Last updated on July 4th, 2024 at 06:44 am

San Marino is a tiny Los Angeles County residential city. It is a terrific area to stay when visiting Los Angeles since you can enjoy the small-town charm as well as all the benefits of close proximity to the big metropolis. San Marino is known for its affluent homes, tree-lined residential avenues, and unified education system. Residents and visitors will never run out of things to explore—stunning parks, exciting museums, and art galleries are all available. 

If you want to build some commercial space or start a business, get to know six of the best commercial architects in San Marino, California. These firms were chosen for their impressive portfolios, extensive experience and expertise, and solid track record of satisfying clients.


Rockefeller Kempel Architects

145 Standard Street, El Segundo, CA 90245

Rocky Rockefeller and Christopher Kempel founded Rockefeller Kempel Architects in 2002 to combine their diverse and complementary experiences. The firm provides comprehensive architectural services that provide a single-source solution for its clients by handling everything from conceptual design and strategic planning to construction administration and post-occupancy evaluation. The firm is backed by a team of brilliant designers that bring extensive expertise to a range of various exciting projects. As a result, the firm has built an impressive portfolio that includes everything from private mansions to corporate offices. The firm’s devotion to delivering exceptional projects that blend creative design solutions and current technology is credited to the collaborative attitude shared by clients and professional colleagues.

Casa Vino was designed to be both a bar/restaurant and an art gallery in this featured project. The firm designed a succession of separate wall planes that form discrete seating zones, each with one or two pieces of artwork hanging behind them to meet these objectives. Simple hanging fixtures over dining and low lounge tables create a gentle, ambient light. At the same time, low-voltage spotlights focus on the art.


House & Robertson Architects

10125 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90232

House & Robertson Architects is a renowned, award-winning firm that has been working as executive architects on critical local projects with East Coast design companies and cutting-edge local practices since its inception in 1996. With 26 years in the business, the firm has grown into a larger company while keeping its distinctive culture of cooperation and commitment to employee empowerment. The firm is committed to delivering unique design solutions, high-quality craftsmanship, and meticulous management to adapt and meet the demands and goals of any project, client, and design partner. HRA’s Principals provide a hands-on approach to contacting customers, contractors, consultants, and city agencies daily to ensure smooth and seamless project delivery. 

MTV Networks remodeled an existing five-story office building in Santa Monica for its western U.S. operations headquarters. House & Robertson Architects served as executive architect for the addition of a new entry to an existing conventional office building on the west end. The project also included a new MTV lobby space with distinctive branding components such as a completely repaired and adorned Airstream trailer.


Ewing Architects

723 E California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91106

Founded in 1972, Ewing Architects is a full-service architectural and design practice specializing in site and master plan design, interior design, building renovations, and restoration design. The firm also creates unique furniture, lighting, and different fittings. During its 50 years in the industry, the firm has showcased its superior quality and professionalism through its impressive portfolio of over 1,000 structures. Several project architects, interior designers, and master planners make up the team, delivering their experience and expertise to deliver projects that consistently exceed client expectations. Throughout the design and construction phases, the firm is committed to the kind of open communication and collaboration that ensures a smooth and stress-free construction experience. 

One of the firm’s notable projects is the Pasadena Land Rover in Pasadena. The old Toyota dealership was renovated and expanded into a new prototype Range Rover dealership. The project involved a new outside image, a showroom, a sales area, a lobby, a parts department, storage, merchandising and corporate offices, and administrative rooms.


Nardi Associates

805 S Shamrock Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016

Nardi Associates has the expertise and resources to provide architectural team services for a wide range of renovation projects, including needs assessments, space re-programming, schematic design, design development, renderings, design construction documents, interior drawings, and construction administration. Founded in 1985, the firm has proven its ability to deliver unique design solutions that achieve that client’s ideas, visions, and demands for the space. The firm has a strong reputation as a reliable firm thanks to its versatile design solutions, effective project management and cost control, and personalized customer service. Private houses and custom furnishings to complicated university facilities, multifamily housing, and urban master planning are examples of the firm’s project expertise.

The firm was hired to design the Sierra Madre Medical Office extension in California for this featured project. Exam rooms, minor procedure rooms, offices, conference rooms, and waiting spaces are all located in the new three-level, 11,000-square-foot structure, designed to allow doctors to collaborate while maintaining a continuous connection with their patients. The new building’s ground level is visibly connected to the current medical office in the front. The upper level is placed behind an architectural screen that shades the exposed southern windows, blocks less attractive views of the rooftop in front of the new structure, and blends the upper floors into the surrounding hillside landscape.


Hochhauser Blatter Associates

122 East Arrellaga Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Founding partners Jan Hochhauser and Jay Blatter, established Hochhauser Blatter Associates to deliver high-quality designs and first-rate professional services from concept design through construction. Since its inception in 1990, the firm’s distinctive value and commercial expertise have been showcased through its expertise in planning and design across a diverse portfolio of land planning, project feasibility studies, and land-use entitlement work. With its team of experienced architects and designers, the firm allows its clients to explore a financially viable, aesthetically superior vision and focus on livability and integration with the natural environment.

The Hillel at USC is one of the firm’s most impressive projects. The project is a 24-unit mixed-use student housing facility with a student center, galleries, dining, and underground parking. It had a construction cost of $24 million and featured an 18,000 square-foot student center and 32,000 square feet of residential space. 

Author

  • Alex Mericle

    Alex Mericle is the Chief Editor at General Contractors Magazine with five years of experience in the construction space. Alex has always had a strong interest in residential and commercial construction and architecture, and he has built up technical experience with building permit data, subcontractor operations, and materials procurement over the years. On top of his experience at General Contractors Magazine, he has prior experience at BuildZoom. His analytical skillset, honed through a degree in Business Analytics from Creighton University and from his work experience, allows him to transform complex construction data into actionable insights and useful, captivating content. Expertise: Residential and Commercial Construction, Building Permit Data, Home Design and Build, Architecture, Subcontractor Operations, Material Procurement Key Highlights: Over 5 years of experience writing and editing in the construction space, Chief Editor at General Contractors Magazine, Previous experience at BuildZoom Education: Creighton University, Degree in Business Analytics