RDC + Studio One Eleven Workplace

In 2017, RDC–Studio One Eleven relocated from a high-rise to a former Nordstrom Rack in Downtown Long Beach.

This adaptive reuse project connected us to the street and community, catalyzing reinvestment that brought new retailers, restaurants, and Long Beach’s first distillery, all designed by Studio One Eleven, transforming a once-overlooked area.

The new workspace fosters collaboration, innovation, and community. Custom-designed workstations in an open environment are paired with freestanding conference rooms for teams and pin-up space. Breakout pods, idea lounges, and collaborative zones activate the interior, while a mezzanine “bridge walk” offers overlooks with lounges and workspaces. Amenities include a hospitality kitchen, material library, community room, flex offices, showers, outdoor patios, and a former loading dock converted into a private garden with a fire pit and edible green wall.

The project achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certification in 2017, only the second U.S. architectural office to earn both. Sustainable strategies include daylight and ventilation, advanced lighting controls, low-water systems, smart materials, and indoor/outdoor garden integration, underscoring our commitment to environmental responsibility.

Beyond being an office, the studio serves as an Urban Lab and community hub, hosting artist residencies, nonprofit collaborations, and neighborhood activations. We lead the Downtown Long Beach Design District vision, curating events and arts programming that extend the Urban Lab into the city.

Our practice champions inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability through the AIA 2030 Commitment, SoCal NOMA Challenge, and 1+AIA, offering pro bono work to nonprofits. Over half our team identifies as multiracial/non-white and nearly half as female, reflecting our commitment to equity and pay fairness.

Studio One Eleven’s culture blends productivity and well-being through yoga, art workshops, flexible schedules, and community programming, embodying architecture’s transformative potential to shape more equitable and vibrant cities.

Awards:
AIA Long Beach/South Bay Design Award