Architectural and interior design firm M+M Creative Studio has been honored by the inaugural American Architecture Prize (AAP) with two awards for its work on the new corporate headquarters of car shopping company Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, California, USA. The “EdQuarters” space was recognized with a Silver Award for Commercial Interior Architecture and a Bronze Award for Workplaces from AAP, which honors designs in the disciplines of architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture with the goal of advancing the appreciation of architecture worldwide.

“Our team is humbled to be part of this amazing honor in recognition of the combined value and design we contributed” said M+M Creative Studio CEO Chris Mitchell. “The relationship that we developed with this client allowed us to strive for something that was certainly outside the standard kit of design parts and we knew we had built something one-of-a-kind when we saw groups of people seamlessly using the space to create and energize their own brand of corporate culture.”

With two floors and outdoor space totaling 143,000 square feet, Edmunds’ “EdQuarters” is an inventive space that weaves together a cross-section of tech and automotive-themed designs. The first floor is anchored and highlighted by two Corvettes mounted and turning in unison above the mirror-polished stainless steel reception desk. Other design features on the first floor include a long and elegant coffee bar where employees are encouraged to gather and interact, a mosaic of 2,472 ‘Matchbox’ cars assembled to form Edmunds’ logo, and a 1948 Cadillac that has been converted into a beer tap and bar. The bulk of the second floor is comprised of a plank-desking system that allows flexibility in linear feet per person, as well as additional smaller meeting rooms dispersed throughout and miscellaneous programmatic requirements such as quiet rooms (‘Rest Stops’) and an IT service desk (the ‘Pit Stop’). Meanwhile, a 10,000 square-foot exterior central atrium offers both larger social and more intimate spaces connected to the adjacent interior spaces with over 130 linear feet of retractable glass doors. Inside the atrium itself, the multiple 15’ long raised linear planters, gurgling water features and in-ground LED lighting run in parallel lanes like cars seen from above passing on a super-sized highway.

“We came to M+M Creative Studio with a grand vision of a facility that would stand out as an icon of Los Angeles’ Silicon Beach tech community,” said Edmunds.com CEO Avi Steinlauf. “But more importantly, we wanted a space where we could focus on the needs of our employees first. Chris, Sandra and their team successfully delivered a uniquely vibrant environment where our teams can freely collaborate, think and innovate.”

More details and photos of Edmunds’ new “EdQuarters” can be found at http://www.edmunds.com/about/edmunds-office-culture.html

http://www.mmcreativestudio.com/web/projects/edmunds-com-new-corporate-hq/

About M+M Creative Studio

Established in 2010 by the award-winning husband and wife team of Chris + Sandra Mitchell,   M+M Creative Studio specializes in creating spaces that enhance the everyday experience. M+M brings focus and accountability to each client’s unique vision through tailored solutions and exceptional hands-on service. Its expertise and global perspective derive from over 48+ cumulative years of architectural and interior design creating spaces that are equal parts design and value-add service. The Las Vegas, Nevada-based firm has been recognized with multiple honors and awards, for additional information please contact

Christopher Mitchell, CEO, chrism@mmcreativestudio.com or  www.mmcreativestudio.com

+1 (702) 953-2222

Photography Credits: All photos by Benny Chan at Fotoworks (Los Angeles, California, USA)

+1 (323) 730-0100 or www.fotoworks.cc for additional project photo requests