WE ARE AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM
specializing in design, planning, and interiors
studio profile
Rivers & Christian was founded in 1979 by partners Steve Rivers and Donald Christian to provide high quality architectural services to a wide variety of industry sectors, including Aviation, Commercial, Retail, Residential and Government. We are a multi-generational firm that marries enthusiasm and cutting-edge technological skills with the seasoned knowledge and experience of over forty three years of continuous practice.
Since opening, we have designed and managed a diverse range of projects from small tenant improvements to entire terminals, baggage claims, airport concessions, cargo buildings, GSE facilities, hangars and airline clubs. Although noted for our aviation projects our experienced and creative staff allow us to provide a diverse range of other services including, interior design, residential design, concession retail design, space planning, building and site evaluation and graphic design.
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Rivers & Christian is a Small Business Enterprise, certified by the State of California that is consciously committed to providing the best possible quality architectural services.
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Rivers & Christian has built a reputation for successfully delivering projects that are cost effective as well as operationally excellent, innovative and practical.
The success of the projects we produce comes from a detailed understanding of the functions they must fulfill their relationship to the built environment and the materials from which they are constructed.
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WE LISTEN
Our core value lies in the belief that each client and project is unique. Our design approach does not start with a preconceived aesthetic or style but grows from an understanding of the client, the program, the place, and the budget. We start with the question,
“What can we create with our client, which will enhance the user’s experience and the built environment?”
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WE INNOVATE
We hold ourselves to a high standard. Design is taken very seriously at Rivers & Christian, it is not simply a part of the job, but rather the central focus. Our solutions must not only function well but must reinvigorate their surroundings and provide a sense of place that reflects our client's values.
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WE DELIVER
We believe in hard work, doing the right thing for our clients, being humble, honest, and striving for excellence. It is our job to understand every detail of our client’s needs and to be an invaluable partner. Focused on budget and on-time delivery is not optional, it’s a mantra.
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OUR PROCESS
we aim to build a better world
1 DESIGN BRIEF
We recognize the importance of communication throughout the design process. Our design approach does not start with a preconceived aesthetic or style but grows from an understanding of the client, the program, the place and the budget. We believe through conversation value goals evolve and an understanding of the client’s needs is established.
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2 RESEARCH
Building on goals developed in the design brief our innovative research process integrates state-of-the-art technological skills with the expert knowledge of seasoned professionals. Through a solutions based approach, our teams’ objective is to research and understand the clients business model, culture and how it relates to the organization of the built environment for the client.
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3 CONCEPT
We develop concepts around the design brief and our research, with experts who understand that challenges are best resolved through a collaborative and thoughtful approach. With the sharing of ideas, issues and evaluations between all stakeholders, we are able to propose concepts that perform as designed and operate efficiently.
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4 DEVLOPMENT
Through the process of detailed construction cost estimating, scheduling and lifecycle analysis, operational planning, community outreach efforts, multimedia presentations, building assessment studies, signage and wayfinding design, project scoping, definition and concepts documents we further refine and develop the design. Solutions and strategies are presented in a visual manner that everyone can understand. The result is a balanced solution that is specific to the needs and objectives of the project.
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5 EXECUTION
We believe that our firm’s value to our clients is the strong relationships we have with our consultants that enable Rivers & Christian to provide stream-lined projects with excellent results and an ability to respond to changing needs with urgency. Our diverse team is the product of our Principals continuing passion for excellence backed by a creative motivated team focused on quality and collaboration. We constantly strive to be the firm of choice for our clients, we have always had a reputation for retaining clients over a long period of time by consistently satisfying their goals.
