Civic Architecture + Design
Our Expertise
Carrier Johnson + Culture (CJ+C) brings award-winning design services in Architecture, Interiors, Landscape, Planning, and Environmental Graphics over the past 48 years.
SERVICES
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
We think critically and creatively about how beautiful designs can perform better for their users, owners, and the planet.
We do this through an Integrated Design approach, which entails collaborating with clients and industry partners to explore project performance goals and options early. This ensures that sustainability, resilience, and energy savings are holistically weaved into the design vision.
As signatories of the AIA 2030 Commitment program, our firm has pledged to significantly reduce our use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production while simultaneously promoting the regeneration of natural resources.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
We believe that the quality of our work is stronger when it’s influenced by and catered to the experiences of many people.
Our firm thrives on the unique diversity of communities our projects serve and colorful backgrounds of our team members, who come to us from around the world. As such, we strive to incorporate the views and needs of all demographics and user groups in our work. With each project, we investigate the ethical, physical, economic and cultural implications of our design decisions on the community, environment, end users, and industry, guided by a goal of improving our world with each move we make.
Our Excellence
CJ+C's design approach emphasizes effective client communications, rigorous cost monitoring, and phased development of the to comprehensive detailing.
25M
480M
TOTAL SF OF MUNICIPAL PROJECTS
TOTAL SF OF CIVIC SECTOR PROJECTS $1.0
PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS
60+
LEED CERTIFIED PROJECTS 1.0B
Our Partnerships
I would rate Carrier Johnson + Culture's performance excellent in terms of quality, schedule adherence, timeliness of performance, project management and personnel, cost management, and overall customer satisfaction.”
Peter d'Ablaing, Project Manager, SANDAG
We have multiple successful government collaborations.
DEPT OF GENERAL SERVICES
With over 45 years of collaboration, we are currently proposing designs for a new Emergency Operations facility in Costa Mesa, a testament to our expertise in courthouses, prisons, federal buildings, and office structures.
OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
Our team has successfully secured approvals for projects like the $87M California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ventures, spanning 25 projects across three state prisons in Chino, Corona, and San Diego.
following table includes but is not limited to our list of experience.
We collaborate with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to make sure that the permit process runs smoothly. We meet with them early and often to avoid any surprises. We discuss the project issues openly and arrive at a decision together. We begin each project with that list in mind so that we engage everyone necessary.
For projects involving multiple co-located departments, we prioritize effective communication by identifying decision-makers to prevent interdepartmental conflicts. Our team is well-acquainted with state utilities, engaging them early to avoid project delays. Comprehensive documentation
ensures everyone is informed about transformer locations, meter specifications, and other crucial details.
Additionally, we have recent experience conducting public engagement sessions with the local community to ensure all stakeholders, including those in the community, feel they are heard and their concerns are being met.
DEPT OF WATER RESOURCES
Committed to water quality, we employ best practices for stormwater discharge, to ensure compliance with all permits and requirements in close collaboration with the design team and owners.
DIVISION OF THE STATE ARCHITECT
With direct involvement in hundreds of commissioning, design, and remodel projects, we bring over 30 years of experience working closely with the State of California DSA.
The
Award Winning Civic Projects
SANDAG MOBILITY TRANSIT CENTER
Honor Award, Building/Technology Systems, American Council of Engineering Companies of California's (ACECCA) Engineering Excellence Awards program, 2015
CALTRANS DISTRICT II HEADQUARTERS
Interior Design Excellence Competition, Green Design, American Society of Interior Designers San Diego Chapter, 2007
Constructor Awards, Finalist, Excellence in Project ManagementProjects Over $5 Million, Associated General Contractors of California, 2007
Build San Diego Award, Public Work, Merit Award, Associated General Contractors of California, 2007
Orchid, Landscaping, San Diego Architectural Foundation, 2007
Honor Award, Landscaping, American Society of Landscape Architects, 2007
Excellence in Design Awards, Honorable Mention, Government Category,
Environmental Design + Construction Magazine, 2007
Civil Engineering Project Awards, Award of Excellence, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2006
Concrete Flatwork, American Concrete Institute, San Diego International Chapter, Inc., 2006
Excellence in Construction Award, Honor Award, Associated Builders & Contractors, San Diego Chapter, 2006
Best of California 2006 Awards, Office, California Construction Magazine, 2006
SDG&E Award, Energy Efficiency Integration in Non-Residential Design, AIA San Diego, 2002
Projects
CSU LEO F. CAIN LIBRARY
Project Achievement Award, $51-$100 Million Building/New Construction” category, Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Southern California Chapter, 2011
Southern California, Best of 2010, Award of Merit, McGraw-Hill Construction, 2010
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT COURTHOUSE
Best of 2009, Southern California, Award of Merit, Government/Public category, California Construction Magazine, 2009
LAKE FOREST CIVIC CENTER
Awards of Merit, Sustainable Innovation Awards Category: Specialty Sustainable Innovation Strategy - Water (Admin Building), USGBC-LA, 2020
Parks & Recreation Project of the Year, American Society of Civil Engineers - OC Branch, 2020
Public Works Project of the Year, American Public Works Association (APWA), 2020
EDENVALE COMMUNITY CENTER
Structures Award Winner for Community Impact, Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, 2010
Civic Experience
City of Lake Forest Civic Center | Lake Forest, CA
Our strategic, integrated approach creates meaningful, people-centered spaces by uniting diverse design expertise to tell cohesive stories that connect individuals with their environment.
City of Lake Forest Civic Center
Inspired by the local community’s vision and the surrounding natural beauty of Lake Forest, the new Civic Center offers a new place for people to conduct business and enjoy community activities. Coined Lake Forest’s “100-Year” home, the Civic Center does more than establish permanent residence for City Hall – it serves as the heart of the City. We envisioned this facility to be a safe and delightful place for socialization, group gathering and events, leisure activities, entertainment, and hosting civic functions.
The city’s and community’s input was vital during our design process. The City of Lake Forest held a series of workshops to gather thoughts and opinions from residents regarding features and future amenities. Craftsman style architecture complements Lake Forest’s pastoral landscape and natural topography.
CLIENT
City of Lake Forest
PROJECT TYPE
Civic Center & Police Station
LOCATION
City of Lake Forest, CA
SERVICES
Site Planning
Architecture
Interior Design
Programming
SIZE
102,000 SF 8-Acre
CONSTRUCTION COST
$67,000,000
SUSTAINABILITY
LEED NC Silver
Awards of Merit, Sustainable Innovation Awards Category: Specialty Sustainable Innovation Strategy - Water (Admin Building), USGBC-LA, 2020
Parks & Recreation Project of the Year, American Society of Civil Engineers - OC Branch, 2020 Public Works Project of the Year, American Public Works Association (APWA), 2020
Center St Emergency Operations Center
As Design Architect, CJ+C was responsible for both Schematic Design and Design Development for this emergency operations center. We also conducted program validation of the preliminary floor plans submitted to LA Metro to establish the program square footage, which involved meetings and coordination with LA Metro staff to validate the program and obtain approval of proposed floor plans, site plans, and building design.
The 26,000 SF project is classified as an “essential building” for a new emergency operations center (EOC), co-located with the Security Operations Center (SOC). The SOC will be a 24/7 manned security center with specialized security surveillance with the mission of improving overall rider safety on bus and rail lines and reducing vulnerabilities to terrorism.
CLIENT Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
PROJECT TYPE
Emergency Operations Center
LOCATION
Los Angeles, CA
SIZE
26,000 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$81,400,000
SERVICES
Programming
Site Planning
Architecture
Interior Design
SUSTAINABILITY
LEED NC Gold
City of Fontana City Hall Annex
The City of Fontana is one of the fastest growing communities in the State of California. With that, comes the need to provide additional staff resources to residents. The city is undertaking a phased approach to adding office space and parking, while maintaining the small town feel that attracted many residents.
This Design-Build project includes a two-story 51,000 SF building to accommodate future office demands. The site included an existing Fire Administration Building, which had to be demolished prior to new construction. New utilities had to be coordinated for the larger footprint of the new building. The building has been designed to reduce maintenance costs and provide durable finishes that will withstand the test of time.
Six departments will share the building for operational efficiency: KFON Studios (public service TV/radio), Community Services, Human Resources, Code Compliance, Fire Department/COAST, and Conference & Support.
Amenities include a covered outdoor patio, designed for yearround use while mitigating sun and wind. Scaled to respect nearby residential neighborhoods, the building also provides on-site parking to minimize community impacts.
CLIENT City of Fontana
PROJECT TYPE
City Hall
LOCATION
Fontana, CA
SIZE
51,000 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$21,500,000
SERVICES
Programming
Site Planning
Architecture
South Bay Bus Maintenance Facility
This high-profile $50.9M expansion project for SANDAG expands the South Bay Bus Maintenance Facility in Chula Vista into a larger and more functional maintenance and operations base. The 10.6acre site features a new administration building, a new high bay bus maintenance building, alterations to an existing maintenance building, a new bus wash facility, and additional bus parking.
The 2-story administration building consists of 16,000 SF for offices, dispatching functions and driver support areas. Expanding and reconfiguring the site, along with the addition of the 50,000 SF maintenance and warehouse building, increased site capacity from 174 to 240 buses, including new South Bay Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses.
CLIENT
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
PROJECT TYPE
Public Works
Maintenance Facility
LOCATION
Chula Vista, CA
SIZE
66,000 GSF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$50,900,000
SERVICES
Architecture
Interior Design
Permitting
Construction Administration
SERVICES
LEED Silver
Honor Award, Building/Technology Systems
American Council of Engineering Companies of California (ACEC-CA) Engineering Excellence Awards program
Sheriff Training Facility
The Fire and Sheriff Training Facility houses instructional classrooms, Firearm and Driving Simulators, Physical Fitness, lockers and administrative areas. Outside, the program requirements include a Slow Speed Driving Area, Physical Training Fields, Marching Area and Morning Formation Area. Separated by a covered breezeway, the complex features distinct facilities for the Fire Department and the Sheriff, with landscaped areas, exterior amenities, and parking spaces. The project’s conceptual direction harmonizes the facility’s immediate programmatic needs with a long-term vision for future development.
CLIENT Ventura County Community College District
PROJECT TYPE
HIgher Education
LOCATION
Camarillo, CA
SIZE
48,000 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$16,158,429
SERVICES
Programming
Master Planning
Architecture
Interior Design
SUSTAINABILITY
LEED Gold
AIA Ventura County, Honor Award
Prescott Chapel
Inspiration of the chapel design comes from the natural surroundings on site and the spiritual significance within the space. The chapel is an academic anchor of the campus and physical reminder of their ideology. Simplicity with pure lines and forms were used as a means to capture the true essence of the space.
The approach to the chapel is of equal importance as the chapel itself. Open arms are abstractly portrayed within the building’s massing— to express an inviting space. The entry plays with the scale to enhance the progression of exterior to interior. As you enter the chapel, the change in scale from the entry to the main space dramatically opens up. Personal prayer spaces are radially arrayed from the center of the cross as the focal point.
The encapsulated nooks with cocoon like wood structures serve for individual moments of prayer. A light canopy overhead made up of organic materials acts as a filter for light to enter the space and sets an intimate mood.
CLIENT Point Loma Nazarene University
PROJECT TYPE
Faith
LOCATION San Diego, CA
SIZE
1-Story 77 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$1,379,451
SERVICES
Programming Site Planning Architecture
Golden Nugget Awards
Grand Award: Category: Judges Special Award of Excellence
Builders Magazine / Pacific Coast Builders Conference, 2020
International Architecture Award, Religious Buildings Category
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, 2021
Honor Award, Architecture Category, AIA San Diego, 2020
Urban Core + Connections
The Urban Core + Connections project is a forward-thinking mobility and urban design initiative led by SANDAG to enhance multi-modal connectivity, safety, and access across key corridors in the San Diego region’s urban core. The project aims to deliver both near- and long-term improvements that support transit-oriented development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create more vibrant, peoplecentered public spaces.
CJ+C serves as the project’s overall Project Manager, leading coordination across agencies and consultants. The rm is also responsible for urban design and visualizations, crafting a united design vision for the region’s primary corridors. In addition, CJ+C provides transportation and land use compatibility analysis to ensure that mobility improvements align with existing and future development patterns, helping shape a built environment that is both functional and inspiring.
Through stakeholder engagement, data-driven design, and collaboration with transportation and planning experts , the Urban Core + Connections project is setting the stage for a more connected, accessible, and equitable future for San Diego's urban neighborhoods.
CLIENT San Diego Associations of Governments (SANDAG)
PROJECT TYPE
Public Transit
Mixed Use
LOCATION
San Diego, CA
SIZE 1324 Acres
CONSTRUCTION COST
$1,795,969,619
SERVICES
Master Planning Architecture
Soltek China Lake
This landscape architecture design project focuses on the sustainable development and enhancement of the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station located in California. The project includes comprehensive exterior design services for a new gym facility and chapel, integrating drought-tolerant planting with bioretention basins , and revitalizing the existing promenade through updated planting and improvements.
The project was designed to be inclusive of all social and cultural representations at the base and replaced an aging but sentimental All Faith Chapel. The team was careful to be respectful of the history of the base and provide the community with a new asset. The building accomodates a host of services and religious viewpoints, offering a space for the community to come together.
CLIENT Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) China Lake
PROJECT TYPE
Community Support Facilities
LOCATION
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA
SIZE
51,781 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$47,000,000
SERVICES
Landscape Architecture Architecture
5950 Jefferson Boulevard
CJ+C is providing architectural services for this 4-story office building in Culver City. In order to maximize parking for the building, the project features automated vehicle stackers. The architectural language of stacked shifting boxes provides opportunities for outdoor extensions of office space in the form of en suite outdoor terraces.
These flexible terraces provide space for breakout meetings, social events, and larger gatherings. The orientation of the terraces takes advantage of the various views from the site: the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Hollywood Hills to the north and the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook to the south.
Natural building materials , including the reinforced concrete structure and subtle variations in exterior cement panels complement the floor-to-ceiling glass and native landscaping.
CLIENT Urban Offering
LOCATION
Culver City, CA
PROJECT TYPE
Office Building
SIZE
70,000 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$29,396,393
SERVICES Architecture
UCI Extension Building
The new Division of Continuing Education Building at the University of California, Irvine, is a 76,300 GSF, 5-story structure that houses classrooms, a computer lab, sound studio and recording booth, offices and support spaces for faculty and administrators, and shell space for future development on a one-acre site. The project also includes outdoor plaza spaces, terraces and a pedestrian bridge
CLIENT University of California, Irvine
LOCATION Irvine, CA
PROJECT TYPE
Higher Education
SIZE
76,300 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$40,188,993
SERVICES
Architecture Site Planning
SUSTAINABILITY
LEED Platinum
National Award, Merit, Educational Facilities Category, Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) National, 2018
Leo F. Cain Education Center
Composed primarily of glass and metal, the south-wing addition to the Cal State Dominguez Hills Leo F. Cain Education Center is a 5-story, state-of-the-art library facility whose monumental scale is attenuated by a simple yet elegant design inspired by transparency and luminosity— traditional metaphors for learning, inspiration and progress. The new 150,000 SF addition provides much-needed space to house educational and cultural resources for the growing campus and surrounding community.
These resources include access to the university’s entire collection of books and research materials (currently at over half a million volumes), comfortable study areas, grand reading rooms, technologically advanced archival storage and research areas, an events center and multi-cultural art gallery and learning center.
CLIENT California State University, Dominguez Hills
LOCATION
Carson, CA
PROJECT TYPE
Academic Library
Civic SIZE
150,000 SF (addition)
105,000 SF (remodel)
CONSTRUCTION COST
$51,000,000
SERVICES
Architecture
Master Planning
Seismic Retrofit
Programming
Interior Design
Project Achievement Award
$51-$100 Million Building/New Construction” Category Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Southern California Chapter, 2011
Southern California, Best of 2010 Award of Merit, McGraw-Hill Construction, 2010
Legacy International Center
The design and architecture of the Legacy International Center celebrates over 72 years of Dr. Morris Cerullo and his worldwide evangelical mission. Located in San Diego, this is an international destination for the world to experience.
Design objectives included creating a timeless, world class destination resort property with major market branding, attracting domestic and international visitors to the Legacy Center and San Diego and positively impacting the adjacent hotel occupancy by creating attractions that promote and extend tourists length of stay in San Diego.
The Center has multiple indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces including the 500-seat Pavilion Theater and the 6,000 SF Pavilion Ballroom, which often hosts large gatherings and weddings, and the Legacy Grand Plaza.
The Center and the Hotel offer various dining options ranging from full dinner service to grab-and-go counters. Market arcades, inspired by souk markets of the Middle East, also offer dining and shopping.
CLIENT Morris Cerullo World Evangelism Legacy Center Foundation
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE Conference Center
Mixed Use Faith Civic SIZE
326,780 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$133,832,604
Award of Merit, Gold Nugget Award Category: Best Special Use Project PCBC/Builder Magazine, 2020
“Project of the Year” in the EIFS Category Western Wall & Ceiling Contractors Association (WWCCA), 2020
Award of Excellence for Best Hospitality Project San Diego Business Journal, 2020
Best Projects Award of Merit, Cultural/Worship Category, Engineering News-Record- ENR California South region, 2020
211 Headquarters
211 San Diego is an agency that connects San Diego County residents with information about the community resources. CJ+C was retained to renovate an existing 2-story, concrete tilt-up research and development building and transform the space into their new stateof-the-art headquarters office. The new space includes collaborative open office areas, community and company meeting rooms, specialized suites for community partners, including County of San Diego Disaster Response Operations.
CLIENT 211 San Diego
LOCATION San Diego, CA
PROJECT TYPE
Tenant Improvement
SIZE
28,866 SF
CONSTRUCTION COST
$2,400,000
COMPLETION
2016 SERVICES Programming Space Planning Architecture
Interior Design
FF&E
