April 23, 2020
We hope you have all been staying safe and healthy out there during this unusual and unprecedented time. As you may know, we are currently on week 6 of working from home and it has been an interesting ride to say the least.
Earlier this month, we celebrated the birthdays of our Senior Associates, Jane You and Carol Prendergast. Usually, we like to plan a surprise craft activity, get a cake, sign a card, and sing as loud as we can to embarrass them, but this year was different. We had to figure out a fun and creative way to put together a birthday card as well as continue to help make their day feel special for them. We also sent some yummy birthday cupcakes to brighten their day!
Amidst the stacks of paperwork and endless Zoom calls, we’ve introduced an element of surprise with decor inspired by Untamed Creatures. Quirky animal-themed decorations now in the background, bringing a sense of playfulness and camaraderie to our virtual gatherings. In a time where the world feels a bit untamed itself, these small gestures of creativity serve as a reminder that laughter and connection can thrive, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Here are the digital birthday cards that the team put together (click photos to enlarge):
From all of us here at Oculus, we wish you both the happiest of birthdays and look forward to gathering together in person soon!
April 10, 2020
Nominations for the 2020 IIDA Calibre Awards were announced this week, and Oculus is proud to be recognized in three separate categories!
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March 19, 2020
Oculus recently designed the lighting for the Culver City based 100 Thieves Cash App Compound, the largest e-sports team facility in the U.S. The 15,000sf space features multiple private training rooms, meeting rooms, gaming rooms, an Apparel Design & Retail space, and a business headquarters area.
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February 24, 2020
We are currently looking for a full-time mid-level lighting with 3-5 years experience, designer to join our diverse team currently working on a wide range of architectural lighting design projects located both locally and around the globe.
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February 10, 2020
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station opened its doors to the public over Christmas, and they saw over 61,000 visitors in just the first week!
In the months leading up to the Christmas Grand Opening, Oculus worked with PGAV and the Contractors (literally) around the clock—the Grand Lobby inside the aquarium features a clock tower tank that recalls the Victorian origins of the 126-year old site. Located in a train shed built in 1894, the new aquarium is now home to otters, shark, and myriad species of both freshwater and saltwater creatures.
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January 24, 2020
If you’re a fan of the show Hell’s Kitchen, you’re in luck! Chef/host Ramsay has just opened another Hell’s Kitchen restaurant, this time in Lake Tahoe, NV at Harvey’s Hotel and Casino. Oculus was part of the design team, collaborating with architect firm DezMotif to create an immersive atmosphere reflecting the dynamic energy of the show (minus the actual yelling).
We are happy to see it come to life exactly as planned: surface-mounted monopoints and recessed wall washers enhance the restaurant’s two-tone color theme, while warm white adjustable projectors spotlight the Winner Display wall above the banquette seating. Custom pitchfork pendants work together with dueling red and blue thematic lighting to add layers of drama, which is certainly on-brand for this destination restaurant.
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January 14, 2020
Oculus is excited to announce the opening of a studio in Seattle! We have been fortunate to work with long-term clients in the Seattle area for numerous years and even though we were a little further away, the collaborations have continued with multiple firms and repeat clients.
With Oculus Seattle, we will be closer to our many clients we enjoy working with, and it will be an opportunity to cultivate new relationships in the dynamic design community of the area. We will also be able to better service our projects already in design and construction in the region. Joel Weston, Associate, who has been in our LA office for over 4 years, is now permanently based in Seattle, where he is leading our work in the Pacific North West.
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December 11, 2019
Officially announced in the Los Angeles Times last month, developer GPI Cos. has acquired ownership of the former Westside Pavillion mall and is turning it into creative office spaces. GPI jumped at the opportunity to convert the aging mall since creative office space on the Westside is in high demand, especially for large tech companies looking to take root or expand near Silicon Beach. This converted indoor mall will keep its high ceilings, large floor plans and ample parking, making it very desirable for future tenants. Adding to the value for future tenants is the promise of being neighbors with Google, who has already committed to occupying a large portion of the new office space. continued→
November 18, 2019
If you’re a fan of action, then this new dark and edgy Cirque de Soleil live-action thriller R.U.N is the show for you! It recently opened at the Luxor in Las Vegas, and Oculus designed the lighting for the theater entrance and pre-show lobby that immerses guests into a gritty cyberpunk urban alleyway.
Walking through the “alley” to the theater, guests encounter an interactive phone booth where they can eavesdrop on the conversation, or visit a tattoo parlor and “get inked” with real-time projections. The graffitied walls appear to be shift in hue and tone, an effect caused by the changing RGBW lighting above. When guests reach the end, they discover a large digital clock ticking down to showtime.
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November 5, 2019
Another 5 year anniversary here at Oculus and this time we’re celebrating Chao-Wei! Time flies when we’re having fun!
Chao-Wei started off as an entry-level designer in 2014, only a couple of years after Oculus’ inception. During his time here he has grown to be a reliable and knowledgeable lighting designer with a fair share of lighting design awards. His portfolio consists of upscale restaurants and office projects with repeated work with his many clients. One of his recent projects, Birdie G’s, has been called ‘Hottest Restaurant of the Year’ by the LA Times.
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October 28, 2019
Oculus Light Studio is proud to announce that Jane You has been promoted to the position of Senior Associate. Over her 6 years with Oculus, Jane has designed a wide variety of projects located nationally and internationally. These have included several large office spaces including those for Netflix and Amazon, buildings for Google and Facebook, retail and mixed-use projects in China and the Middle East, and aquarium projects across the U.S.
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October 18, 2019
BLDWN, formally known as Baldwin, recently opened the doors to their flagship store on Melrose Place, the famous avenue of boutique fashion houses and high-end designer goods. BLDWN started in Kansas City as “Baldwin”, a denim label founded by husband-and-wife team Matt and Emily Baldwin, who have since relocated and reintroduced their line as a refined take on modern minimalist American fashion. Oculus’ lighting design uses integrated niches and troughs to conceal most of the primary light sources, creating a clean and sleek approach that reflects BLDWN’s sartorial aesthetic and design philosophy.
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October 4, 2019
Oculus is excited to announce that our team has grown again this summer with the addition of two new members, Stephanie Chou and Andy Bailey!
They have really hit the ground running, and we are happy to have them join our team!
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September 20, 2019
Oculus had one last summer hoorah on the beautiful island of Catalina! Thanks to Kathie, Stacie, and the SCI Lighting Solutions team, we had a fantastic group outing– it was a beautiful sunny day, and the team was ready for action!
Half of the group went ziplining for an adrenaline-filled aerial view of the island, while the other half went on an exciting off-road jeep tour around the east end of the island where they caught a glimpse of the local bison population.
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September 10, 2019
With summer coming to an end, we’re reflecting back on our vacations, which have taken us all over the world, including to Europe, Hawaii, India, Chicago, Vancouver, and Portland. We hope you enjoy these snippets from our travels!
SARAH
During the Labor Day weekend, Sarah went hiking in the mountains surrounding Portland. She walked along the creeks deep within the forest to find the hidden waterfalls, and it definitely was worth hours of hiking to discover them. Having endured a long hot summer in LA, she felt refreshed and re-hydrated in the mist from the falls. After finishing her long hike, Sarah visited a local beekeeper; nothing tastes better than newly harvested honey paired with fruits just picked from their orchard!
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August 23, 2019
Oculus has just completed another project in collaboration with Studio One Eleven! SteelCraft Bellflower recently opened up, and it’s bringing a whole new use to cargo containers. This 15,000sf food hall has a variety of food and drink spots along with a communal dining area to relax with family and friends (and pets!).
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August 7, 2019
With rising numbers of homeless populations in Los Angeles, non-profit affordable housing developer Community Corporation has been successfully increasing the number of available affordable units, especially for those who are facing unexpected economic challenges. Oculus feels both honored and proud to have worked with KoningEizenberg and Community Corp on the new Arroyo complex, which recently opened in Downtown Santa Monica.
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July 18, 2019
Oculus Light Studio’s latest completed restaurant project Birdie G’s, alongside architects Montalba, has opened its doors in Santa Monica, CA! This is also the latest creation for Michelin-starred Chef Jeremy Fox, who has also been nominated multiple times for a James Beard Award.
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