CJM::LA

ArchitecTours Wrap-Up

We were out in full force last Saturday, giving tours of our Direct Relief project as part of the Santa Barbara AIA’s ArchitecTours. After an in-depth presentation by Michael Holliday, architect for the project, Courtney and Nicole led community members on a tour of the exterior of the property. Our design for the new headquarters includes innovation and reflection gardens, courtyards for events and employees, and stormwater infiltration features such as bioretention basins, bioswales and permeable pavers. The overall design language for the property features a “reed” pattern which reflects upon the history of this region as part of the Goleta Slough. Details such as the trellises, gates, and formliner panels which imprint the concrete tilt-up walls reflect this language. The planting design includes a subdued color palette and focus on form, texture and pattern in the plant material.

We received so many questions about the species of plants used throughout the property, so offered to share our plant palette which you can view below. Thank you Direct Relief for allowing us to open your doors to the community, and to everyone who came out for the tour. We love to share the story behind our work!

Nicole Horn Promoted To Associate Principal

We are excited to announce that Nicole Horn has been promoted to Associate Principal at our Santa Barbara design studio!

Nicole joined CJM::LA in 2016. With both Masters of Landscape Architecture and City and Regional Planning degrees, she has brought expertise in urban planning, resource management and landscape architectural design to the CJM::LA team. This interdisciplinary background has enabled her to bring forward not only innovative design solutions, but also strategic planning solutions to help guide our projects through the entitlement, permitting and construction processes.

Over the past three years, Nicole has demonstrated her leadership capabilities through the implementation of a number of contributions to CJM::LA and our extended community. Her role as a board member of the Ventura Botanical Gardens has allowed her to advocate for climate-appropriate design and resilience. Her involvement in our studio has resulted in a collaborative design approach that prioritizes environmental, economic and social sustainability to the benefit of our community and clients. Nicole pushes herself and others to take risks, innovate and surpass conventional design roles and traditions.

In her new role as Associate Principal and Director of Operations, Nicole will lead our design team in the implementation of a series of objectives to help better streamline our workflow and expand our creative output. She and our President, Courtney Jane Miller, will continue to push the boundary of the expected as they lead CJM::LA towards a successful future.

AIA ArchitecTours 2019 | Featuring New Work By CJM::LA

Early bird tickets for ArchitecTours 2019 are now on sale! Please click here to purchase.

ArchitecTours is an annual celebration of local architecture and cultural identity. Projects on the tour showcase the design and depth of knowledge of AIA architects and affiliated members. The self-guided tour offers a rare opportunity for a behind-the-scenes look at exceptional properties. Experience the transformative power of architecture. Come be inspired by these examples of history, sustainability, and creativity that are enriching Santa Barbara’s future!

This year’s tour will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2019 and celebrates the intersection of art and architecture. Art can be found in architecture throughout our community. It bridges both old and new architectural styles and transcends time. It can take the form of artistically designed buildings and landscapes that, in and of themselves, are considered art pieces.

CJM::LA will be showcasing our recently completed Direct Relief Headquarters project on the tour. We will be on-site all day offering guided tours of the property as well as information about our practice and the history of the Direct Relief organization. Join us!

CJM::LA Team Expands!

We are excited to announce the return of our Design Intern, Mariella Dentzel, at our Santa Barbara design studio!

Mariella comes to us with experience in product, furniture and installation design and fabrication. While at CJM::LA, she has begun to apply the creative problem solving skills she developed as part of her degree in product design to the field of landscape architecture. Mariella values the sense of place that successful designed spaces bring to our collective experience of the environment around us. In her free time, Mariella enjoys exploring new environments on her bike and climbing mountains!

5 Year Party Wrap-Up

Thank you to everyone who came out for our 5 YEAR PARTY and OPEN HOUSE last week! We think we can all agree that the sprinkle cookies need to be made permanently available at our favorite coffee shop – The French Press. Wine was provided by our friends at Municipal Winemakers, and the delicious fall farmer’s market spread was curated by the beautiful Julia Hauben. Our new space is also currently home to a number of incredible paintings by Cathy Ellis. Here are some pre-party photos::

The CJM::LA team really enjoyed catching up with our many friends, clients and collaborators – and showing off our new digs! For those of you who weren’t aware, that swanky bartender was our very own Design Intern, Mariella Dentzel – the newest member of our team. As we close out a successful 2018, we look forward to inviting more of you into our new home at 1221 State Street.

CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS IN BUSINESS!

We are celebrating an incredible FIVE YEARS in business in Santa Barbara!

OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS, THE CJM::LA TEAM HAS:

Grown our team from 1 to 6!
Supported 2 team members in obtaining professional licensure in the state of California.
Supported the professional development of 5 future Landscape Architects via our internship/shadowship program.
Contributed to the Santa Barbara and Ventura communities via Courtney’s position on the Architectural Board of Review and Nicole’s position on the Board of Directors at the Ventura Botanical Gardens.
Educated High School students about the Landscape Architecture profession via Katie’s involvement in the ACE Mentor Program.
Celebrated the opening of 21 new projects in the hospitality, multi-family residential, private residential, commercial, and parks & recreational markets.
Partnered with 4 local non-profits to provide safe, affordable housing to those in need; to improve the lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, and to help communities realize their inherent potential to live fulfilling lives.
Fostered the contemporary art scene in Santa Barbara via our #DROUGHTRESISTANT series.
Designed both private and public spaces in a way that pushes the boundary of the expected.

AND…continued to #CHANGETHECONVERSATION!

AIASB ARCHITECTOURS 2018 | FEATURING NEW WORK BY CJM::LA

CJM::LA’s recently completed Arlington Village property, as well as our in-progress adaptive reuse property will be featured on this year’s AIASB ArchitecTours!

The Santa Barbara AIA’s annual ArchitecTours, a celebration of local architecture, will showcase the architectural fabric of downtown Santa Barbara, including new and recently completed properties in the downtown core. The theme of this year’s ArchitecTours is ‘Rediscover Downtown Santa Barbara: Imagine How You Can Live, Work & Play’.

Arlington Village Apartments | 1330 Chapala Street

Adaptive Reuse | 418 State Street

Each of the twelve projects showcase the best of downtown and include a mix of commercial and residential projects demonstrating how we live in downtown Santa Barbara. This event draws attention to the extraordinary architectural legacy in Santa Barbara and the value of well-designed architecture to its surrounding community. Equally, ArchitecTours highlights the expertise that AIA architects (and Landscape Architects!) possess including a thorough understanding and expertise in urban design, sustainability, accessibility, structural improvements, building materials, and historic renovation.

The tour will be held this Saturday October 6th from 10am – 4pm and will culminate with a festive party.

Tickets are $80 for general public, $70 for AIA members and seniors, and $25 for students.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Another CJM::LA Team Member Acquires Professional Licensure!

Congratulations to Nicole Horn on her recent major professional milestone of achieving licensure in the state of California!

We are so proud of Nicole! She has been with us for two years, and has been an invaluable addition to the CJM::LA team.

CJM::LA Team Expands

We are excited to announce the addition of Cameron Hunt to our Santa Barbara design studio!

Cameron comes to us with a background in estate residential, institutional, commercial, and hospitality projects. A native of Santa Barbara, he values the careful execution of meaningful built environments that embody thoughtful design and sustainable building practices. He is a licensed landscape architect and joins us as a Project Manager. In his spare time, Cameron enjoys playing guitar and has a long history of writing and producing music. With the addition of Cameron to our team, we have added irrigation design to our list of available services. Welcome, Cameron!

We’ve Moved!

We have recently moved and are actively looking for exceptional candidates to grow our expanding team. Please see our job listings here.

Our new office is located near the corner of Victoria Street and State Street. For a map of this area, click here.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Big thanks to our many collaborators, clients, vendors and friends on this day of gratitude :: we could not do the things we do without your support! Happy Thanksgiving.

Hilton Garden Inn Opening

The CJM::LA team recently celebrated the opening of our latest hospitality project in Goleta, CA. The Hilton Garden Inn brings much-needed hotel and meeting room space to the heart of the Goleta community. The property was designed in keeping with the art deco architectural style; with cozy courtyards and meeting breakout space, a lively pool area and roof deck with lounge areas and incredible views.