Swift Lee Office

Swift Lee Office Swift Lee Office (SLO) is a Pasadena-based, multidisciplinary design collaborative. Swift Lee Office (SLO) was founded in 2000. artists.

SLO’s founding partners, Gloria Lee, and Nathan Swift, met while at Harvard and established SLO in an artists complex in downtown L.A. SLO was launched as a multi-disciplinary design laboratory combining an architectural design studio, a hands-on prototyping workshop and a gallery showcasing the work of local L.A. SLO researched and developed an experimental line of steel fitment (part furniture,

part equipment) for which they received a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in fine arts, an AIA/LA design award, and for which Ms. Lee received an Orerdick Teaching and Research Fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Architecture. The Stud Series exhibited SLOs interest in seriality, flexibility and the re-use/mis-use of unadorned off-the-shelf materials, ideas which continue to drive the firms work at all scales. SLO has grown to a full service architectural firm with an extensive portfolio of innovative built projects throughout the L/A/ area. Their services include pre-design, feasibility, site selection, and community outreach services for the charter K-12 education market, through design, permitting, and construction administration. Other clients include metropolitan Water District as well as commercial and single family, from renovations to new construction. SLO retains it founding spirit of inventiveness an its interest in the cross-disciplinary practice of architecture. The members of SLO think if themselves as design evangelists preaching the values of ingenious problem solving with a will to experiment, innovate and collaborate. In the face of ever-increasing building costs, regulatory complexity, and ecological imperatives, SLO whole-heartedly embraces R. Buckminster Fullers maxim of doing the most with the least, which forms the central tenant of their design philosophy, and which they view as a prerequisite to economical and sustainable design. Through it all SLO tries to keep their sense of humor, with a mantra that chants “The world is changing swiftlee, go slo”. In part a light-hearted play on words, its also a meditation on the possibility that in the face of rapid and hectic change, slowness may be a good option. SLOs work has been widely recognized through publications, awards and exhibits.

06/09/2022
05/23/2022
05/17/2022
05/13/2022
05/13/2022
Bietak ResidencePhase 2 ongoing construction!The form and layout of this two-story addition to an existing two-story res...
04/22/2022

Bietak Residence
Phase 2 ongoing construction!

The form and layout of this two-story addition to an existing two-story residence built in 1949 were generated by a few critical site considerations. The building footprint is bounded on the west & north by a row of mature trees, on the east by an existing swimming pool and on the south by the existing house. Per the client’s request, the original path from the western side yard (lower level) to the pool (upper level) via a small flight of flagstone steps was preserved. The path up/down these steps involves walking under the bridge-like portion of the addition. The ground floor consists of a laundry room & crawlspace and the upper floor houses the master suite/bathroom/shower, having an ideal view of the pool & yard to the east. The entire western wall is sheathed with sound-proof board to muffle the sounds coming from traffic-heavy Centinela Avenue; the gesture within the plan’s inflection also coincided with this consideration.

\ Swift Lee Office, design
\ Niver Engineering, structural
\ Elon Schoenholz, photography


Twin Rivers Charter School Progress!
05/06/2015

Twin Rivers Charter School Progress!

Twin Rivers Charter School framing.
04/23/2015

Twin Rivers Charter School framing.

Twin Rivers Charter School, on its way!
03/24/2015

Twin Rivers Charter School, on its way!

   Hannon Residence, 2009
02/05/2015

Hannon Residence, 2009

Fuerza Community Prep. Rocketship. Solar Screen
02/03/2015

Fuerza Community Prep. Rocketship. Solar Screen

01/30/2015

Address

543A S Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA
91105

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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