As the third-largest city in San Diego County, Oceanside has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment, shopping, dining, and socializing. This coastal city also provides a vibrant and historic atmosphere that makes its commercial landscape more interesting and memorable.

Shaping these structures are the best commercial architects in Oceanside. The firms have been highly commended for their detail-oriented and client-centered approach. Their design practices have been recognized by industry publications, award-giving bodies, and other industry institutions for decades.

Safdie Rabines Architects

925 Fort Stockton Drive, San Diego, CA 92103

Safdie Rabines Architects is an award-winning designer that delivers unforgettable commercial structures across the region. One example of its work is the Mercado del Barrio center. The project won awards from industry institutions including the Associated General Contractors of San Diego and San Diego Architectural Foundation The landmark is located in San Diego’s dynamic and culturally rich Barrio Logan area. Commissioned by Shea Properties, the 321,000-square-foot urban facility is celebrated for a design that honors the city’s history. It also provides modern spaces for businesses, including retail spaces, a supermarket, a public plaza, and a community center. 

Partner architects and co-founders Taal Safdie and Ricardo Rabines lead the firm’s everyday practice. Taal Safdie is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Architects Mosher Drew (AMD)

1775 Hancock Street, Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92110

Architects Mosher Drew (AMD) provides architecture and design services to a wide range of markets, including the commercial, healthcare, K-12 schools, higher education, and federal sectors. As a modern company, it incorporates the latest in design and construction technologies to deliver spaces that interact with their users. This approach, as well as its overall design practice, has been developed by its founders since the firm’s inception in 1948. 

Four principals continue the legacy of the founders: Edward M. Holakiewicz, AIA, William A. Magnuson, AIA, and Benjamin V. Meza, AIA, LEED AP, and Dan Dubrow, AIA. Under their leadership, the firm has helped shape the region’s architectural landscapes. One example that exemplifies the innovations of its practice is for the University of San Diego’s Torero Store. The book store is designed to provide a “multisensory” experience to its customers. One of its features is an interactive light sculpture that can be controlled and customized to provide different types of videos and sounds. The work is a recipient of the 2015 BuildingSMART BIM Award.

BGI Architecture

2292 Faraday Avenue, #100, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Residential and commercial designs dominate BGI Architecture’s portfolio. Since BGI’s inception over 35 years ago, BGI has helped developers and private owners create spaces that respond to their needs in terms of function and form. Whether it is for a new construction design or a tenant improvement interior design, BGI provides services that have been highly commended by the AIA and the Building Industry Association (BIA) San Diego. Some of these projects have also been featured in industry publications, including Coastal Magazine and San Diego Home & Garden.

An example of BGI’s design aesthetic is the Carlsbad Optometry project. The work covers 1,143-square-foot of commercial space inspired by the open space layout and minimalist elements of contemporary style. The same design inspiration also answered the client’s request for a well-lit store. Floor-to-ceiling windows and walls bring in ample daylight.

obrARCHITECTURE 

2419 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92104

obrARCHITECTURE emphasizes an eclectic approach to architecture that allows them to deliver complex, detail-oriented, and thoughtful design solutions to the region’s commercial market. The firm was founded in 2008 by three partner architects: Christopher Bittner, Garrick Oliver, and Anney Rosenthal-Hall.

One example of the firm’s work was provided for Camp Coffee. The clients—a team of baristas that share a passion for the great outdoors—want to bring the same natural experience to their beachside shop. The firm answered by delivering a space that provides both function and inspiration. One highlight of its design detail is a one-century-old reclaimed piece of barn wood that was fitted in the store’s customer area. A 20-foot high mountainscape mural sets the tone for the store and light fixtures imitate the patterns of constellations. A black tile tapestry framed by a series of vertical wood inlays mimics the silhouettes of a tree-filled forest.

Alpha Studio Design Group

6152 Innovation Way, Carlsbad, CA 92009

Established in 2007, Alpha Studio Design Group has provided a collaborative approach to design that answers to the pragmatic needs of every project. Principal architects and AIA affiliates Paul Gallegos and Josh Eckle use the traditional and emerging technologies of design, including CAD software and 3-D modeling. Doing so allows them to deliver modern and contemporary designs to a wide range of markets. 

One of the firm’s projects for the commercial sector is the RocknHair Salon. The firm transformed a plain and unoccupied commercial space into a multi-function and multi-performing venue that accommodates a shop and a salon. The clients also wanted an interactive space where patrons and workers could easily socialize so the firm designed the interiors as three separate but flowing areas. The palette for the interiors reflects the salon’s brand and its goal of exuding both relaxation and sophistication.