Spackman Mossop Michaels Office
1824 Sophie Wright Place
Client: Spackman Mossop Michaels
Role: Architecture, Interior Design, Furniture Specification, Procurement, Installation
Scope: Refresh of existing office space for landscape architecture practice.
Status: Complete 2025
Size: 1,900 sq. ft.
Budget: $80,000
Collaborators: Rachel Loyacono, Edifice Builders, LLC
Re-enlivening of an existing office space on a budget and tight timeline.
Situated just off Magazine Street in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District, SMM’s longtime office occupies a second-floor suite within a humble, historic building. While the original design provided a functional workspace, its neutral palette and segmented layout offered little reflection of the firm’s identity as a landscape architecture practice rooted in ecology, craft, and design. With the 2025 ASLA national conference approaching, SMM saw this as an opportunity to revitalize their office, creating a space for daily work while also becoming a more flexible and welcoming environment for gathering, recruitment, and collaboration.
With a quick turnaround, Studio West approached the refresh through intentional, nimble design moves that introduced color, personality, and improved functionality while preserving much of the existing footprint.
At the entry, a hand-painted mural by local artist Rachel Locayano depicts a Louisiana native prairie composed entirely of regionally specific plant species—reflecting SMM’s commitment to native landscapes while drawing visitors inward and marking a clear sense of arrival.
Strategic interior finish interventions that maximize impact.
Inside, a warm, jewel-toned palette replaces the former white-box interior. Deep blue-green walls anchor the reception area with complementary hues - rust, ochre, chartreuse, and soft greens—are layered throughout the office, echoing SMM’s bright yellow identity and lending warmth to previously underutilized spaces.
The layout was carefully redesigned to address long-standing workflow inefficiencies and bring workspaces closer to natural light.
A seldom-used conference room was transformed into an active studio space, while new openings connect adjacent work areas along the building’s front façade - placing desks closer to natural light and further from active social areas. Existing custom millwork desks were thoughtfully modified and reconfigured to accommodate the more cohesive and flexible plan.
