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.
Check out Oculus Light Studio’s most recently completed projects now added to our website! These new projects include a family-friendly community park, offices for your favorite streaming service, a restaurant on the campus of a legendary movie studio, and an iconic flagship store in the Big Apple.
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→
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!).
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.
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.
The Culver Studios construction is currently underway! Oculus is working on the renovation of this 101-year old site, where nearly every studio warehouse has been removed, save for the historic buildings. The production campus will include new underground parking connecting to The Culver Steps. continued→
We are currently looking for full-time entry-level lighting designers to join our diverse team currently working on a wide range of architectural lighting design projects located both locally and around the globe.
San Pedro’s historic Ports O’ Call Village is getting a $150 million makeover! Oculus is currently working with RAPT Studio and Adamson Associates on the new San Pedro Public Market, which will include a mix of restaurants and retail, along with recreational areas and a 6,000-seat outdoor amphitheater. The first phase is expected to open as early as 2021, so keep your eyes peeled for this fresh renovation. In the meantime, check out this article for more info!
A big thank you to the Lighting Design Awards for distinguishing Oculus Light Studio as the Emerging Lighting Design Practice of 2019! We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition.
The Lighting Design Awards are presented by the Lighting Design Magazine based in the UK. This year, the gala was held at the Troxy in London on May 16, 2019. Of the 5 finalists selected, Oculus was announced as the winner and praised as “a studio whose passion is at the heart of everything it does.”
The Line Lofts are now Hollywood’s tallest building! This 6-story sleek residential building is in the heart of Hollywood, near the famed corner of Hollywood Blvd and Highland. Oculus Light Studio worked with SPF:a on this contemporary multi-family project, where design highlights include an exterior stairway and tall multi-level interior volumes. Even with budget constraints, this project is a showcase of custom-made style and flair.
ABC Mart Grand Stage opened up its doors last November in Tokyo’s trendsetting Harujuku district, where it was designed with Instragrammable photo opportunities at every corner so shoppers can take their social media to the next level while purchasing fashionable footwear. Working with CallisonRTKL, Oculus Light Studio was excited to be a part of this project as careful attention was taken to ensure that the seamlessly integrated lighting would flatter both the merchandise and the selfie-ready shoppers.
ABC Mart Grand Stage was also just nominated for a Shop! Award. The winners will be announced in June.
For more information on ABC Mart, check out this article here!
