With an emphasis on creating designs specific to place across the world, the globally focused Jerde Partnership still anchors all of its design work in its oceanfront Venice Beach offices.
When the Jerde Partnership moved to Venice Beach in 1990, it lef…
When the Jerde Partnership moved to Venice Beach in 1990, it left a historic Red Car electrical substation on Sunset Boulevard. "It took a few years for there to be a patina on this place to give it the experience," says David Rogers, AIA, partner and design co-director.
Jason Fulford
The Jerde Partnership’s studio in Venice Beach, Calif., faces …
The Jerde Partnership’s studio in Venice Beach, Calif., faces directly out on the Pacific.
Jason Fulford
Though the firm has grown to about 120 people and five offices w…
Though the firm has grown to about 120 people and five offices worldwide since its start in 1977, some staffers have stayed on nearly since the beginning. John Simones, partner and design co-director, came on in 1983.
Jason Fulford
Jon Jerde, FAIA, is the firm’s founder and namesake.
Jason Fulford
Rogers has been with the Jerde Partnership for 22 years.
Jason Fulford
Although the Jerde Partnership has offices in Berlin, Hong Kong,…
Although the Jerde Partnership has offices in Berlin, Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, and Shanghai, the firm’s design work happens at its Los Angeles headquarters.
Jason Fulford
Senior design staff are assigned to every project, which is revi…
Senior design staff are assigned to every project, which is reviewed by the entire group and reflects the opinions of the office as a whole.
Jason Fulford
Design work happens on the road, though: When the designers trav…
Design work happens on the road, though: When the designers travel to pitch projects to clients, they build a three-dimensional model on site to demonstrate some proposals. "We bring foam-cutters with us and build a studio within the client’s office," Rogers says.
Jason Fulford
Despite the enviable view of the Pacific from its front door, th…
Despite the enviable view of the Pacific from its front door, the Jerde Partnership doesn’t think of itself as a West Coast firm. "We’re so global now, we think of ourselves as a global company," Simones says.
Jason Fulford
The distinction between object-making and place-making—what ot…
The distinction between object-making and place-making—what other firms do and what the Jerde Partnership does, respectively—is the key way that the partners talk about their work and their firm. That distinction underscores the firm’s culture, Simones says.
Jason Fulford
"When you bring someone into a firm like Jerde, we’ve cre…
"When you bring someone into a firm like Jerde, we’ve created our own approach to how we solve the problems at hand," Simones says. "The same approach we started with is the same approach we use now."
Jason Fulford
Just more than half of the Jerde Partnership’s staff hail from…
Just more than half of the Jerde Partnership’s staff hail from outside the U.S., from places such as Russia, Turkey, and, increasingly, China. "It’s like an international city here," says Rick Poulos, AIA, partner and executive vice president.
Jason Fulford
There’s nothing fixed about the workspaces at the firm’s Los…
There’s nothing fixed about the workspaces at the firm’s Los Angeles headquarters. "One day you might walk through an area that’s empty, the next you might find 25 people in the same spot tearing up a design charrette," Rogers says.
Jason Fulford
The partners say that the centralization of the firm’s design …
The partners say that the centralization of the firm’s design work at its headquarters has helped it to weather its own growth. The managers and directors who work at Jerde’s further-flung offices start in Los Angeles.
Jason Fulford
And while the studio work takes place at headquarters, senior de…
And while the studio work takes place at headquarters, senior designers captain all of the firm’s offices abroad in order to liaison with clients as well as local design institutes in the field during the design and execution stages of a project. "You kind of feel like they’re your arm reaching out to the client," Simones says.
Jason Fulford
Simones is willing to acknowledge the advantages of location. &q…
Simones is willing to acknowledge the advantages of location. "I can ride my Harley to work every morning. It’s a nice ride along the beach."
The Jerde Partnership’s studio in Venice Beach, Calif., faces directly out on the Pacific. When the firm moved here in 1990, it left a historic Red Car electrical substation on Sunset Boulevard. “It took a few years for there to be a patina on this place to give it the experience,” says David Rogers, AIA, partner and design co-director. “But Venice Beach is the most culturally dynamic, ethnically diverse place in the world. It’s a wonderful human experience.”
Although the Jerde Partnership has offices in Berlin, Hong Kong, Seoul, South Korea, and Shanghai, the firm’s design work happens at its Los Angeles headquarters. Senior design staff are assigned to every project, which is reviewed by the entire group and reflects the opinions of the office as a whole. Design work happens on the road, though: When the designers travel to pitch projects to clients, they build a three-dimensional model on site to demonstrate some proposals. “We bring foam-cutters with us and build a studio within the client’s office,” Rogers says.
