Expanding Our Team with Another Dynamic Designer
Getting to Know Arjun Urbonas From his high school to college years and into his professional career, we had the good fortune to mentor, train, and ultimately snag Arjun Urbonas. Fresh out of graduating early from high school (where he played rugby … just like one of our firm legends, Sandra Gramley!), Arjun interned at […]
Making Our Home in Old Town San Diego: Embracing A Fresh Chapter
After a Year in our New Platt/Whitelaw Office, We’re Celebrating with Gorgeous Photos! As architects, we may overthink when it comes to choosing office space for our firm. But you can’t argue with the results! In fact, we’re so pleased with our choice that we’re taking time to show off here with some fancy new […]
Casa Casillas: a Dream Come True
Former YMCA Office Transforms into Maker Space. Former Chula Vista, Calif. Mayor Mary Casillas Salas spent years advocating for an artists’ maker space that would be available to the public. We are proud to be part of Kimley-Horn’s (Prime Consultant’s) team that’s now making her vision a reality. Origin Story Named in honor of Paula […]
Gloria Nonaka-Rubio Joins Platt/Whitelaw
How a family on the frontlines of history influenced her career ambitions Our team is diverse in many ways, including in our professional backgrounds. For example, Platt/Whitelaw’s newest team member, Gloria Nonaka-Rubio, cut her chops at both engineering and general contracting firms. “Attention to detail is one of my top strengths,” Gloria said. Thro
Architecture a Century from Now
How our Senior Associate Peter Soutowood helped shape the conversation at the AIA Young Architects Forum’s Summit 30: Mission 2130 Can you imagine the role of architects more than 100 years into the future? That’s exactly what Platt/Whitelaw Senior Associate Peter Soutowood had the chance to do when he was selected as one of 50 […]
A School with a Superpower
As school starts again this year, children attending Clairemont Canyons Academy are in for a big surprise. They will arrive at a colorful new 2-story administration and classroom building. As kids fill the brand-new halls, work will continue elsewhere on the campus to modernize the existing school facilities and create a new joint-use field and […]
Give Me Shelter
Pallet City in Chula Vista will provide temporary homes for more than 130 formerly unsheltered people Community architecture is our jam, and that means architecture for everyone. We’re so pleased to work on a project that will provide individuals, couples and families – all of whom currently live without shelter – with temporary homes at […]
Aspects of Creativity in the Architectural Design Process
Architecture is unique for its blend of art and science. Architect Antonin Gaudí, for example, is world famous for his unconventional shapes, colors and textures. But, at the end of the day, his designs for the Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and other noted structures had to be technically sophisticated enough to reach into the sky […]
Decarbonization Succeeds Net-Zero-Energy as Sustainability Goal
By Sandra Gramley, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C As little as a year ago, zero net energy dominated the discussion in sustainability circles. In architecture, that means designing or retrofitting buildings to produce at least as much energy as they consume. Since that goal was based on solar energy supplied by roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) panels, […]
Integrating Art into Public Spaces to Engage, Enhance and Inspire
By Naveen Waney and Sandra Gramley, Principals at Platt/Whitelaw Architects A percentage of estimated construction costs for new buildings are required by many public agencies to be set aside to integrate public art. This can be at the federal level, like the General Services Administration, or the local level, like the City of San Diego […]
Pandemic Brings Changes to Everything from Offices to Apartments
San Diego Business Journal, June 22, 2020, By Ray Huard: Sandra Gramley, co-principal of Platt/Whitelaw Architects in North Park, said now “is a time to reflect because we don’t have the answers.” “As we go forward, I think mostly about flexibility,” Gramley said. https://www.sdbj.com/news/2020/jun/22/pandemic-brings-changes-everything-
Adaptability Keeps $8 Million Project on Schedule
San Diego Business Journal article, April 12, 2020, By Ray Huard: “Designed by Platt/Whitelaw Architects of San Diego, the project includes construction of a new 2,045 square-foot administration building for park staff, renovation of an existing 1,960 square-foot general store with the addition of an 800 square-foot kitchen, and construction of a 4,664 squ