History of Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors
Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors is an award-winning multidisciplinary company committed to design excellence. Architect Cass Calder Smith founded CCS in 1990, and it now has four principals: Barbara Vickroy, Taylor Lawson, and Tim Quayle. Their talented and skilled staff of twenty practices design with studios in San Francisco and New York. CCS specializes in Architecture, Interiors, Hospitality, High-End Residential, Commercial, Retail, and Restaurants.
Cass Calder Smith Architecture works on projects in the US and abroad for people to dine, live, shop, vacation, work, exhibit, and create in. Their extensive experience and depth of knowledge enable them to provide comprehensive or separate architecture and interior design services on any scale of building, from new construction to renovations and interior buildouts. Cass Calder have effectively delivered innovative solutions for people, companies, and nonprofit organizations by following a process that is led by collaboration, leadership, listening, and creativity.
[Do you want to keep up to date with new job opportunities with Architect-US Partner Companies like CCS? Leave us your contact info here.]
Cass Calder Smith, FAIA
CCS founder Cass Calder Smith got his Bachelor and Master of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to now being a professor at UC Berkeley, Smith served as chair of the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Civic Design Review Committee for eight years and is a trustee of the Djerassi Residents Artists Program. He and his work have received numerous awards and been featured in The New York Times, Architectural Record, Metropolitan Home, Metropolis, Dwell, Interior Design, and Abitare, among others.
Company Culture at Cass Calder Smith Architecture + Interiors
They see themselves as well-traveled creators who believe that a talented and experienced team that pays close attention to detail is an invaluable asset. CCS is professionally motivated to connect artistic ambition, problem solving, environmental responsibility, and style while meeting stringent requirements.
We believe that masterful design is unique, relevant, and timeless.
CCS is particularly fond of iconic architecture that exhibits materiality, authenticity, and conceptual interest. They value power balanced with accuracy, boldness balanced with simplicity, and innovation balanced with practicality.
[Let us take on the work of finding your dream job for you and join us today!]
Architect-US is proud to work in close contact with CCS and to be able to ensure the firm gets to know and work with amazing young architects like Jonathan Lucas Pais whom we helped process and sponsor his J1 Visa as well as find a job in the US through our Job+J1 Visa Program!
Jonathan Lucas Pais
Jonny Lucas is a Portuguese Architect but lived his life mostly in the UK. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Oxford School of Architecture, and then went on to receive his MArchD in Applied Design in Architecture with Honors from the same University. Other amazing achievements include winning the «Best Digital drawing of the Year» Prize at OSA in 2015 and having represented and assisted in the construction and coordination of the Oxford School of Architecture End of Year Exhibition. His Trainee Program with CCS happened in January 2022 until March 2022.
CCS‘ Selected Projects
Levine Residence – Water Mill, NY
With a slight expansion along one side, the new house was designed to fit onto the old foundation, as the house’s location on the property, the pool, and the basement were all in good condition. After several design meetings, the house’s exterior was given a barn-like shape; however, the materials, windows, and other details gave it a contemporary makeover. The 1,800 square foot, two-story, three-bedroom new building is designed to be a small, practical, and roomy home.
The house has vertical cedar siding for the walls, a standing seam galvalume roof, and large-scale windows that complement the overall geometry and solid wall planes. There is an element of verticality and gravitas added by the stacked stone fireplace. The interior was designed to have an open floor plan, a main two-story space, and thoughtful placement of natural light to create a loft-like atmosphere. While the bedrooms are located within the actual two-story portion of the building, the kitchen, dining and living areas, and entry hall are all housed in the main, high-ceilinged space. The two guest bedrooms are located on the second floor, and the master bedroom is located on the first floor.
There is a sense of spaciousness and casual comfort enhanced by the smooth white walls, painted cabinets, and white oak floors and ceilings. A number of skylights bring in light to further render the interior space and balance the light, and windows and doors are sized and placed for views, light, and connections to the outside. The stacked blue stone fireplace, which was constructed on the previous one’s foundation, has a slightly rustic charm that contrasts with the more elegant finishes all around it. The crew added fresh vegetation near the house while maintaining the original landscape.
Photos by CCS
Twenty-Five Lusk – San Francisco, CA
Twenty Five Lusk is a remodeled 1917 smokehouse and meat-processing plant located on Lusk Alley in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. This 265-seat new American restaurant and bar is a hidden gem in the urban landscape. CCS designed the two-story space, weaving graceful forms and sophisticated materials into the massive, historic warehouse structure. The interior design highlights a contrast between the rough-sawn timber, brick, and concrete elements that are still there and the new palette of polished stainless steel, glass, white plaster, leather, mirror, faux fur, and slate.
The dining room is located on the second floor, up a half-flight of stairs from the entry. Highlight of this level is the kitchen, which is a contemporary envelope of clear and black glass that reflects the activity of the dining room and allows views of the chef in action. Seating for 120 people is arranged thoughtfully among booths, banquettes, and tables. The low, angled plaster wall that abuts the cutaway is punctured by pullman-style booths, and cantilevered tables with richly patterned Macassar ebony tops. Warm glow and the original Douglas fir ceiling are revealed by the lighting.
The lower level lounge features seating areas that run the length of the room, each featuring a suspended fire orb made of stainless steel. Similar to camp fires, the orbs serve as a focal point for each seating area, and their reflective flues reach up through the restaurant’s open spaces to the ceiling, which is 20 feet above. These brick-and-concrete, semi-private rooms are furnished with plush sofas. Inside the former freight elevator shaft on the lower level is a 40-seat private dining room and a wine room with glass doors.
Photos by CCS
Loews Miami Beach Hotel – Miami Beach, FL
CCS completed an exterior grounds renovation at the historic Loews Miami Beach hotel in South Beach, the resort destination capital. The design was an attempt to capture South Florida’s outdoor lifestyle. Along with completely renovating the large pool deck, palm breezeway, St. Moritz, and Americana lawns, CCS also updated four pool area bathrooms. They added a discrete service building to the Americana Lawn. CCS added a towel kiosk to the historic hotel, and created a fully sheltered poolside bar with rental cabanas throughout the grounds.
The replacement of the old hotel water feature with a number of upscale shaded cabana structures is the centerpiece of the massive pool deck makeover. Slatted screen walls in the aluminum-framed cabanas provide shade from the South Florida sun and seclusion from the bustling pool. Custom outdoor sectionals, side tables with integrated ice chests, and swiveling lounge chairs overlooking the redesigned waterfall were all created by CCS.
The pool deck and the well-kept American lawn to the north are divided by the Nautilus Bar’s roof. Inspired by the hotel’s historic design’s curves as well as the area’s Morris Lapidus arte moderne architecture, white concrete cantilevered eaves extend above the bar to provide deep shadows and shield summertime patrons from the rain. The roof’s underside is finished with a weathered wood surface reminiscent of a traditional Florida veranda’s ceiling, and the bar wall’s ceramic tiles complement the resort’s sleek, contemporary grayscale design.
Photos by CCS
We will be posting more projects by CCS in the upcoming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!
Add comment