COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGN FIRMS.

Ranked by 2000 L.A. County billings

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THANKS to a boost from the then-booming Internet industry, the local commercial interior design industry saw a 9.9 percent increase in billings in 2000 over the year before.

Overall, Los Angeles-area interior design companies claimed $121.2 million worth of work.

The designers said the meteoric rise of the dot-com industry fueled their business, as the culture of the workplace shifted to a more creative and open atmosphere than the traditional office-and-cubicle setup. That business, coupled with steady work from commercial clients from across the professional spectrum, made for a particularly busy year.

This year's collapse of those same Internet companies, while bad if you own stock on the Nasdaq, does not necessarily mean bad news for interior design firms.

The innovations of that brief creative design phase should last in recognition of the workplace as a recruiting tool and the significance of technology in the work environment.

THE PACESETTER

SITTING atop the list of the largest 25 commercial interior design firms in Los Angeles County is Gensler- again.

The Santa Monica office of San Francisco-based Gensler has capped the list each year since 1988, when the first industry ranking was published.

One of 24 branches of the 36-year-old company, the Santa Monica office is celebrating 25 years of business in the region.

Gensler Vice President Nila Leiserowitz said the firm's success largely is the result of repeat clientele and a perpetual search for different types of industries to feed the business. For example, the increased business that came from designing workspaces for Internet companies did not come at the expense of projects in other industries.

"I think part of the secret for us is diversity," Leiserowitz said. "We did have our fair share of technology companies, but that came with a stable amount of work for law firms, insurance companies and financial institutions."

Among the larger projects the local Gensler operation worked on in 2000 were jobs for Deloitte Consulting, Revolution Studios, Foothill Capital Corp. and law firms Baker & Hostetler LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Gensler expects to keep busy in 2001 by designing office space for law firms, insurance companies and consulting firms.

"I just think that, even in a new economy, people have to adjust the goals and direction of their business," Leiserowitz said. "Companies still are trying to recruit the best talent. Plus, a lot of leases are coming up."

Rank  Firm (Ranking in 2000)               L.A. County Data
      * name                               * billings '00/'99
      * address                            * billings '01 1
                                           (millions)
                                           * designers 2
 1    Gensler (1)                          $18.0/$17.0
      2500 Broadway, Suite 300             9.2
      Santa Monica 90404                   106
 2    Hirsch Bender Associates (2)         8.6/8.4
      3216 Nebraska Ave.                   5.3
      Santa Monica 90404                   45
 3    Barry Design Associates Inc. (8)     7.5/6.0
      10780 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300  4.9
      Los Angeles 90025                    1
 4    HLW International (3)                6.5/6.5
      1630 Stewart St., Suite 100          1.9
      Santa Monica 90404                   22
 5    Shlemmer + Kamus + Algaze (17) 4     6.0/2.9
      1875 Century Park East, Suite 1130   3.0
      Los Angeles 90067                    50
 6    HOK (6)                              6.0/5.7
      9530 Jefferson Blvd.                 6.0
      Culver City 90232                    38
 7    Interior Space International (5)     6.0/6.3
      10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900      2.3
      Los Angeles 90024                    33
 8    DMJM Rottet (7)                      5.7/5.1
      3250 Wilshire Blvd., Fourth Floor    5.0
      Los Angeles 90010                    32
 9    MATTEO LLC                           5.0/3.2
      912 E. Third Street, Suite 105       6.0
      Los Angeles 90013                    3
 10   Wirt Design Group INc.               4.9/3.1
      44 E. Holly St., Third Floor         1.4
      Pasadena 91103                       26
 11   Langdon-Wilson (15)                  4.8/3.6
      1055 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1500      2.4
      Los Angeles 90017                    9
 12   WWCOT (11)                           4.4/3.9
      3130 Wilshire blvd., Sixth Floor     2.5
      Santa Monica 90403                   20
 13   Interior Architects Inc. (9)         4.3/4.4
      550 S. Hope St., Suite 1100          2.4
      Los Angeles 90071                    17
 14   Cole Martinez Curits and             3.7/6.3
      Associates (4)                       1.0
      4132-A Del Rey Ave.                  20
      Marina del Rey 90292
 15   Design Development Co. (14)          3.6/3.3
      6047 Tampa Ave., Suite 305           1.8
      Tarzana 91356                        12
Rank  Profile           Current Projects In L.A. County
      * offices         (partial list)
      (county/total)
      * headquarters
      * year founded 3
 1    2/24              Skadden, Arps, State, Meagher
      San Francisco     & Flom LLP; Towers Perrin, CB
      1976              Richard Ellis
 2    1/8               Loews Santa Monica
      Santa Monica      Beach Hotel
      1964
 3    1/same            Regent Beverly Wilshire, Ritz
      Los Angeles       Carlton Marina del Rey, Four
      1980              Seasons Los Angeles
 4    1/8               Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
      New York          Amgen and Specialty Labs
      1995
 5    2/3               Arden Realty Inc., DreamWorks,
      Long Beach        TrizecHahn Labs
      1996
 6    1/2B              Turner Entertainment, Alschuler,
      St. Louis         Grossmain, Stein and Kahn,
      1983              AT&T Wireless, Compaq
 7    1/6               Loeb & Loeb LLP, Optical
      Chicago           Communications Products,
      1974              ING Americas, Radio and Records
 8    1/4               Paul Hastings, Janofsky &
      Los Angeles       Walker, RAND; International
      1994              Lease Finance Corp.
 9    1/2               Shutters on the Beach Hotel
      Los Angeles
      1996
 10   1/same            EarthLink, Homestone.com,
      Pasadena          Warner Bros., 21st Century,
      1993              Paracel, Ryland Mortgage
 11   1/3               Getty Villa expansion, Pasadena
      Los Angeles       USD Schools modemization,
      1951              Cedars-Sinai North Care Tower
 12   1/4               Kaiser, United Cerebral Palsy,
      Santa Monica      LAUSD
      1949
 13   1/17              Disney, LAUSD, Toyota
      San Francisco
      1984
 14   1/same            Renaissance Hollywood Hotel,
      Marina del Rey    Regent Properties, Countywide
      1967              Home Loans-West Hills
 15   1/same            Elephant Bar Restaurant,
      Tarzana           Mimi's Cafe, Kimpton Group
      1983
Rank  Specialties
      (partial list)
 1    interior and architectural design,
      master planning, strategic
      planning, consulting, graphics
 2    interior design, art consulting,
      purchasing, graphics
 3    planning, interior design and
      creation
 4    interior design, architecture,
      planning programming,
      strategic facilities planning
 5    comercial design, architecture,
      consultant, construction
      management, furniture
 6    interior design, strategic
      facilities consulting, programming,
      furniture procurement and design
 7    interior design, strategic facility
      consulting, alternative workplace
      planning, programming
 8    interior design and architecture,
      strategic prgoramming and
      planning
 9    interior design, furnishing and
      accessories
 10   interior planning and design,
      architectural interior branding,
      strategic programming
 11   space planning, interior design,
      architecture, building
      modemization, master planning
 12   interior and architectural
      design, programming,
      project management
 13   performance programming,
      strategic planning, interior
      design, workplace management
 14   interior design
 15   concept design, interior design,
      full restaurant development
Rank  Industries Served                 Marketing
      (partial list)                    Contact
 1    entertainment, financial,         Nita Leiserowitz
      technology, law, accounting,
      retail, hospitality, airports
 2    hospitality, resort               Anna-Christine
                                        Brattel
 3    hotels, resorts, restaurants      Lynda Ruffino
 4    entertainmnet and broadcast,      Chari Jalali
      corporate, financial, research
      and development, hospitality
 5    commercial real estate            Nelson Algaze
 6    high technology, entertainment,   Kelly Olson
      telecommunications, professional
      services, health care
 7    new media, entertainment,         Susanne Molina
      technology, energy, financial,
      corporate, law, accounting
 8    legal, financial and conslting    Lesley Grant
      services, entertainment,
      hospitality, technology
 9    commercial, hospitality           Michelle Little
 10   technology, entertainment,        Jeff Wirt
      media, financial, business
      services
 11   entertainment, corporate,         Keith Caroll
      financial, educational, health
      care, high technology
 12   technology, corporate,            Cherisse Rose
      health care, educational
 13   Corporate, financial,             Lori Sherwood
      entertainment, tecnology
 14   hospitality, leisure, retail      Jill Code
 15   restaurants, hotels               Ron Liebrman
Rank  Top Local Executive
      * name
      * title
      * phone
 1    N.Leiserowitz/A.P. Cohen
      v.p./managing principal
      [phone]
 2    Michael Bedner
      chairman, ceo
      [phone]
 3    Robert Bary
      president
      [phone]
 4    M. J. White/C. Jalali
      sr. partner/director
      [phone]
 5    Nelson Algaze
      principal
      [phone]
 6    Susan Grossinger
      sr. vice president
      [phone]
 7    S. Molina/D. Shay
      co-managing principals
      [phone]
 8    L. Rottet/R. Riveire
      principals
      [phone]
 9    Matthew Little
      president
      [phone]
 10   Jeff Wirt
      president
      [phone]
 11   Asad M. Khan
      sr. managing partner
      [phone]
 12   Ben Levin
      principal dir. of interior
      [phone]
 13   Leonard Scott
      managing principal
      [phone]
 14   Jill Cole
      principal
      [phone]
 15   David Lieberman
      vice president, design
      [phone]
16  Interni Design Inc. (12)             $3.5/$3.8  1/same
    115 Pine Ave., Suite 250             NA         Long Beach
    Long Beach 90802                     18         1984
17  Saxony Street Inc.                   3.5/2.3    1/1
    11300 Weddington St.                 1.9        North Hollywood
    North Hollywood 91601                4          1989

18  Rothenberg Sawasy Architects Inc.    3.1/2.8    1/same
    953 E. Third St.                     3.5        Los Angeles
    Los Angeles 90013                    18         1979
19  City Spaces Inc. (20)                2.8/2.6    1/same
    234 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 850     1.2        Pasadena
    Pasadena 91101                       22         1986
20  Wolcott Interior Planning and Desig  2.8/2.6    1/same
    3859 Cardiff Ave.                    2.9        Culver City
    Culver City 90232                    21         1975
21  Nadel Architects Inc. (13)           2.6/3.7    1/5
    1990 S. Bundy Drive, Fourth Floor    0.7        Los Angeles
    Los Angeles 90025                    20         1973
22  Johnson Fain Partners (21)           2.5/2.0    1/3
    800 Wilshire Blvd.                   3.2 5      Los Angeles
    Los Angeles 90017                    18         1959
23  Environetics Group (23)              1.9/1.9    1/2
    8530 Venice Blvd.                    0.8        New York
    Los Angeles 90034                    3          1960
24  La Canada Design Group Inc. (24)     1.8/1.6    1/same
    200 E. Del Mar Blvd., Suite 108      0.7        Pasadena
    Pasadena 91105                       7          1981
25  Pace Design Group                    1.7/1.3    2/same
    22144 Clarendon St., Suite 260       1.8        Woodland Hills
    Woodland Hills 91367                 2          1984
16  Paciolan, Childnet, California
    Commerce Bank
17  Qiagen, PKPF Advertising and
    Marketing, Beegun and Assocites
    Cimarron Group
18  Los Angeles City Hall, Hispanic
    Broadcast Company, Labouel
    Lamb Greene & Macrae
19  Pacific Bell, Worldwide Church
    of God, Sport Chalet
20  Watt Plaza, Cushman & Wake-
    field of California, William Mor-
    ris, Sony, Kom Ferry Intl.
21  841 Apollo St. Office Building,
    Continental Development,
    Ben Tao Studio
22  The Ratkovich Co., NBC,
    InfoMart, LA Center Studios,
    LAUSD, USC
23  Candle Corp., FOX Inc.,
    Countrywide Home Loans
24  Jet Propulsion Lab exec.
    director's suite, Lincoln Ave.
    development
25  SunAmerica, Lockheed,
    Federal Credit Union,
    CB Richard Ellis
16  pre-leasing services, program-
    ming, space planning, interior
    design, owner/developer services
17  interior design, space planning,
    consulting and exhibit design
18  strategic facilities planning,
    interior architecture,
    owner/developer services
19  programming, space planning,
    interior design, furniture procure-
    ment, tenant planning services
20  programming, space planning,
    design, construction documents,
    CADD, development services
21  design through construction
    administration
22  architecture, urban design,
    interiors programming, space
    planning, design, new and
    renovation
23  workplace strategies,
    programming, interior/architectural
    design, facility planning
24  interior design, strategic
    planning, programming, space
    planning, architecture
25  interior design, space planning,
    landlord/tenant services
16  corporate, owner/developer, Charles  Charles J. Colosimo
    J. Colosimo telecommunications,
    high technology, law
17  commercial corporate office,         Sue Potter
    restaurants
18  entertainment, corporate,            Mark Rothenberg
    law, insurance, government,
    financial
19  real estate, telecommunication,      Kim Sokolow
    church
20  technology, entertainment,           John Wolcott
    corporate, financial
21  commercial office, hotel, studio,    Helen Watts
    restaurant
22  corporate, entertainment,            Julie Bandini
    info-tech, governmental,
    educational
23  financial, communications,           Rodney Stone
    government, technology
24  high technology, office,             Art McBreen
    educational
25  commercial office industry           Terry L. Resnick
                                         [phone]
16  Charles J. Colosimo
    president
    [phone]
17  Sue Potter
    president
    [phone]
18  Mark Rothenberg
    President
    [phone]
19  Christie Skinner
    president
    [phone]
20  John Wolcott
    president
    [phone]
21  Kay Lang
    sr. vice president
    [phone]
22  S. Johnson/W. Fain
    design partner/managing partner
    [phone]
23  Richard Lehman
    principal
    [phone]
24  Lance Bird
    chairman
    [phone]
25  Terry L. Resnick
    president
    [phone]
NA - Not Available
(1)January 1st through June 30th, 2001.
(2)Interior designers in L.A. County.
(3)In L.A. County.
(4)Shlemmer + Kamust +Algaze acquired P. Patrick Murray Inc. of
Century City in February 2000.
(5)2001 projected figure.
Note: The information onthis list was supplied by representatives
of the companies themselves. Aref & Associates may have qualified
for the list but failed to submit their suvey. Commercial interior
design firms are ranked by 2000

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