About

Artistic imagination and scientific methodology have been described as two habits of mind. These differences are not real; they reside in our frames of analysis. In the masterworks of architecture these distinctions disappear.

Our Firm

We are an office of unconventional practice that collaborates with architects to confront big issues in sustainability and human comfort. We believe that buildings which are generous in spirit and space and are made with natural materials and quality of workmanship are those which last over time, most easily accommodating change. These buildings of quality and character are those which are ultimately the most sustainable and resilient during times of limited available resources. We bring a perspective integrating both architectural and engineering approaches to building design, bridging these two fields to find unique solutions for building performance and occupant comfort. Our work rests on exposure to leading edge research and a proven track record in professional practice. L+U projects have been consistently recognized with awards for both design and sustainable performance, including AIA/COTE Top Ten awards and Platinum LEED certifications. Our solutions are innovative, beautiful and backed by science and decades of experience.

Learn about our Expertise & Services

People

In addition to enjoying the work and being of good humor, firm members hold advanced professional degrees in architecture, with significant experience in advanced energy and light simulation for high-end commercial and institutional buildings, residential design and museums and art galleries. Staff credentials include Architectural Registration in California and Spain, Lighting Certification (LC) through NCQLP, and Building Energy Design Professional (BEMP) ANSI- accreditation under ISO/IEC 17024, and LEED AP. Six staff members have significant experience in architectural education in both higher education and professional education.

Awards

We are honored that our projects have consistently received both design and sustainable performance awards from local and national organizations. This is a reflection of the high quality of designers we work with and the impact we bring to the work through collaboration with our clients.

Clients

Architects

Adamson Associates
Aidlin Darling Design
Allied Works
Behnisch Architekten
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson
Callison RTKL
Diller Scofidio + Renfro
EHDD
Foster + Partners
Gensler
Gehry Partners
HDR
HLW
HOK
Jacobs
Johnston Marklee
Kendall Heaton Associates
Kevin Daly Architects
L’Observatoire International
Lever Architecture
MAK Studio
Michael Green Architecture
Noll & Tam
OPA
PangArchitect
Pelli Clarke Pelli
Rafael Viñoly Architects
RMW
S^A
Selldorf Architects
SERA
SmithGroup
SOM
Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
Takenaka Corporation
Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects
William McDonough + Partners
Weiss/Manfredi
WRNS
ZGF Architects

Owners

American Institute of Architects
American University
Apple
Arts Center College of Design
BMW
California Science Center
City College San Francisco
Cleveland Clinic
Colburn School
David Zwirner
East Bay Regional Parks
Facebook / Meta
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Gap, Inc.
Google
Golden Gate National Park
Guggenheim Museum
Heising Simons Foundation
Hirshhorn Museum
Lawrence Berkeley National Labs
MGM Entertainment
NASA
NIKE
OK Wave, LLC
New York Times
Oberlin College
Packard Foundation
Patagonia
Port of Oakland
Skoll Foundation
Sonoma State University
State of California
The Frick Collection
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
UC San Diego
UC San Francisco
UC Santa Cruz
University of Hawai’I Manoa
University of Minnesota
VMWare

Building Industry Professionals

3M
Architectural Glass and Aluminum
ASUL
Clayco
DEGW
Devcon Construction
CBRE
Domus Development
Envoity
GeoHazards International
Hawai’i Natural Energy Institute
Hines
Jamison Properties
JLL
Level 10 Construction
Lutron
Mecho Shade Systems
Pacific Gas & Electric
Project Frog
Sares-Regis Group
Serious materials
Southern California Edison
Stonemark Construction Management
Taconic Partners
Talisen Construction
VIEW Glass
Webcor
Willis Construction
XL Construction

Research

Our research has been foundational in many areas of expertise in our practice. We regularly generate proprietary techniques and solutions, often using project requirements as a catalyst or responding to our discontent with tools and methods of normative practice. This innovative research addresses energy and thermal performance modeling, daylighting simulation methods, lighting and advanced optical simulation and is in use across academia and practice, and from the fabrication shop to the cloud. We remain active in these communities, presenting and publishing our research in local and global conferences and publications.

Below you will find a selection of our research and in our Lab you can see some of the additional in-house research and development that is constantly underway at L+U.

 

Contact

Address / Shipping:
1500 Ferry Point, Alameda, CA 94501
+1.510.521.3800

Send mail to:
PO Box 6146
Alameda, CA 94501

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