Rios Clementi Hale Studios (RCH Studios) gives the storytellers of Imagine Entertainment a well-scripted office space to collaborate creatively, comfortably, and efficiently.
When Imagine Entertainment outgrew its previous office, they called on RCH Studios to take on the task of creating a modern and innovative space and interconnect the company’s film and television departments. The outcome turned out to be exactly what they asked for in this 4-story building, located in Beverly Hills, comprised of formal and informal rooms, a mixture of small and big lounges in an effort to make the employees of Imagine Ent. comfortable in their storytelling process.
When was the project completed?
2017
How much space?
22,170 net square feet
Was this new or renovated space?
The offices are in a renovated Class A office building in Beverly Hills and the tenant space that Imagine Entertainment now occupies was renovated as part of the design.
SF per person?
360 SF/person
How many employees?
+/- 61
What is the average daily population?
+/- 55
Describe workspace types.
The workspaces are a combination of private perimeter office and open plan workstations
What kind of meeting spaces are provided?
The design includes a variety of public spaces including a formal conference room, an informal living room, an area where the entire staff can congregate, and several small lounges for spontaneous collaboration. The overall design of the new offices was to replace the feeling of individual spaces in their previous office with a communal and inclusive spirit brought about largely by the configuration of the program and the use of design elements that invoke a residential, personal style more than a commercial one.
What other kinds of support space or amenity spaces are provided?
A primary goal of the office design was to cue creativity and comfort. Ping pong tables, a kitchenette, coffee bar, casual spaces with comfortable sofas and chairs, and an assembly stair gathering area for presentations and the occasional Friday yoga class are all part of the strategy.
What are the projects location and proximity to public transportation and/or other amenities?
Imagine Entertainment is located in the heart of downtown Beverly Hills. The building is located in a highly walkable area with a multitude of dining and shopping areas. It is immediately adjacent to the Wilshire Corridor, which traverses the entire city and connects to transit options.
Was the “C” Suite involved in the project planning and design process? If so, how?
Imagine Entertainment Executives Ron Howard and Brian Grazer were involved in setting the tone and direction of the design. They wanted the design to feel established and mature but still have a youthfulness to it. Exposed ceilings, concrete floors, light wood, and white walls create a foundational palette of muted colors, however, injections of color add to a feeling of excitement, especially in communal sitting areas.
One thing that’s really key for the offices is that they have moments of surprise.
-Mark Rios, Creative Director, RCH Studios
What kind of programming or visioning activities were used?
The programming was supplied by the client and the design team worked closely with the
client on concept imagery to set the overall vibe of space.
The design solved challenges. The first was how to make the new space feel modern and creative to attract new talent while burnishing the studio’s 30-year legacy. The second was how to interconnect Imagine’s television and movie departments, which had occupied separate spaces in the former location.
The two-level offices required us to create openness throughout the 22,000 square feet space. A large central staircase between the two stories, with areas for impromptu gatherings, is a focal point of the new office.
Please describe any program requirements that were unique or required any special research or design requirements.
The design team took the opportunity to tell the story of Imagine’s decades of storytelling success. The lobby walls are wallpapered with pages from the original scripts to hit productions like Apollo 13 and the TV show Empire. It serves as the backdrop for a dynamic signage element marking the entry.
In addition, movie posters were adapted and scaled into a custom wallpaper that appears on the walls of the kitchen and on the bottom face of the stair that rises in the center of the space.
Was there any emphasis or requirements on programming for health and wellbeing initiatives for employees?
Importance was placed on maximizing daylight into the shared spaces and gathering spaces. The new connection stair not only emphasizes the connection of the Television and Film departments but its prominence and wide treads also encourage people to take the stairs.
Were there any special or unusual construction materials or techniques employed in the project?
The design is defined by open spaces that bring people together as part of the creative process to inspire conversation.
For specific examples, please describe the product, how it was used, and if it solved any specific problem.
In addition, the design team employed wood veneer finishing techniques that can be found in our high-end residential millwork projects which gives the highlighted lobby spaces and executive offices a residential and relaxed feel.
What products or service solutions are making the biggest impact in your space?
By outfitting and accessorizing the space with furniture and other design elements that feels residential, the office takes on a comfortable and approachable style. The client entered into an arrangement with a student art program to display promising student work, which punctuates the space with moments of personality and drama. These pieces complement the custom script and mural wallcoverings and the private art owned by some of the executives.
What is the most unique feature of the new space?
Our interiors team took the opportunity to tell the story of Imagine’s decades of storytelling success. The lobby walls are papered over with pages from the original scripts to hit productions like Apollo 13 and the TV show Empire.
– Mark Rios, Creative Director, RCH Studios
A wall decorated with abstracted images from movie posters: “I think it’s a balance of giving them something unique to them but also using materials people are familiar with.
-Huay Wee, Managing Studio Director, RCH Studios
Are there any furnishings or spaces specifically included to promote wellness/wellbeing?
Aside from conference rooms, space includes casual spaces with sofas and chairs, a coffee bar with tall stools and a tiered bleacher-style presentation area where yoga classes are sometimes held on Fridays
What kinds of technology products were used?
The fact that the new offices were divided among two floors of a four-story building initially seemed like an additional obstacle, but it required us to create openness throughout the 22,000 square feet space. A large central staircase between the two stories, with areas for impromptu gatherings, is a focal point of the new office.
If the company relocated to a new space, what was the most difficult aspect of the change for the employees?
The need for the private office – most dealings are in a traditional entertainment method – by a phone call and private meetings, so whatever new space they move in to would need to still have significant window wall for natural light and private offices.
If so, what were the most surprising or illuminating or hoped-for results?
The client was so pleased with the design that they referred us to other projects, which is certainly an ideal outcome for any project.
Tell us more!
Interiors and Architect: Rios Clementi Hale Studios
MEP: ARC engineering
GC: Taslimi Construction
Images Courtesy of Rios Clementi Hale Studios (RCH Studios)
