By Meredith Fraga | Designer

Sound and light are two forms of energy that dramatically affect how we perceive the world. Without them we could neither hear nor see. For any design project these two elements are always significant, but what happens when each are a primary client priority?

The design of premiere music production school Icon Collective’s new location in Burbank, California, recently completed by IA’s Los Angeles studio, gives top priority to lighting and acoustics, affecting ceiling and wall construction, finishes, doors, windows, and overall design. Implementing acoustics for a space focused on music production is a more intense process than that required for most workplace projects, although the principles remain the same. In simplest terms, minimize reverberation as well as sound leakage from one area to another. Icon also prioritized lighting as a unique way to support function and create a dynamic, inspiring ambiance. Typically, lighting and

Fans at Super Bowl LVl entered SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles through a larger than life experiential portal, inspired by a camera lens. The concept was to create iconic entry points that would function as a portal to the game day experience. Taking cues from LA’s Hollywood magic, the structures are shaped like a camera’s aperture — gathering in fans and focusing them on a carefully curated view of the stadium beyond. The “ribbons” are reminiscent of movie film strips and celebrate key moments in Super Bowl history. Sponsorship was woven into the design to provide revenue generating opportunities. Brilliant red against an equally brilliant blue sky, the portal exemplifies the extensive design features and installations created every year to complement major events for sports entities like the NFL, NBA, NHL, and collegiate sport teams across the nation. Experiential Design features like this create one of a kind experiences that

While many organizations are embracing a “wait and see” strategy when managing their physical space, a number of law firms currently working with IA Interior Architects have decided to take a different tack. John Hopkins, Design Director at IA Interior Architects, has worked with many law firms that are experimenting with new approaches for their future workplace. “IA is engaging leadership teams to prioritize goals,” he notes, “and establishing new space types and metrics to craft a unique solution for each firm.”

Because of attorney experiences working remotely during COVID-19, new concerns are influencing design goals and methods for creating the law firm of the future. Primary among those is: in-office attendance and crafting in-person communities. “Generally, we come into the office to see others,” remarks Hopkins. “If it’s a ghost town, then we reconsider why we come in—but if there are people, and activity—we feel