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Publication: Mixed-use Architecture and District Making

Read this interactive brochure showcasing our successful mixed-use projects.

Urban Buzz: Pollinating Cities for Urban Vibrancy

Brent Jacobsen

How can pollinators help boost urban vibrancy?

RIOS Expands with Experiential Design

Larry Weeks and CarloMaria Ciampoli join RIOS as Studio Directors.

Evolving our Excellence with Staff Promotions

We are thrilled to announce our 2021 staff promotions at RIOS.

June 30, 2021

Virtual Workshop: Reimagining Denver’s Skyline Park

Join us for our third public workshop for the reimagining of Skyline Park.

Three RIOS Projects Win IIDA SoCal Calibre Awards

The honor recognizes outstanding accomplishments in commercial interior design.

May 11, 2021

Bob Hale on LA’s Soundstage Rush and Demand for Studios

RIOS Partner Bob Hale will talk about the Soundstage Gold Rush at the next Southern California Development Forum Town Hall.

April 27, 2021

Andy Lantz on Tenant Improvements Trends and Forecast

Creative Director Andy Lantz joins other industry leaders in a discussion about embracing a new future in tenant build outs.

Creative Director Andy Lantz talks with PBS Newshour about the Future of the Workplace

Andy discusses how RIOS is looking ahead with workplace solutions unbound by the traditional model.

February 17, 2021

Manhattan Beach Dune Restoration Virtual Public Workshops

Learn more about the project, ask questions, and provide feedback.

March 4, 2021

Virtual Public Workshop #2 for the Reimagining of Denver’s Skyline Park

Join us for the second workshop to review concept options and provide feedback for the future design of Skyline Park.

Pacific Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Podcast Feature Research in Wildfire Protection

RIOS, in collaboration with RCDSMM, share an initiative to create Sustainable Defensive Spaces that increase wildfire resistance in the space around your home.

February 10, 2021

Join us to Discuss Your Ideas on the Future of Watts Community Space

Help us plan a new community space for Watts.

Our 2020 Year in Review

We're reflecting on our most memorable moments and shared experiences of the year.

Jessamyn Davis Talks About How COVID-19 Has Shaped Changes To Our Workplace

Spectrum News 1 features the ways architects are creating building design changes, highlighting the RIOS office.

Mark Motonaga Discusses How RIOS Embraces the World of Outdoor Workspaces

Commercial Property Executive highlights the RIOS and EQ Office redesign of the 1.4 million-square-foot Playa District.

CA Home + Design Features Modern Bungalow in the Winter 2020 Issue

This modern oasis inverses the traditional bungalow and blurs the line between indoors and out.

Welcome Back to RIOS: Redefining the Workplace

Step inside the workplace at RIOS in this video feature.

Grand Park Wins “Best of Millennium” Honor Award by AIA Los Angeles

Grand Park is truly "the Park for Everyone" and is a place to discover the heartbeat of Los Angeles through a design that is inspired by its diverse cultures.

Three RIOS projects win Los Angeles Business Council Awards

The projects are recognized in LABC's civic buildings and landscape categories.

October 6, 2020

Creative Director Andy Lantz to Speak at Fast Company Innovation Festival

Join the discussion on how challenges caused by COVID-19 can be leveraged into solutions for a workplace renaissance.

October 3, 2020

Makers Workshop #1 Leimert Park Village Al Fresco Space

Share your ideas and skills for how we can collaboratively design the public space at Leimert Park Village.

October 8, 2020

RIOS and LA Forum Host Webinar to Release ‘The Wild’

The panel discussion will explore inventive infrastructure that adequately account for the temporal cycles of wildfire and debris flow in the Los Angeles area and beyond.

Elle Décor Exclusively Features RIOS-designed Bel Air Home

The article highlights the Fairway View residence and RIOS' collaboration with Ernest de la Torre.

IIDA Southern California Honors RIOS’ Projects

The Music Center Plaza Pavilions and Playa District are winners in the 2020 Calibre Design Awards.

Turning Buildings into Community Destinations

EQ Office’s PlaceLab features the community-centric design of Playa District.

Metropolis Features The Outdoor Workspaces at Echo Street West

The article highlights the Atlanta-based project, Playa District, and Mark Motonaga as more office designs include permanent places to work outside.

California Dreaming

Mark Rios & John Pearson

Inspiration is all around us.

Plant Names Are Long, But Full of Spirit

Mark Rios & John Pearson

Finding wonder in the plants all around us.

Mind Body and Soil – Improving Your Life Through the Garden

Mark Rios & John Pearson

The home garden can be an amazing asset to your wellbeing.

What Does Your Garden Want To Be When It Grows Up?

Mark Rios & John Pearson

Seven steps to remodel your garden at home.

RIOS to Envision Botanical Gardens at One Beverly Hills

Nine gardens, water features, and winding paths will provide cohesiveness to the site.

July 16, 2020

Online Public Workshop to Reimagine Skyline Park in Denver

Join us for the first public workshop, which will be held online to reimagine Skyline Park in Denver.

Creative Director Mark Motonaga Shares Advice For Recent Graduates

RIOS is always looking for people with diverse problem-solving skills and those who thrive in a collaborative work environment.

July 30, 2020

Studio Director Nate Cormier to Speak on AIA LA Virtual Panel: Designing the Future

The series will address new ideas to help make our built environments healthier, more equitable, and resilient.

RIOS Crafts a Botanical Inspired Face Mask for Auction

The Cultural Landscape Foundation's Masks for Unity silent auction features masks designed by leading landscape architects.

Our Story Has Progressed

We are RIOS.

We Stand in the Fight Against Inequality

The time to act is now.

Los Angeles Times Interviews Creative Director Bob Hale on Rethinking Office Space

The robust story discusses how architecture is reshaping as a result of the COVID landscape.

The Architect’s Newspaper Highlights the ‘Science of Work’ at Vrbo’s Austin Headquarters

The article refers to Vrbo as a miracle of science.

Dwell Exclusively Reveals Modern Bungalow Home of Creative Director Mark Motonaga

Dwell Magazine highlights this secret hideaway's open-plan expanse and connection to the landscape.

Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards Honors SLIDE Research

The Spaces, Places, and Cities category recognizes SLIDE as part of the 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards.

What Can Emergencies Teach Us About Design?

Studio Director Greg Kochanowski joins Hassell Principal Richard Mullane in this podcast to discuss resilience.

California Home+Design Highlights How LA-Based RIOS is Managing the Workplace Transition

Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Erin Gehle shares how we are fostering the kinds of connections that inspire our creativity.

The Change I Hope to See

Elisa Read

We consider a Los Angeles where the garden is truly the heart of the home.⁠

RIOS Featured in Publications Covering 3D Printed PPE

Our efforts here in Los Angeles are recognized and continue to move forward as we work towards helping our local hospitals.

Operation Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Helping those who need it most.

Interior Design Interviews Creative Director Andy Lantz on How We Are Staying Connected

Andy speaks on our seamless transition to working from home and how we keep projects moving forward.

Behind the Scenes Tour of Lotusland

Vishaal Khanna and Elisa Read

Assurance colonies, dinosaur food, and more lessons in sustainable maintenance.

Dwell Highlights this Modern Home for Opening to the Outdoors and Zen-like Gardens

The property's dazzling gardens – created through the guidance of Mark Rios, FAIA, FASLA – have been distinguished as an “Outstanding American Garden” by the Garden Club of America.

Tips for Staying Connected when Working Remote

Matt Richmond

Changing times call for staying the same.

What We’ve Made 2020

Each year we look forward to this opportunity to share inspiration and celebrate our work and people through art. ⁠

Curbed Atlanta Features The Newest Plans for the Echo Street Community

The design of Echo Street West envisions a new Westside mixed-use district that is inspired by Atlanta's industrial fabric.

La Casa de Maria and Center for Spiritual Renewal Selects RIOS for Sustainable Master Plan and Rebuild

The rebuild will be informed by best practices in resiliency.

LA Business Journal Reveals Massive New Plans for Hollywood’s Crossroads of the World

The mixed-use development revitalizes 60,000 sq. ft. of the original building and constructs a hotel, an apartment tower, and a condominium tower.

1stdibs Features Bel Air Pavilion as a Space That Extends Year Round

The Air Frame Pavilion is highly adaptable with high-tech functionality.

Los Angeles Business Journal Commercial Real Estate Awards Recognizes The Music Center Plaza Renovation

Downtown LA's new and expansive space wins a Gold Award.

Winsome Opens on LA’s Westside at EQ Office’s Expansive Playa District Campus

Winsome is a curated dining experience that fosters a sense of community. The interior design is inspired by the relaxed environment of the beach with a coastal color palette. ⁠

Creative Director Andy Lantz Shares His Favorite Design Destinations in Gray Magazine

Andy's favorite design destinations are highlighted in the story entitled, “Hidden Gems.”

Houstania Highlights Wyatt Square as a Development that will Change Houston Forever

The Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts will engage cultural context by articulating diverse spaces for gathering. ⁠

1 Hotel West Hollywood in the Spotlight for Design with a Local Point of View

The Hollywood Hills and repurposed local materials are the inspirations for the landscape design.

Dallas News Features Live Nation’s New Music Venue

One of our passions is elevating the experience of live performance with venues such as this one for Live Nation Entertainment opening in May in Dallas.

Archinect Applauds RIOS for Outstanding Design at this LA-based Home

Archinect News favorites West Hollywood residential project.

February 2, 2020

Culture of Comfort: Applying Strategies to Survive and Thrive in Extreme Heat with Nate Cormier

Studio Director Nate Cormier will present an interactive workshop at the Active Living Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Design for a Changing Climate – Fire and Community Resilience

Richard Mullane and Greg Kochanowski

How much have we really learned about designing places that will serve us well during times of disaster? And how can communities better adapt to be more resilient to these devastating events?

January 31, 2020

Bob Hale to Share His Expertise on The Future of Resiliency at Facades+

Join us in San Francisco where Creative Director Bob Hale will speak on the design measures taken to boost long-term resiliency.

We Wish You A Curious 2020

We enter the new year with a curious spirit, celebrating our successes and looking ahead to new ones.

Rio Outdoor Furniture Wins Interior Design Magazine Best of Year Award

Interior Design recognizes the Rio bench in the Outdoor Collection category.

Creative Workplace VRBO Recognized by The Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards

The Austin-based VRBO headquarters wins an honorable mention in the interior workplace category of the 2019 AN Best of Design Awards.

Santa Monica Moves Forward With New Master Plan for the Third Street Promenade

The Santa Monica City Council has officially supported RIOS' work and direction to remake Third Street Promenade.

November 6, 2019

Austin Design Week 2019 Presents: No Right to Make This with RIOS

RIOS' Creative Directors & Studios Directors will speak inclusively about different ways to solve problems during Austin Design Week.

Fred + Cathy Debuts Their First Concrete Collection, A Collaboration with RIOS at WestEdge 2019

The palette for Fred + Cathy was developed closely with QCP from their bottomless knowledge of concrete, but infused with a new inspiration born of a passion for interior design and the Southern California spirit.

November 21, 2019

Bob Hale to Speak on Designing for Resilience with Architectural Record

The panel discussion will present architecture at every scale and corresponding resilient features against Southern California's worst disasters.

Digital Tangibility: Incorporating Natural Texture into Design

Hiro Kamizono

A focused overview on design techniques to understand material characteristics of stone through a custom stone wall installation.

Architect’s Newspaper Highlights the Adaptive Reuse Facades at ROW DTLA

Creative Director Sebastian Salvado will present ROW DTLA at Facades+ LA in November.

Jones Plaza in Houston Theater District Gets a $29 Million Revamp as it’s Renamed Lynn Wyatt Square

RIOS will reimagine the plaza as a dynamic new space that will connect the district’s venues, create a strong identity and place, and revitalize the west side of downtown.

Harlow Wins 2019 CPE Distinguished Achievement Award

The former Sunset Las Palmas Studios is recognized for the transformation of the historic 11-acre campus in Hollywood.

Introducing FABRiC: Our New Video Channel

FABRiC stitches together forward-thinking topics with thoughtful storytelling.

RIOS and Selser Schaefer Architects to Develop The Philbrook Museum of Art and Gardens Master Site Plan

Re-envisioning the Philbrook Museum will connect new audiences to the arts and ultimately create a stronger institution.

November 15, 2019

Adaptive Re-use and Context in the DTLA Arts District at Facades+

Creative Director Sebastian Salvadó will be speaking about the facades at ROW DTLA.

A Taste of the Hollywood Hills at the New 1 Hotel in Los Angeles

RIOS devised the lush courtyards that surround 1 Hotel West Hollywood.

Understanding Place and Policy with Open Data

Bob Frederick

Using Open Data we developed a dashboard to visualize housing that may be rent stabilized under the Tenant Protection Act in Los Angeles.

Urban Pattern

Naseema Asif, Haoran Liu, Heejae Lee

The Music Center Plaza and Christ Cathedral Plaza are significant cultural works and public spaces that represent the significance of urban pattern in placemaking.

Reflecting on Summer Experiences as a RIOS Intern

Internships at RIOS entail site-visits, research, and collaborating with other designers across disciplines.

Listen: KCRW’s “DnA: Design & Architecture” Highlights Santa Monica’s Promenade 3.0

Host Frances Anderton and the team behind Promenade 3.0

Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade will once again be an authentic gathering space for the community.

Listen: KCRW’s “DnA: Design & Architecture” at The Music Center

Host Frances Anderton and Creative Director Bob Hale

Listen to this 13-minute segment on the pedestrian-friendly redesign of The Music Center Plaza on DnA.

The Music Center Plaza Civic Ceremony Featured in AD Pro

The debut for the plaza included remarks by Creative Director Bob Hale, as well as the opening of its neighboring coffee shop and wine bar.

Listen: KCRW’s “Press Play” Discuss Music Center Plaza Renovation

Host Madeleine Brand and guests – Carolina Miranda, staff writer for the LA Times, and Frances Anderton, host of DnA: Design & Architecture

Listen to this 10-minute segment on the redesign of the Music Center’s new plaza.

Mark Rios Shares His Design Thinking and More on Guillermo, A Modern Take on Shirts

The L.A. Business Journal highlights projects such as Row DTLA, Grand Park, Music Center Plaza, and the studios' other brands including Guillermo and notNeutral.

The L.A. Times Features Creative Director Bob Hale and Music Center CEO Rachel Moore Ahead of Public Opening Next Week

The article discusses the redesign of the Music Center plaza, a project almost two decades in the making.

August 17, 2019

Drake Bridge Commons Community Engagement #2

The new Drake Bridge Commons project will be revealed and public input on the design and programming will be sought.

Melanie Freeland and Peter Emerson Named Studio Directors

We’re pleased to announce that Melanie Freeland and Peter Emerson have been named Studio Directors.

Watch: New Video Reel Showcases Storytelling through Immersive Experiences

Video production designed to tell your story.

Research Book ‘Towards A Playful City’ Now Available

This proposal explores innovative and ecological design opportunities that incorporate play spaces into our urban environments.

September 29, 2019

The Power of Color with Andy Lantz at The Interior Design Show Vancouver

Andy will speak on the role of color in the sensory experience of his projects.

SLIDE Thought Leadership Recognized by Architect’s R+D Awards

Architect Magazine honors SLIDE, a resilient strategy for extreme climate in Los Angeles and beyond.

The Music Center Plaza to Open in August Following $41 Million Renovation

The dynamic urban space becomes "The Plaza for All" with free opening public festivities throughout Labor Day weekend.

July 24, 2019

Design Obsessions, Types, and Scales with Melanie Freeland at UCLA

As a part of the UCLA summer lecture series, Melanie will share the trajectories that have shaped her professional career as a Studio Director at RIOS.

Architectural Digest Highlights 1 Hotel West Hollywood

The sustainable design by RIOS distinguishes it as one of Los Angeles's best new hotels.

Where I Work: Mark Rios on Design Milk

Co-founder and Creative Director Mark Rios shares the background of RIOS and details of the workplace environment.

LABC Award Winners: From Design Concept to Projects Beyond LA

The LABC Architectural Awards has honored four RIOS' projects in a variety of categories.

June 22, 2019

Crossing Categories with Robert Hale at Architecture & Design Film Festival

Our Creative Director Bob Hale will speak about our multidisciplinary approach from products to projects.

Phase One Complete at Creative Mixed-Use Campus Inspired by Aviation History

RIOS designs every aspect of FLIGHT at Tustin Legacy — Orange County’s first purpose-built creative office campus

Expanding Design’s Impact Through Creative Reuse and Discussion

Margaret Gerhart and Colin Gast

Tangible moments of creative reuse of materials.

Westside Urban Forum Award-Winning Design Projects

RIOS recognized for two design awards by Westside Urban Forum in 2019.

June 13, 2019

Yes, No & WOW: A conversation with LA designers

In this panel, we will talk to 5 LA designers about their process, inspiration, the magic of working in Los Angeles, and how they get to “wow."

RIOS Featured in Business of Home for Crossing Categories with Design Solutions

As the writer references: “the question for ambitious, multidisciplinary design firms changes from ‘How can we possibly do this?’ to ‘Why not?’”

New Versatile Pieces for The Rio Collection

Designed to exist as individual freestanding elements or joined together, the pieces can be customized in endless combinations and are ideal for municipalities, shopping centers and any other site space.

June 9, 2019

The Alley Fellowship: Reshape

Reshape features the installation art of Adrian Kay Wong.

New 16-Story Destination-themed Workplace Opens in Austin

The vibrant environment at VRBO responds specifically to the unique composition of teams, while promoting collaboration in an open workplace that responds to their agile and collaborative work style.

June 20, 2019

No Right To Make This with Andy Lantz at LA Design Festival

Andy will explore the work of the studio through its transdisciplinary nature, which has led to method of problem solving with a myriad of objects.

May 11, 2019

A+D Museum Annual Gala Exhibits A Place For Creativity and Fun

RIOS is excited to sponsor this year’s Celebrate, where the museum becomes a space for exploration and fun, and a return to the freedom of creativity without defined goals.

May 8, 2019

AIA 2×8 Celebrates VR and Student Work

RIOS is proud to cosponsor AIA 2x8, exhibiting exemplary student work from architecture and design institutions throughout California.

Environmental Graphic Design Trends in the New Creative Office

Mario Salazar

Creative offices have evolved over the past two decades, with increasing demand placed on their ability to go beyond reinforcing the ways that people work, to act as tools to promote branding, culture, and values.

How can Landscape Architecture Address Imminent Design Realities?

Ruth Siegel

In this unprecedented era of change, we are working hard to understand and anticipate the next urban and environmental changes that will impact our work in the coming decades.

Revealing the Story while Honoring the Past

Erin Williams

Place-led branding is one way we are moving towards honoring the past while recognizing the need for change.

Consider the Cup

Now a cultural coffee icon, the distinctive, signature form of the notNeutral LINO cup has been adopted by coffee shops from Portland to Paris, and thousands of places between.

May 16, 2019

Robert Hale to Speak on The Future of Urban Planning at Hospitality Design Expo

What does the city of the future look like? Bob Hale will speak on incorporating green spaces, cutting-edge technology, and sustainability to foster connection and improve quality of life for today’s urban dwellers.

A New Spin on Table Design to Benefit Pablove Foundation

Nicole Robinson

Our coffee table design helps improve the lives of children living with cancer through the arts.

May 17, 2019

Creative Directors Frank and Julie to Make Commencement Speech at Cal Poly Pomona University

May 8, 2019

Women in Structural Engineering with Mentorship by Melanie Freeland

The Structural Engineers Association of Southern California will host a leadership symposium presented by women in structural engineering.

May 7, 2019

Autonomous Urbanism with Nate Cormier at Urbanism Next

Emerging mobility technologies, from autonomous vehicles and rapid transit to rideshare and dock-free devices, are changing the urban landscape.

April 27, 2019

Austin Community Input Event on Drake Bridge Commons

Nature-Forward Landscape Design at 1 Hotel West Hollywood

Elisabeth Weinstein

The concept of the landscape design features reclaimed wood and a riparian plant palette.

Bee Hotel Competition for a Pollinator Garden

The winning designs of the Bug Hotel Design Competition will be built full scale and installed in the Expo Yard for ongoing pollinator monitoring.

RIOS reseaRCH Featured on KCRW Design and Architecture

Mudslides test LA’s debris basins – RIOS proposes a new solution.

SLIDE: A Resilient Strategy for Extreme Climate in Los Angeles and Beyond

Greg Kochanowski

With the recent string of natural disasters facing the United States, and especially those close to home in California, we are reminded of the delicate balance between our built and natural worlds.

May 8, 2019

Mark Rios to Speak in Spring Lecture Series at Stanford University

The theme of this year’s spring lecture series is "Architecture of Humanity."

Multi-Disciplinary Design Firm RIOS Opens Office In Texas

The Award-Winning Creative Design Firm Opens Second Office To Support Local Projects and Initiatives in a Rapidly Evolving Design Landscape

Austin, TX – March 18, 2019 – RIOS, the multi-disciplinary award-winning LA-based design firm, announced today it has established a new office in Austin, Texas.

April 11, 2019

notNeutral to Exhibit at Speciality Coffee Expo in Boston

The Specialty Coffee Expo is the coffee professional's one stop shop for everything they need to succeed in the coffee industry.

RIOS listed No. 2 on Interior Design Magazine’s PowerGrid LA

We're proud to be featured at number 2 among the top 50 LA design firms and see Music Center Plaza as a featured project.

Guillermo to show at LA Men’s Market

Guillermo will be at LA Men's Market at California Market Center on March 26-27, 2019

Design for Creativity: (Re)Inventing the Ultimate Performance Shirt

Guillermo may be a shirt, but like all good design, it is also an experience.

April 17, 2019

Bob Hale on Architectural Record Advertising Excellence Jury

April 11, 2019

Mark Rios’ Neighborhood Talk will Connect Palm Springs Community

The Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization Spring meeting will feature a talk by Mark Rios on the design of Palm Springs Downtown Park.

Wheel Throwing

Stephanie Lin

Lessons from pottery. The integrity of the first step has an additive effect upon each of the following steps.

March 12, 2019

RIOS to Present VR at 2019 SXSW Discovery Stage

The talk asks what happens when we go looking for a reality beyond real spaces with a desire to occupy these environments?

March 9, 2019

Andy Lantz to Speak at SXSW 2019

Our talented Creative Director, Andy Lantz, will share a live experiment diving into the human senses.

June 6, 2019

notNeutral at World of Coffee Berlin

notNeutral travels to Berlin for SCA's World of Coffee

Dwelling in Los Angeles: How we came to define the Ideal L.A. Home

Tyler Collins

Here we explore the evolution of the L.A. home in a visual essay that maps the progression of housing in the city.

Mercado El Alto Wins 2018 Next LA Merit Award

Mercado El Alto in Puebla, Mexico took home a AIA Los Angeles Next LA Merit Award for it's place-inspired design

Front Street Tower wins an AIA San Diego Merit Award

Front Street Tower is conceived as a vertical community that defines a new professional workplace community dispersed throughout the 21-story office tower.

705 Sixth Avenue Wins an AIA San Diego Honor Award

705 6th integrates into the urban fabric by stitching together the site’s history with the future of San Diego workplace.

One Arroyo Trail Wins ASLA Southern California Analysis and Planning Award

The Award recognizes the planning and analysis behind the One Arroyo Trail Concept, a trail plan that represents the One Arroyo Vision.

IAC Wins ASLA Southern California Merit Award

Jones Plaza Wins ASLA Southern California Merit Award

The design of Jones Plaza provides an inviting green oasis that enhances downtown life.

Powerful, Showing Up for the Conversation on Equity

Erin Gehle

Celebrating the achievements of accomplished, original, and inventive female professionals

RIOS Announces Key Leadership Appointments and Vision For Design Collective

The Award-Winning Multi-Disciplinary Design Firm Defines a Broader Creative Vision Centered on The Rise of Brand Experience and Designed Environments

Grand Park Recognized for Timeless Design in the Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards

We are proud to share that the design of Grand Park, LA's "Park for Everyone," was chosen from among 2,800 submissions to represent timeless design in the Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards.

Celebrating the Everyday with CALA and Art of Tea

With our CALA tea collection, you can treat yourself to moments in each day that are just for you.