We are honored that McCullough’s featured us as Client of the Month! Read the full article below.
For our February Client of the Month, we are thrilled to feature a people-first firm known for its elegant, inspirational work and commitment to design excellence: ACRM Architects!
ACRM Architects (ACRM) was founded in 2002 by architects Tom Awbrey, Clifford Cook, and Scot McGill, joined by Dennis Rogers shortly thereafter. The three founding architects, who had experience working together at a previous firm, share collective core values; they are driven to deliver impeccable designs and maintain a strong rapport of client satisfaction.
With its beginnings in San Diego, the firm has evolved over the past 20 years to complete a multitude of projects, both nationally and internationally, specializing in hotels and resorts, retail and outlet centers, restaurants, multi-family residential, and mixed-use projects. Their portfolio of stately, high-profile projects includes the Pendry Hotel San Diego, Courtyard by Marriott Liberty Station Resort, Citadel Outlets in Los Angeles, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens at Liberty Station, Cabazon Outlets, Café Sevilla, and Las Americas Premium Outlets at the world’s busiest border crossing from San Diego to Mexico.
ACRM’s office resides, quite fittingly, in what is known as the Makers Quarter of Downtown San Diego’s East Village, home base to many of San Diego’s most innovative businesses. Although they have strong roots in Southern California, the firm has completed projects and designs in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
As a people-centric firm, ACRM’s greatest assets are its diverse, top-notch staff. President/CEO Scot McGill, Vice President/COO Clifford Cook, and Vice President/Design Principal Dennis Rogers currently lead the firm to “creatively transform client needs and aspirations into elegant and unique properties of lasting value.”
The firm’s vision is one that is truly evident in everything they do:
ACRM Architects believes in architecture that responds to its location and provides a sense of place and inspiration for people to experience and enjoy. Our design philosophy is focused on the premise that design excellence should manifest in each and every aspect of a building. The firm is passionate about providing our clients with the most functionally appropriate and creative design solutions while maintaining budgets and schedules.
Taking that vision into the future, ACRM is thrilled for ongoing and upcoming projects in hospitality as well as multi-family and mixed-use developments. They are currently designing a large, full-service hotel on Colorado Boulevard in Downtown Pasadena along with an upscale apartment building across the street. Also on the table is La Bahia Hotel, located near the historic Santa Cruz Boardwalk, which is planned to break ground this year.
“Designing with passion, for buildings with vision.”
From ACRM’s perspective, the key to a successful project is to meet the goals of the original vision while closely adhering to the client’s budget and timeline. ACRM is dedicated to exceptional client service and long-standing personal relationships, such as that with both Craig Realty Group and Huntington Hotel Group, which have been loyal clients since the firm’s inception. Another common thread in all their work is a respectful consideration and seamless, creative integration with the context and community of each project they design. McCullough shares a commitment to these values, which, perhaps, is why our firms have experienced many rewarding collaborations.
McCullough and ACRM first joined together on a project with Next Space Development known as Nimitz Crossing, a multi-family mixed-use development on a triangular lot located between Point Loma and Ocean Beach in San Diego. Nimitz Crossing includes 24 two-bedroom units as well as adaptable commercial space on the ground floor. It was during this project that Vice President/Design Principal Dennis Rogers and McCullough’s Principal Landscape Architect David McCullough first connected over their mutual respect for the creative vision and the inventive design solutions that they each brought to the project.
Since that first project together, our firms have collaborated on several urban projects in San Diego. A sample of these include:
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Columbia Tower (high-rise 38-story mixed-use hotel and multi-family development near Little Italy)
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Pacific Heights (multi-family development with an affordable housing component near City College)
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4th Avenue (multi-family infill development with affordable units)
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Nimitz Crossing Apartments in Point Loma
GRIFFIS MISSION VALLEY
The initial connection between our firms along with our positive experience working together has led to our current collaboration on the Griffis Mission Valley project.
President/CEO Scot McGill recently shared, “I’ve found you to be the most creative. That’s why I keep going back to you. You’re my go-to [landscape] architect for local projects.” Vice President/Design Principal Dennis Rogers added…
“When the Griffis project came up, I said we should talk to you guys, just because I think David’s firm is extremely creative and easy to work with, fun to work with. But very, very creative.”
The Griffis Mission Valley project is a major remodel of all the amenity spaces with a goal to elevate and modernize the property. The project scope for this spacious, modern multi-family apartment development covers a full renovation and reprogramming of the leasing lobby and offices, coworking lounge and offices, community clubroom, fitness center, pool deck, interior courtyards, and exterior paint. Through our design upgrades to the outdoor spaces, we will create unique atmospheres that encourage tenants to gather and that foster a sense of community.
Designed to capitalize on Southern California’s warm, sunny days, the pool lounge area will serve as the premium amenity for residents. Given the large main pool, spa, cabanas, shade structure with outdoor kitchen and dining, bistro seating, chaise lounge pool seating, and an open lawn, this area will be a prime location to unwind and relax in a luxurious oasis.
Additional courtyard and outdoor spaces throughout the development are designed to anticipate the needs and desires of residents, whether they want to dine alfresco, enjoy the warm glow of company around a fire, play outdoor games, or merely relax in a peaceful setting. Our plan also includes connective passageways and passive spaces that will provide residents with a relaxed environment. Here we will introduce reading nooks as well as update many hardscape materials.
We are excited about the variety of creative elements and programmed features that we have included to blend with ACRM’s architectural ideas. It is our goal that the resulting, completed project will become the elevated, lush living space that our project teams have envisioned. Furthermore, we appreciate the confidence that ACRM has in our firm’s ability to create a unique plant palette that complements the existing environment, whether it’s “in town, out in the suburbs, or up in the mountains.” Scot continues, “I feel that [David] would come up with a palette that would match anything that environment challenges him with.”
It is McCullough’s pleasure to collaborate with ACRM on so many exquisite projects, and we hope to continue working together with our shared passion for design rooted in empathy, community, and the human spirit engaged in nature.
Nikki Holloway
Marketing + Creative Manager