Following last week’s visit to Los Angeles-based Aaron Neubert Architects, we are keeping our Meet Your Next Employer series on the West Coast this week to explore the work of AB design studio, who are currently hiring for several positions.

Founded in 2005 “as a conversation between two architects about making a difference in the world through architecture,” the studio now operates offices across Los Angeles and Santa Barbara with a broad portfolio including residential, commercial, institutional, and hospitality projects. “Our multi-disciplinary approach addresses technical, ecological, social, cultural, and aesthetic concerns,” the firm says about its ethos. “We are problem solvers. We bring a holistic approach to environmental design and place-making to all project typologies.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for several positions across their Santa Barbara and Los Angeles studios. For candidates interested in applying for a role, or those interested in learning more about the firm’s work, we have rounded up five Santa Barbara projects by AB design studio that reflect the firm’s contribution to their local community.

MOXI - The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

Winner of the 2017 Santa Barbara Beautiful President’s Award, AB design studio served as architect for MOXI following an initial design by the Barry Berkus AIA. The resulting $25 million scheme houses 17,000 square feet of exhibition spaces, classrooms, theaters, and staff offices.

The museum’s focus on the topic of exploration led the architects to create an interior that complemented the building’s Spanish-style exterior while reading as a crisp, dynamic backdrop for exhibits. The first certified LEED Gold museum in Santa Barbara, MOXI also integrates landscaped concrete planters, a cistern for collecting rainwater, and energy-efficient structural glass in window and door openings.

Oliver’s of Montecito

An upscale plant-based restaurant in Montecito, Oliver’s was designed by AB design studio to “convey a feeling of luxury and sophistication while remaining approachable.” Upgrades to the existing restaurant building included an expanded patio, ADA accessibility adaptions to the entrance, and hidden mechanical, electrical, and plumbing equipment in the floors and walls to maximize dining room space.

The restaurant’s expanded patio is designed to activate the streetscape, create intrigue for passers-by, and enlarge the venue’s presence on a prominent historic local corner. A 20-foot-long glass and bronze accordion-style door system further integrate the interior with the exterior, increasing the overall footprint of the restaurant.

Hotel Indigo

A former railway boarding house dating from the Victorian era, the building housing Hotel Indigo was comprehensively gutted and remodeled by AB design studio to create a “sleek, modern decor” with “curated, museum-quality artwork.” The 15,870-square-foot interior now houses en-suite guest rooms with built-in cabinetry and graphic murals on walls, while the lobby hosts an array of LCD flat-screen monitors to create a “dynamic mosaic that ties into the area’s art motif.”

To further reinforce its artistic routes, the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art partners with the hotel to display lively murals on its south-facing façade as a “compelling public art component.” The architects also partnered with the museum to incorporate satellite gallery spaces in the hotel’s common areas that rotate annually, complimenting a guest experience that also includes a fitness center and a library with a green wall.

The Lark

Another high-end restaurant by AB design studio, The Lark features a private banquet room and an open kitchen designed to allow guests to observe the chef’s preparations. To achieve this, the team creates a window system around the commercial kitchen to put food preparation on display, which required the creation of a well-appointed kitchen environment.

All tables in the restaurant, including an anchoring 18-foot-long communal table, are made from a single fallen tree from Portland, OR. Many of the remaining items furnishing the restaurant were made with salvaged materials from California, including a 100-year-old church confessional and custom-designed ceiling lighting fixtures.

Guitar Bar

Understanding the challenges that competitiveness and digital marketplaces are posing on physical brick-and-mortar retailers, AB design studio created the Guitar Bar as a space to support the additional needs of guitar enthusiasts and provide business opportunities for the client beyond core sales. The resulting scheme seeks to embody the “openness and warmth of a neighborhood haunt” with a bar-like front desk that creates a sense of intimate familiarity for guests.

“The guitars themselves serve as a fundamental design element, adorning the walls in all directions as a stimulating visual component,” the team explains. “A central stage acts as a focal point for concerts, record release parties, and other events. Acoustically crafted sound-proof rooms allow customers to practice without disturbing other patrons, and serve as spaces for private guitar lessons.”

Meet Your Next Employer is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our Job Highlights series looks at intriguing and topical employment opportunities currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.