Lopez: “It's detrimental to bring preconceived answers to a design problem.”

ORANGE COUNTY, CA—A research-based approach using inquiry and relevant questions unveils project-specific information and findings that allow the emergence of tailored ideas, P+R Architects' design director Jonathan Lopez tells GlobeSt.com. The firm is currently working on or has completed three retail projects in Orange County and San Diego: Del Mar Highlands Town Center in San Diego, Five Lagunas in Laguna Hills and the recently opened Equinox La Costa in Carlsbad. We spoke exclusively with Lopez about these projects, the significance of a research-based approach and how architecture makes a difference in CRE.

GlobeSt.com: What is unique about the projects you are working on in the San Diego and Orange County markets?

Lopez: Something that makes our projects in San Diego and Orange County unique is that they are all transformative renovations that refresh existing retail into relevant retail uses. Most mentionable P+R Architects projects currently include Equinox La Costa in Carlsbad, Del Mar Highlands in San Diego, Five Lagunas in Laguna Hills and Trade Food Hall in Irvine.

GlobeSt.com: How does your firm discover a project's potential through creative design, effective communication, positive working relationships and a clear focus on the clients' values?

Lopez: It's detrimental to bring preconceived answers to a design problem. A research-based approach using inquiry and relevant questions unveils project specific information and findings that allow the emergence of tailored ideas.

For example, we are currently working on a project in Puerto Rico with a visionary client seeking to craft a project with a different perspective. We initiated the project with a brand-DNA identity process that we facilitated to extract and identify what the project is at its core before we sketched preliminary thoughts on paper. We traveled with the client to visit case study sites and organized a series of workshops that unearthed the brand positioning both qualitatively and quantitatively. This investigative process, backed with market research and analysis, revealed a byproduct that significantly shifted the direction of the project's identity.

GlobeSt.com: How does architecture make a difference in such a competitive industry as commercial real estate?

Lopez: Our collaborative process affords each of our development partners the opportunity to create distinctly unique projects derivative of vision and context. Adding value to commercial real estate is achieved by creative branding and design-focused architecture to establish as a differentiator in a competitive environment.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your firm?

Lopez: P+R Architects is an award-winning leader in the retail design and retail architecture industry. With over 37 years of experience designing the retail realm, our depth and excellence in all aspects of retail allow us to take a holistic approach when designing the retail experience. Our firm is dedicated to making everyday places extraordinary and celebrating the retail realm as one of the focal points of human interaction. As e-commerce rivals traditional brick-and-mortar, more emphasis is being placed on the human-scaled interaction of the retail environment. We are at the forefront of the new era of retail, examining changing trends and drawing upon our history to contribute to retail through thought leadership.

Lopez: “It's detrimental to bring preconceived answers to a design problem.”

GlobeSt.com: What is unique about the projects you are working on in the San Diego and Orange County markets?

GlobeSt.com: How does your firm discover a project's potential through creative design, effective communication, positive working relationships and a clear focus on the clients' values?

GlobeSt.com: How does architecture make a difference in such a competitive industry as commercial real estate?

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers know about your firm?

Instant Insights /

The Importance of Research in Designing Buildings

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