San Diego, CA – Architecture, interiors, and landscape firm Carrier Johnson + Culture (CJ+C) has hired Pierluca “Luca” Maffey, International Assoc. AIA, as its new Firmwide Head of Design and Design Principal.
Maffey joins CJ+C with a portfolio of high-profile architectural projects in the U.S., and abroad, in the hospitality, workplace, mixed-use, master plan, and residential sectors. In his 25-year career, he has held several roles within the industry, from Design Principal to Business and Marketing Director, at such firms as Portman Architects, TVS Design, Cooper Carry Architects, and Gensler.
Mission: Design leadership, business development, and culture cultivation
His role encompasses firmwide design leadership, business development, and culture cultivation. As the champion of design excellence across the offices he will steer the creative vision, serving both as a mentor and a coach to empower growth. On the business front, Luca will help retain and consolidate existing clients, while acquiring new ones, helping the firm to enter new national and international markets.
“Carrier Johnson + Culture is at a pivotal growing point in its well-established history as an architectural firm," said Maffey. "I am excited to bring my contribution to the future development of the firm and am delighted and honored to be working with such a tremendously talented team.”
Going beyond the West Coast
For CJ+C, adding Maffey is a strategic play in the firm's expansion from the West Coast to other regions of the U.S. and abroad. The San Diego-based company has completed hundreds of projects across the country. Ray Varela and Claudia Escala, who took over as Presidents in 2019, are striving to advance CJ+C’s reputation as a multi-disciplinary design firm with wide-reaching influence.
“Carrier Johnson + Culture has established a strong presence over our 47-year history,” says Varela. “We are excited to have Luca on board to help us grow into new markets and broaden our design explorations.”
About Carrier Johnson + Culture
Founded in 1977, Carrier Johnson + Culture is an award-winning architecture, interiors, landscape, and urban planning firm based in San Diego. The firm specializes in workplace, multifamily, mixed-use, affordable housing, public, higher education, hospitality, and commercial projects.
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | May 23, 2023
One out of three office buildings in largest U.S. cities are suitable for residential conversion
Roughly one in three office buildings in the largest U.S. cities are well suited to be converted to multifamily residential properties, according to a study by global real estate firm Avison Young. Some 6,206 buildings across 10 U.S. cities present viable opportunities for conversion to residential use.
Architects | May 23, 2023
Ware Malcomb hires Francisco Perez-Azua as Director, Interior Architecture & Design, in its Miami office
Ware Malcomb hires Francisco Perez-Azua as Director, Interior Architecture & Design, in its Miami office.
K-12 Schools | May 22, 2023
The revival of single-building K-12 schools
Schools that combine grades PK through 12 are suddenly not so uncommon. Education sector experts explain why.
Architects | May 19, 2023
Snøhetta architects make a bid to unionize the firm's New York studio
Employees at the New York office of architecture firm Snøhetta have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to unionize the studio. Snøhetta employees’ action marks the third time architects at a private-sector architecture studio in the U.S. took that step.
Healthcare Facilities | May 19, 2023
A new behavioral health facility in California targets net zero energy
Shortly before Mental Health Awareness Month in May, development and construction firm Skanska announced the topping out of California’s first behavioral health facility—and the largest in the nation—to target net zero energy. Located in Redwood City, San Mateo County, Calif., the 77,610-sf Cordilleras Health System Replacement Project is slated for completion in late 2024.
Government Buildings | May 18, 2023
GSA launches first biennial construction award program
Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the new biennial GSA Construction Award program, which is seeking submissions this summer. The program was created to honor outstanding achievements in construction, with a focus on quality and craftsmanship, collaboration and team dynamics, sustainability, innovation, and technology. The first Construction Awards ceremony will take place in 2024.
K-12 Schools | May 17, 2023
Designing K-12 schools for students and safety
While bullying, mental health, and other acts of violence are all too common in schools today, designers have shown that smart and subtle preventive steps can make a big difference. Clark Nexsen’s Becky Brady shares how prevention and taking action at the design level can create safe and engaging learning environments.
Affordable Housing | May 17, 2023
Affordable housing advocates push for community-owned homes over investment properties
Panelists participating in a recent webinar hosted by the Urban Institute discussed various actions that could help alleviate the nation’s affordable housing crisis. Among the possible remedies: inclusionary zoning policies, various reforms to increase local affordable housing stock, and fees on new development to offset the impact on public infrastructure.
University Buildings | May 17, 2023
New UC Irvine health sciences building supports aim to become national model for integrative health
The new College of Health Sciences Building and Nursing & Health Sciences Hall at the University of California Irvine supports the institution’s goal of becoming a national model for integrative health. The new 211,660-sf facility houses nursing, medical doctorate, pharmacy, philosophy, and public health programs in a single building.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.