Marmol Radziner, Los Angeles: Responsible, Rigorous, Researched.

Marmol Radziner is a full-service architectural firm located in a former Hollywood production studio in West Los Angeles, with a satellite office in San Francisco. “What distinguishes our practice culture is that it is design-build in the truest sense where one company is taking responsibility for the design and then taking responsibility for the construction of that design to the highest quality possible,” says Design Principal Ron Radziner, FAIA. 

Transforming the space, which they found 16 years ago, to its current incarnation was a restorative process. The biggest issue was creating a sound wall between the architectural design studio and its own custom metal and cabinet shop. 

Using the few existing steel windows as a reference, the shop built steel windows to bring in natural light as well as custom cabinetry throughout. The office’s proximity to the Expo Line allows many of the employees to take public transportation. 

Loosely arranged around nine studios (construction, landscape, interiors, and six architectural design studios), nobody has a private office. The two principals occupy desks like everyone else, and a large portion of meetings take place in the centre of the office, open to all. 

Individual studios have gone bowling, surfing, rock climbing, and take turns throwing monthly themed happy hours at the office. As an office, they have played other architecture firms in softball, gone camping in Joshua Tree National Park, tried their hand at welding at its own metal shop, visited construction projects, and volunteered with non-profit organisations. 

Marmol Radziner spends a lot of energy developing resources for its staff, tending to attract artisans and craftspeople. Those who want to work for a design-build enterprise and to get a holistic view of the industry will do well at Marmol Radziner. The firm provides a level of education in both architecture and construction that is rare. 

“We see the sophistication of our project design increasing over time,” comments Managing Principal Leo Marmol, FAIA, “which reflects the sophistication and demands of our clientele. We see ourselves strengthening the tie between architecture and construction.”