What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm

AO

Call Directions Website Contact the business

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.

10/29/2026

Designing a hotel is really about designing transitions.

From busy to calm. From work to rest. From arrival to exploration.

Element Mission Valley was created to support those transitions through comfortable gathering spaces, thoughtful connections to the outdoors, and a design language inspired by the natural character of the surrounding river corridor.

Now open, the hotel offers guests a place to recharge while staying connected to everything Mission Valley has to offer.

Thank you to Driftwood Acquisitions & Development, L.P. for the opportunity to help shape this new hospitality destination.

10/28/2026

The most successful communities reflect the character of the places they call home.

Inspired by Norco's unique equestrian heritage, Norco Valley Square is a 320-unit multifamily community designed to celebrate the spirit of "Horsetown USA." Agrarian-inspired architecture, thoughtfully planned outdoor spaces, and a robust amenity program come together to create a distinct residential experience rooted in the community's identity.

By balancing modern living with a strong sense of place, the project demonstrates how multifamily housing can thoughtfully respond to its local context.

We are proud to have partnered with Frontier Communities and The Prevetti Group in bringing this vision to life.

Learn more about Norco Valley Square: https://www.aoarchitects.com/project/norco-valley-square/

10/27/2026

Culver Commons is taking shape in Culver City!

With AO serving as architect of record, the new 13,000+ SF development at Washington Boulevard and Centinela Avenue is bringing a fresh mix of dining, retail, and gathering spaces to the neighborhood.

Developed by Regency Centers, the project will welcome an exciting lineup of tenants, including Vox Kitchen, El Moro, Smog City Brewing Co., ROL Hand Roll Bar, and Wanderlust Creamery, creating a new place for the community to gather, connect, and explore.

Construction is currently progressing towards an anticipated spring 2027 grand opening.

Read more via Urbanize LA: https://la.urbanize.city/post/culver-commons-takes-shape-washington-and-centinela

10/26/2026

Last week, members of AO’s leadership team headed to Scottsdale for AEC THRIVE 2026, taking time to step outside the day-to-day and focus on a bigger question: How do we build the firm we want to be tomorrow?

For Eric Aubort, Ioanna Magiati, Lara McKissick and Vickie Oshima, the conference offered fresh thinking around the business of AEC and the strategies that help firms evolve, scale and thrive.

It’s a timely conversation for AO. As we look toward 2027, we’re embracing new ideas, new possibilities and meaningful changes that will shape how we work together and grow.

There’s a lot ahead for AO, and we’re excited for what’s next.

10/22/2026

Construction is officially underway on Senoa Resort & Spa in Sedona, Arizona!

Set against Sedona’s iconic red rock landscape, the $116 million, 70-key wellness resort is designed to create an immersive hospitality experience rooted in its extraordinary natural setting. The villa-style retreat will span 11.5 acres and feature 29 freestanding structures, a 5,500-square-foot spa, creekside dining, event spaces, and indoor-outdoor accommodations that connect guests with the beauty of Sedona.

AO is proud to serve as Architect of Record, collaborating with R.D. Olson Development, R.D. Olson Construction, Inc., and Senoa Investment Partners to bring this distinctive destination to life.

We look forward to seeing the project take shape ahead of its anticipated 2028 opening.

Read more on The Zweig List: https://zweiglist.com/r-d-olson-construction-brings-116-million-quiet-luxury-resort-to-sedona/

Concept Design & Renderings by WATG and Wimberly Interiors.

10/21/2026

When people describe where they live, they rarely talk about
square footage.

They talk about the path they take home. The courtyard where
they run into neighbors. The spot where they grab coffee before work.

FORME + FRAME was designed around those everyday moments.
The central paseo becomes more than a pedestrian connection. It's the social

heart of the community, creating opportunities for interaction, movement, and shared experiences between two distinct architectural identities.

That's the kind of place-making that excites us, and why we're especially honored to see FORME + FRAME recognized with a nomination for an AIA Orange County Design Award.

Thank you to Episode Companies for the opportunity to help bring this vision to life.

10/14/2026

AO is proud to share that 4th & Parkcenter has received entitlement approval from the City of Santa Ana, marking a major milestone for the ambitious mixed-use development envisioned by nonprofit Think Education!

4th & Parkcenter will transform Think Education’s existing three-acre Fourth Street property into a seven-story community with 270 new homes, including housing intended to serve the region’s middle-income workforce, from teachers and first responders to office professionals. But the impact goes much further. Think Education is taking an innovative approach to its real estate, creating a development that will not only contribute much-needed housing to Santa Ana, but also help fund the organization’s future and its mission to partner with schools and expand educational opportunities for children across the state.

For AO, it’s an honor to help bring that vision to life. We commend Think Education, and nonprofits everywhere, that continue to think boldly about how they can leverage their resources to strengthen communities, sustain their missions and create opportunity for generations to come.

Congratulations to Think Education, the project team and everyone who helped achieve this important milestone. We’re excited to see 4th & Parkcenter take its next step forward!

Read more about 4th & Parkcenter: https://www.aoarchitects.com/project/4th-parkcenter/

10/13/2026

Retail repositioning is entering a new phase.

Across the country, aging malls and underperforming retail properties are moving beyond ambitious master plans and toward entitlement, construction, and redevelopment. But what does it take to turn these complex visions into viable, lasting communities?

In the October issue of Mann Report, AO Partner Ioanna Magiati explores the strategies driving this transformation, from flexible master planning and thoughtful phasing to integrating new uses and navigating the complexities of redevelopment.

Featuring AO projects including The Village at Laguna Hills, Bolsa Pacific, AMLI Brea, and Iowa Apartments, the article offers a closer look at how different approaches are helping reposition existing retail properties for the future.

Read the full article in Mann Report: https://issuu.com/mannpublicationsmagazines/docs/mr_october_2026/46

10/12/2026

Sometimes the most interesting communities begin with the toughest sites.

Monarch Hillside started with a simple challenge: How do you create a high-density residential community on a steep hillside surrounded by single-family neighborhoods?

The answer was to work with the terrain, not against it. The design steps naturally down the hillside toward Market Street, using changes in elevation to shape the buildings, frame views, and create a welcoming arrival experience. At the center, a thoughtfully integrated piazza brings residents together, transforming a challenging site into a connected residential community.

Now rising from the hillside, Monarch Hillside is beginning to take shape. The project combines the HyTuck prototype, tropical modern design influences, flexible work-from-home living, and rooftop gathering spaces with views toward downtown San Diego. What was once a challenging site is becoming a community designed around connection, flexibility, and a strong sense of place.

Working alongside Monarch Group, we're helping transform a complex site into a neighborhood that feels connected to both its landscape and its surroundings.

Address

144 N Orange Street
Orange, CA
92866

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+17146399860

Website

https://www.aoarchitects.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when AO posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.