concepts to make businesses, offices, and homes more sustainable, livable, and unique. As the business and commercial world reimagine where and when we do business, Stephen Francis Jones and his design team continue to think outside of the box, to imagine spaces that unify as well as define us. Common open spaces, integration with the natural landscape, and user-friendly amenities are just as important to Jones’ projects as basic form and function.
Even though the term might be new, the idea behind placemaking has always been at the heart of Jones’ work, including his most high-profile accomplishments. Whether you are talking about his first “tiny” project, Li’l Simzy’s at the Point in El Segundo; the innovative El Camp office complex (also in El Segundo); Wolfgang Puck’s signature restaurant Spago in Beverly Hills; farm-to-table landmark MB Post in Manhattan Beach; the flagship location for La Brea Bakery; the Lucky Strike Bowling chain; Japan’s Mister Donut franchise; or the Java House chain in Africa, Jones’ designs are more than just places to eat – they are highly crafted social spaces where relationships are formed, collegial and familial bonds are reinforced, and communities are built.