The AIA Santa Barbara Design Awards program recognizes design excellence in architecture, residential architecture, restoration/renovation, and urban design. Criteria to be used by the jury include quality of design, resolution of the program idea, sustainable responsibility, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique.
WOODRAT THEATER UPDATE
Woodrat Theater, our collaborative project with MISC Workshop for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, is now complete and thriving! Selected as part of the Backcountry Casitas competition, this innovative outdoor playhouse has become a beloved feature of the garden since it’s completion in summer of 2024 – engaging children and adults alike in creative play and immersive learning.
Woodrat Theater provides a dynamic space for storytelling, exploration and environmental education. Families, educators, and visitors have embraced the structure, using it as a stage for imaginative performances and as a general gathering place to connect with nature. Designed with sustainability and resourcefulness in mind, the project continues to inspire conversations about the intersection of design, ecology and play.
We are proud to see Woodrat Theater making a meaningful impact in the community and we look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve!
BEER GARDEN 2025 – CELEBRATING 12 YEARS!
Last weekend CJM::LA marked 12 incredible years in business with our annual celebration at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s annual Beer Garden: A curated tasting trail among California’s native plants event. This event is not just a chance for our team to enjoy the outdoors together but also an opportunity to give back to one of our favorite local organizations.
Gathering in a relaxed, open-air setting allowed us to reflect on the projects, partnerships, and community that have shaped our journey over the years. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with great conversation, laughter, and appreciation for the work we do and the community that supports us. More than just a celebration, this event embodies our commitment to fostering meaningful connections – both within our team and with the organizations that make Santa Barbara such an incredible place to live.
We are grateful for everyone who has been part of our story so far, and we look forward to many more years of thoughtful design, collaboration, and making a positive impact on the world around us!
SBCA’S WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Last week the Santa Barbara Contractors Association (SBCA) hosted it’s annual Women in Construction event at the beautiful Alhecama Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. This year’s theme, ‘Trailblazers & Changemakers,’ sparked and important conversation about the challenges women in leadership roles face within our own construction and design community.
As always it was a fantastic event which CJM::LA is proud to sponsor.
BRAEMAR RESIDENCE HONORED BY SBCA
We’re thrilled to announce that our Braemar Residence was recently recognized by the SBCA at the annual Santa Barbara Construction Awards. This property was carefully renovated by our team in collaboration with Cornerstone Landscapes; and was recognized for it’s ‘Landscape and Hardscape Excellence’ at the 2025 celebration.
Working with Cornerstone Landscapes was a delight; Gregory’s team of professionals brought a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach to the installation of a variety of new and rehabilitated components of the garden including stone steps, boulder walls, a traditional Japanese fence, custom benches and even a tile mosaic (in collaboration with Joseph & Sons). We couldn’t imagine a better result!
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025
Via Tranquila Residence, Completed 2024
Wishing you a bright and successful 2025!
Happy New Year from our family to yours
Courtney, Nicole, Arturo, Jianhua, Janet
VIA TRANQUILA RESIDENCE HONORED BY AIASB
We are excited to announce that our Via Tranquila Residence was honored by the AIASB at this year’s 2024 Design Awards with a Merit Award for exceptional design excellence.
Led by Nicole Greer, the landscape design for this property embraces simplicity and restraint, using a subtle mosaic of seasonal colors and textures to reflect the sensibility of the regional landscape.
SB POLICE STATION GROUNDBREAKING
Last week our team celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Santa Barbara Police Station, which has been years in the making. We are so honored to be part of such an incredible team, working with the City of Santa Barbara, Cearnal Collective, Flowers & Associates and now ProWest Constructors to bring this vision to reality!
CELEBRATING SB HUMANE
Last weekend we celebrated our incredible client, Santa Barbara Humane, at their annual gala – The Great Gatsby Furball! CJM::LA is proud to sponsor this event annually, which helps support Santa Barbara Humane’s mission “To be champions for animals and the people who love them.”
Our team has been hard at work on a new campus expansion for SBH for the past three years, envisioning a new home ‘from the paws up’ for the animals and humans which run this incredible organization.
Click here to learn more about SBH’s history, values and socially conscious sheltering.
Congratulations Arturo!
We are thrilled to announce Arturo’s recent professional milestone of obtaining his landscape architectural license in the state of California!
Arturo has been with us for two years, and during that time has consistently demonstrated his dedication to the field of landscape architecture through both his project work and professional development.
SB Beer Garden 2024
This month we celebrated 11 years in business at the Beer Garden: A curated tasting trail among California’s native plants event. As the main fundraising event of the year for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, this event is an opportunity for the CJM::LA team to give back to one of our favorite local organizations while enjoying delicious food, drinks and music amongst the beautiful garden. Cheers!
WOODRAT THEATER
We’re excited to announce that Woodrat Theater has been selected as one of the new Backcounty Casitas as part of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s 2024 design competition! This open call for proposals occurs every two years, and celebrates the beauty of the outdoors through temporary and unique outdoor playhouses within the garden’s immersive Backcountry area.
A true collaborative effort, our office assisted MISC Workshop in refinements to the design and produced the renderings which ultimately led to a winning proposal. Developed by Jianhua Chen, the renderings tell the story of the design and how children (and adults) might interact with the theater.
-
- plan view drawing by Courtney Miller
-
- perspective sketch by Patrick Melroy
final rendering by Jianhua Chen
Eucalyptus Hill Outdoor Living
A second phase of construction is underway at this private residence nestled in the Eucalyptus Hill neighborhood of Montecito, CA.
comprehensive site plan
The landscape program for this phase consists of a new swimming pool and spa, overlook deck, retaining walls, terraced gathering spaces, a water feature, and curving stone steps to address the challenging terrain and existing mature trees.
view from the new ADU looking over the pool, with new retaining walls at left
CJM::LA worked in tandem with Design Studio 34, JRS ID, and Hall Contracting to ensure the materials palette of a new Accessory Dwelling Unit harmonizes with the landscape and site design to complement the inherent natural beauty of the property.
terrace, pool coping and ADU materials
This thoughtfully crafted landscape transformation will allow the owners to entertain family and friends in a variety of elegantly inviting outdoor spaces.