SPRING ARCH TOUR FEST: The Ayzenberg Group

Photo Credit: Steve King Architectural Photography

Spring ARCH TOUR FEST: The Ayzenberg Group

Information regarding the tour will be emailed directly to registrants 24 hours before the event.

A common problem for multi-faceted creative advertising agencies is that staff and workgroups can easily become isolated into workplace islands of specialization. This problem increases when the organization occupies multiple floors in a single building. In this case, the agency grew by acquiring adjacent buildings that became available over the last eight years. Spatial integration between existing and new buildings and through multiple floors to make the workplace feel as one and encourage collaboration is truly a three-dimensional problem.

This project involves the renovation of a two-story, 12,400 SF building and addition of a three-story, 9,200 SF building that then interconnects with three-story and one-story buildings. To address the visual interconnection between floors, a shaft of space runs diagonally from the first level gathering space to a large light monitor at the third level, framing a view of the sky and visually uniting the three-level workspace as one. Between the new and existing buildings and within the new building itself, circulation loops functionally tie common spaces together.

Axial, oblique, and diagonal sightlines, some that coincide with circulation pathways, help weave space, light, and movement together, creating constant awareness of spaces beyond the space one occupies. This simultaneity lends the project a palpable rhythm of space and activity, where larger, scheduled meetings and impromptu discussions occur at once within the workplace visual field without compromising privacy and workgroup activity.

Tour Led by:

Rick Corsini, AIA

Rick Corsini, AIA was born in Los Angeles and received his Master of Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard University and his Bachelor of Architecture from Cal Poly Pomona. In addition to over 25 years of professional practice, Rick has held faculty appointments at schools of architecture including Cal Poly Pomona, Woodbury University, and the University of Southern California.

Architect: Corsini Stark Architects

AIA CES: 1.0 LU Approved

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will analyze how spatial configuration and non-orthogonal geometry can foster collaboration and creative interaction in workplace environments.

2. Participants will evaluate the use of faceted geometry and angular architectural elements to manipulate sight lines, daylight, and spatial perception for enhanced video editing workflows.

3. Participants will examine strategies for integrating new architectural expressions into existing structures, focusing on material contrast, cohesion, and experiential continuity.

4. Participants will explore the role of acoustical design, including surfaces and materials, in supporting critique-based workflows and informal team engagement.

5. Participants will assess how flexible and adaptive workspace design can meet the evolving needs of creative industries, particularly those focused on media and video production.

Parking information:

Park & Walk at Old Pasadena: 171 N Raymond (right around the corner form the site)