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Creative Artists Agency Headquarters

Century City, California

At every turn both drama and power are expressed in the stunning new 240,000 square foot, eight-story headquarters for CAA where the world's foremost talents are represented. The Gensler led design team responded with a palette of classical materials sculpted into dynamic volumes. The team worked together to enhance the interplay of glossy, textured, matte, light, dark, white, and black materials – always with a focus on the experience of moving through the space and the light. Our scope of work included the open and private offices, the lobby, an 8-story atrium with interconnecting stair, a 200-seat screening room, terrace, café, and conference rooms (including video conferencing).

Inspired by the classic Hollywood searchlight and the beauty of the textured marble, uplights highlight the feature wall leading from the front door, through the lobby and to the grand stair beyond. A thirty foot diameter “chandelier” provides a strong counter point to the grand stair. In this space, one can choose to be in the spotlight – or not. The interplay of inter-reflection is taken to a new level at the mirror clad bank of elevators which sits adjacent to the atrium. Both the elevator and the floating stair are highlighted by color changing backlit glass walls. The day to day setting is white, filling the atrium with a sense of daylight, but at a moment's notice (Beckham is in town), the experience of the illumination and the space can be transformed. Full-scale, extensive mock-ups were done to ensure compatible systems.

Perhaps our proudest achievement is that the project was able to create such a vibrant setting for those infamous deals, while landing well below the stringent energy codes of California.

The lighting design for this project has been recognized with IALD and IES/IIDA Awards of Excellence as well as the A/L Light & Architecture Award of Outstanding Achievement.