Safdie Rabines Architects

08/20/2026

Recently, we celebrated a major milestone at the CSUSM Discovery Hall & Wellness Center in North City with the topping out of its 11-story concrete structure.

Located within North City in San Marcos, the 310,000-square-foot development will bring together student housing, wellness, recreation, and community spaces, including study lounges, game rooms, outdoor terraces, athletic courts, a rooftop soccer pitch, multipurpose rooms, and dedicated wellness resources.

The topping out marks the completion of the building’s primary concrete structure and reflects the collaboration of our partners, Sea Breeze Properties, California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), and Turner Construction. It is exciting to see the project take shape and move closer to becoming a vibrant part of student life at CSUSM.

The project is also an important piece of the North City Master Plan, a vision that has been evolving since 2007. Seeing this building rise within the larger district brings that long-term vision one step closer to reality.

08/18/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting AIA San Diego’s Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN) Committee for an intimate tour of a recently completed private custom renovation in Encinitas.

Thank you to AIA San Diego and everyone who joined us for an evening of conversation, architecture, and an inside look at the project. We’re grateful to the homeowners for opening their doors and making the tour possible.

08/14/2026

For the third-consecutive year, Safdie Rabines Architects has been recognized by San Diego Magazine as the City's Best Architecture Firm. Thank you to our team, clients, and collaborators who continue to make this achievement possible.

08/12/2026

A detail from a private residence by Safdie Rabines Architects, where layered forms shape the experience of the home.

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

08/06/2026

It was a pleasure to host yesterday's Principals Roundtable at Safdie Rabines Architects. Thank you to SMPS San Diego for bringing AEC professionals together, and to Cook + Schmid for leading a thoughtful discussion on the importance of meaningful community engagement in shaping successful projects.

07/29/2026

At 222 North City in San Marcos, a canopy of hundreds of triangular sails filters the San Marcos sun into shifting fragments underfoot. Developed with Tecture, the installation reads like a flock caught mid-flight overhead.

Shade and light aren't opposites here. The geometry holds both at once, one measured in degrees, the other in motion.

📍 222 North City, San Marcos
Installation: Tecture | Architecture: Safdie Rabines Architects

07/21/2026

We're pleased to share that the Imperial County Criminal Courthouse in El Centro, designed by Safdie Rabines Architects, has received a Citation in this year's AIA California Design Awards.

Three shaded courtyards. Natural light reaching every courtroom. A building designed with equal care for judges, staff, the public, and individuals in the custody process.

Grateful to the Judicial Council of California and the Imperial County Sheriff's Office for a decade-long partnership that made this possible.

07/09/2026

Last week, Safdie Rabines Architects partners Eric Lindebak and Alfonso Barragán attended the Structural Engineering Association's Excellence Awards at Scripps Seaside Forum, where they spoke to the building's design intent—how form and structure worked in tandem to create a place that continues to serve UC San Diego and Scripps as a hub for research, education, and gathering.

Great conversation, better views.

Photography by Cali Griebel Photography