CJM::LA

WLAM | World Landscape Architecture Month

April is World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM), a worldwide celebration of the impact this profession has on our daily lives.

As a part of our ongoing stewardship of the profession, this month we’re showcasing landscape architecture to the world and inviting the public to learn about what we do! People hold profound connections to the spaces where they live, work and play. This year we are celebrating the relationship between us and our environment. We look forward to demonstrating the impact that thoughtful design solutions have on our collective quality of life. Each week we’ll be posting something new, stay tuned!

We encourage you to join us in celebrating the landscape architectural profession by posting pictures from your neighborhood that highlight landscape architectural design with the hashtags #WLAM2020 and #LifeGrowsHere.
Be sure to tag @NationalASLA

TO LEARN MORE

Find out more about Landscape Architecture educational opportunities here.

Are you a K-12 educator interested in sharing landscape architecture with your students?
Learn more about Landscape Architecture education for teachers here

Are you hosting a virtual story time for your child? Check this out:
Green Trees and Sam by Shannon Gapp, ASLA/Bolton & Menk.

7 Years In Business

On April 1, 2020 we celebrated 7 years in business! What started as a sole proprietorship in 2013 has quickly grown to become a thriving team of creatives. Today CJM::LA is a dynamic group of individuals who collaborate to produce design solutions that prioritize the environmental, economic and social sustainability of our communities. In addition to our contributions to the built environment, we also support our local communities via board positions, mentorship programs, internship/shadowship opportunities, volunteerism and contributions to the educational and professional institutions that support the landscape architecture profession. As we look toward the future, we are excited to expand our creative reach into new markets and develop new methods of executing our shared vision.

HERE’S A LOOK BACK

Thank you to our collaborators, clients, friends and families who helped us reach this milestone. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with such powerful minds!

For a closer look at our most recent work:: CJM-LA_Portfolio 2020

Mar Monte Hotel | Waterfront Construction Almost Complete!

Renovations are underway at what will soon be known as the Hyatt Mar Monte. As this project nears the end of the construction phase, the CJM::LA continues to oversee the revitalization of this historic hotel with Young Construction and Steve Hanson Landscaping. This project combines layered textural plantings with historic Spanish Colonial detailing, ensuring a natural cohesion with the Santa Barbara waterfront.

demolition of the existing parking lot and impermeable brick paving

converting the existing parking lot into a pedestrian promenade and lobby placita

decorative columns taking shape!

framing the fountain

setting the mediterranean fan palm in place at the pool deck

converting the existing pool deck into a lush paradise

careful restoration of the original hotel entry

putting the finishing touches on our lobby placita fountain. tile provided by NS Ceramic.

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!

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.