For The Lab we designed Costa Mesa's pioneering "anti-mall" concept, transforming a former night-vision goggle factory into Orange County's definitive alternative retail destination. Since its founding in 1993, The Lab—standing for "Little American Business"—has combated retail monotony by creating an original indoor-outdoor unconventional hangout that embraces a vibrant community of art, music, fashion, and hip cuisine enthusiasts. Our adaptive reuse strategy preserved the industrial character of the original structure while creating relaxed courtyards, community gathering spaces, and curated retail environments that support independent businesses and local artisans. Today, The Lab serves as the epicenter of the SoBeCa Arts District, continuing to push creative evolution through rotating art installations, musical events, and visual merchandising that reflects its anti-establishment ethos, proving that thoughtful design can transform forgotten industrial spaces into lasting cultural destinations.

Design Concept, Brand Experience, Strategy, Placemaking