AO
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Full service Architectural, Master Planning, and Design firm All phases receive continuous involvement from a Partner in its appropriate division.
With 50 years of experience in architecture and in the building industry working with America’s premier Multifamily, Retail, Commercial, Mixed-Use real estate developers. The firm is one of Southern California’s most respected and sought-after Architectural and Planning firms and is widely recognized as an industry leader in the design of high quality projects. AO emphasizes the team approach - Owner, Architect and Consultants - to interact throughout all phases of the project. AO’s Multifamily Division specializes in medium and high density attached housing and Mixed-Use projects. AO's Retail Division has developed an expertise in Neighborhood, Promotional, Entertainment and Factory Outlet Centers with over 3 million square feet of projects designed last year. AO approaches every project with a fresh perspective and thoughtfully addresses the needs of individual clients and their specific sites, context, program and end user. Our philosophy will always to be design and help build places of character and significance for people, companies, and communities. AO also specializes in collaborating with clients to reach their project’s mission while working within their budgetary parameters. The firm understands the need to create viable Commercial, Residential and Mixed-Use environments that produce a valued return on investment. With our corporate offices located in the heart of Orange County, California, AO has provided services for developers and corporate clients Internationally. With the recent project completion of a 2008 Gold Nugget Merit winning project in Yeoju, Korea, the firm is now currently in design with projects in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea and is providing Design and Construction Administration services for developers and corporate clients across the globe.
09/29/2026
Join AO leaders Bruce Greenfield, Tom Bergerson, and Henry Wong at The Lodging Conference 2026, October 5–7 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Bringing together leading hotel owners, operators, developers, investors, and industry executives, The Lodging Conference provides a forum for conversations shaping the future of hospitality development, design, and operations.
Connect with the AO team and learn more about how we are helping create distinctive hospitality destinations and experiences across the country.
Learn more: https://lodgingconference.com/
09/29/2026
As design progresses for Southern California Edison’s Edison Training Academy in Corona, members of the RY+AO team and SCE’s Transmission and Distribution training team recently toured PG&E’s Electrical Training Facility in Livermore as part of the project’s benchmarking and programming efforts.
The visit offered a firsthand look at how training labs, classrooms, equipment, support spaces, and indoor and outdoor training environments function together within an active utility training campus. Seeing these spaces in operation provided valuable insight into operational adjacencies, circulation, flexibility, and the specialized environments needed to support hands-on workforce training.
RY+AO is leading the design of Phases 2 and 3 of the Edison Training Academy, including the main training building, outdoor training yard, and parking garage. Working closely with SCE stakeholders and drawing on lessons from established training facilities, the team is developing a flexible campus designed to support evolving grid technologies, changing training needs, and the next generation of utility professionals.
Still riding the wave from another exhilarating Surf Park Summit!
Earlier this month, the surf park industry descended on Atlantic Park in Virginia Beach, bringing together the people, ideas and innovation driving the next generation of surf destinations.
AO Partners Rob Budetti and Bruce Greenfield joined this year’s programming, sharing insights from AO’s work across surf, landscape, mixed-use and destination design. Bruce took the stage to share his Five Sacred Principles of Surf-Driven Design — what every surf destination needs to get right to become more than a great place to catch a wave.
In case you missed it, dive deeper into the five principles: https://www.aoarchitects.com/news/a-great-wave-doesnt-make-a-great-destination/
Beyond the programming, we loved connecting with clients, colleagues, friends and future partners who share our excitement for where this industry is headed.
Next stop: Palm Desert. We’re already looking forward to Surf Park Summit 2027 and the opportunity to welcome the industry to the desert — and showcase one of AO’s latest surf-driven destinations.
Surf is on the rise, and we’re just getting started.
09/24/2026
Inspired by the desert. Designed for connection.
Located in Phoenix's Desert Ridge area, Azur is a 348-unit multifamily community that brings a contemporary interpretation of desert living to a growing mixed-use district. Organized around a central oasis and Village Center, the community combines modern residential design with thoughtfully curated amenities, including co-working spaces, courtyards, a fitness center, rooftop gathering areas, and resort-style recreation.
Through desert contemporary architecture, inviting indoor-outdoor spaces, and a strong focus on community, Azur creates a distinctive living experience that reflects the character of its surrounding landscape while supporting today's lifestyle needs.
AO is proud to partner with Greystar on Azur and numerous communities over the years, collaborating to create residential environments that deliver both exceptional design and memorable resident experiences.
Read more: https://www.aoarchitects.com/project/azur/
09/23/2026
It’s been a busy month of events and travels at AO! On the heels of Surf Park Summit in Virginia Beach, AO’s retail team headed to San Diego for ICSC@WESTERN 2026, joining clients, partners and industry leaders for conversations around the trends, opportunities and ideas shaping the future of retail and mixed-use development.
From reconnecting with longtime collaborators to meeting new faces and exchanging ideas about what’s next, the event reinforced what continues to drive great retail destinations: experience, connection and community.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the AO booth, met with our team and shared insights along the way. We always value the opportunity to connect with the people shaping the places where communities shop, dine, work, play and gather.
Great conversations, great connections...and plenty more ahead!
09/22/2026
A former retail anchor is finding new life through wellness and experience.
Recently featured by CoStar, Club Studio at Santa Monica Place transforms a portion of the former Bloomingdale’s into a new fitness and wellness destination for Fitness International. AO helped reimagine the space, bringing boutique fitness, training, recovery and hospitality-inspired amenities together under one roof.
“There’s a shift away from standard retail to more experiential lifestyle-driven destinations,” said Bruce Greenfield, AO Partner.
As shopping centers continue to evolve, projects like Club Studio demonstrate how adaptive reuse and experience-driven design can bring new energy and relevance to established retail destinations, creating reasons for people to come, stay and return.
Read more on CoStar News: https://www.costar.com/article/1153895007/from-retail-anchor-to-wellness-destination-former-la-bloomingdales-gets-new-life
AO was proud to celebrate an inspiring room of Orange County leaders last week at the 32nd annual Orange County Business Journal Women in Business Awards!
More than 700 attendees gathered to recognize the accomplished women making a positive impact across our businesses, organizations, and communities — including our own AO Partner Ruba Awad-Moran, who was honored among this year’s distinguished nominees.
Keynote speaker Charlene Reynolds, Director of John Wayne Airport, encouraged everyone in the room to recognize the power they have to create positive change while uplifting and advancing others — a fitting message for a day dedicated to celebrating women who are doing just that.
Congratulations to Ruba and all of this year’s nominees and honorees. We’re proud to celebrate your leadership, accomplishments, and continued impact on the future of Orange County!
Read more about the full event on OCBJ: https://www.ocbj.com/business-journal-events/past-events/2026-women-in-business-awards-event-recap/
09/10/2026
Recently featured by Urbanize LA, Soto Del Amo continues to take shape in Torrance, with framing now complete at 3863 Carson Street.
Designed by AO and developed by Legacy Partners in a joint venture with DWS Group, the five-story community will bring 200 new residences to the area, along with amenities including a rooftop pool, fitness center, co-working space, courtyards, and structured parking. Located near Hawthorne Boulevard and Del Amo Fashion Center, the project reflects the continued evolution of well-connected multifamily living in the South Bay.
Read more on Urbanize LA: https://la.urbanize.city/post/200-apartments-fully-framed-3863-carson-street-torrance
09/08/2026
Find AO at ICSC@WESTERN 2026!
Our commercial team will be at the San Diego Convention Center from September 14 through 16, connecting with clients, partners, and industry leaders shaping the future of retail and mixed-use destinations. Stop by Booth 222 to connect with our team and talk about what’s next for the places where people shop, dine, work, play, and gather.
Learn more about ICSC 2026: https://www.icsc.com/attend-and-learn/events/details/western-2026
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