Year in Review
We use design as a tool to envision and create a wondrous future. This past year, we designed spaces that anticipate the needs of future living, working, and connecting. Our approach integrates sensory interactions, technological innovation, and a deep understanding of ecosystems to create moments of discovery.
Project Spotlight
Our team of multi-disciplinary designers reimagines how spaces evolve, adapt, and resonate across global landscapes, reflecting the diverse perspectives that drive our practice.
The 1901 Project
The 1901 Project is a collaborative effort with the United Center Joint Venture group, encompassing more than 13 million sq. ft. that will restitch surrounding neighborhoods and provide a world-class urban core for Chicago’s West Side. The community-first, mixed-use development represents a visionary approach to urban planning, set to become a model for cities worldwide.
Sony Music Publishing Hollywood
Sony Music Publishing‘s new West Coast headquarters emerges as a dynamic creative hub for songwriters, strategically located in the heart of Hollywood’s music and entertainment district. The transformation of this century-old building redefines the workplace into an inspiring environment that supports music production, reinforcing Sony Music Publishing’s position as a powerhouse and leader in the music industry.
Southlinks Estate
Southlinks Estate is a premium residential development that embodies the art of living well. Located in Metro Manila, the estate, which features an exclusive Clubhouse as its centerpiece, celebrates community, nature, and culture through curated amenities that embrace the joy of connectedness within the community.
Urban Play, Positive Change
RIOS prioritizes community when designing spaces around the world—always exploring different ways for the people living in these urban spaces to stay engaged and involved with the developmental process. Beyond design, RIOS is also dedicated to fostering equitable and positive change by providing resources, hosting community events, and building connections through our nonprofit, RIOS+.
Shadow Days
As part of our Social Impact Initiative, RIOS partners with schools in Los Angeles to provide students with hands-on design experience and valuable resources. One highlight is our annual Shadow Day where students engage directly with our team. This year, we partnered with DaVinci High School to design a village for the 2028 LA Olympics, encouraging students to exercise their creativity.
Pro-Bono Projects
Through an active partnership with our Leimert Park neighbor Ride On! Bike Shop/Co-Op, RIOS+ is working on an interior design project, which supports their retail business, a new e-bike lending library in collaboration with The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and L.A.’s Department of Transportation, as well as community events that support their mission to provide accessible and safe alternative transportation for South Central LA.
Community Engagements
We partner with clients to host community engagement events during the design process, ensuring the spaces we craft place community at the core. Our team behind the Boulder Civic Area revitalization project recently partnered with the City of Boulder to host an open house, strengthening the connection between the design and residents’ vision for the civic space.
Online and IRL Impact
As we continue to grow and evolve, we measure our impact in a variety of ways, from our digital presence to project metrics. In every arena, we’re committed to using these metrics to more effectively communicate our design stories.
- 1.3 million people visited us online. You can find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, WeChat, and Little Red Book.
- We attended 88 events around the globe.
- 178 active projects contribute to our multidisciplinary practice.
- Over 5.6 million people walked through our spaces.
Improving the World Around Us
We infuse our creativity with the natural world, improving the world around us through our designs that adapt and flow with our living ecosystems.
AIA 2030
As part of the AIA 2030 Commitment, RIOS is actively designing with the overarching goal to achieve net-zero in the built environment. We are committed to building architecture and communities worldwide that embraces carbon neutrality.
Corona City Park
Corona City Park‘s reimagination of a 111-year-old landmark embodies the spirit of community, serving as a central gathering space for Corona City residents. Spanning 21 acres, the park blends the city’s rich history with natural elements, creating a spirit of wellbeing and connection for residents.
Lynn Wyatt Square for the Performing Arts
Lynn Wyatt Square serves as Houston’s outdoor cultural heart, offering year-round access to the arts. Through public programming and an inclusive green space woven into its design, this outdoor venue cultivates the art of gathering and celebration.
Excellence in our Projects
At the core of our work lies an unwavering commitment to creative excellence. Every success, big or small, reflects our team’s creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit. We take immense pride in our achievements and are excited to share them with our incredible network of friends, partners, and collaborators who have been integral to our journey.
At RIOS...
Our RIOS family spans the globe, uniting designers, dreamers, and innovators from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. We are joined by a shared passion for creative problem-solving, approaching each challenge with curiosity, adaptability, and a collective commitment to pushing the boundaries of design. This culture of diversity and collaboration has driven impressive office metrics in 2024.
- We speak 36 languages, collectively.
- We tap into 5,000 hours of volunteer service.
- We attended 60 events and hosted 28 events at our offices.
- We worked on projects across 12 countries from our home base in the US to Thailand, Singapore, and more.
- Our projects spanned 17 typologies from mixed-use districts to residential.
We've Been Making Headlines
From feature stories to interviews, we’re proud to showcase the recognition our designs and collaborations with clients have garnered. Take a look at the stories that brought our achievements to light and helped share our designs with the world.
Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Azure, Billboard, Crain’s Chicago Business, Dezeen, Designbloom, Domus, Elle Décor, Fast Company, The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, Metropolis, Mooool, The Local Project, Variety, WSJ
Share the Wonder
As we look toward 2025, we remain committed to our most ambitious vision: wielding design as a powerful catalyst for positive global change, where every sketch is an opportunity for us to engage in ongoing dialogue between human creativity and nature.
We’re not merely designing buildings or landscapes, but composing moments of discovery, empathy, and transformation that coexist and harmonize with nature. In this unfolding narrative of design and wonder, we are both the composers and listeners, constantly attuned to the subtle melodies of wonder.
Our work reimagines what’s possible: spaces that heal, inspire, and connect us more to ourselves, each other, and the living systems that sustain us.
This is design as a transformative act—continuously evolving, courageously imagining, and fearlessly bridging the world as it is with the world as it could be.
