Safdie Rabines Architects

Safdie Rabines Architects Specializing in site-specific, socially responsible and environmentally sustainable architecture

Established by husband and wife Taal Safdie and Ricardo Rabines, Safdie Rabines Architects strives for design solutions that are sensitive to the natural and built context of each project while responding to the specific needs of its clients. The firm’s wide range of experience includes the design of residential and institutional buildings, bridge and infrastructure projects, and large urban maste

r plans. In 2010, Safdie Rabines added an interiors department, SRI, to the practice. Under the leadership of Michele Arnold-Kush, SRI provides creative planning and technical construction knowledge for institutional tenant improvements, restaurants, medical and industrial facilities, and California State and GSA projects. Safdie Rabines Architects is a full-service firm experienced in all phases of programming, design, and construction. Their award-winning work has been featured in numerous national and international publications. Recently completed projects include the Court of Sciences Student Center at UCLA, the Structural and Materials Engineering Building at UCSD, the Mercado del Barrio in San Diego, and the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge in downtown San Diego. The office is currently working on La Jolla Country Day Student Center in La Jolla, El Centro Family Courthouse in El Centro, The Quad Student Housing Project in San Marcos, California, and pedestrian bridges in Doha Qatar.

Architecture is best experienced in person.This June, Safdie Rabines Architects will open the doors to four distinct pro...
05/27/2026

Architecture is best experienced in person.

This June, Safdie Rabines Architects will open the doors to four distinct projects as part of the AIA National Conference on Architecture & Design 2026 tours program, from a large-scale master plan to academic and research facilities overlooking the Pacific.

Tour lineup:
• North City Master Plan | June 10 @ 11:30 AM
• NTPLLN at UC San Diego | June 10 @ 2:30 PM
• Scripps Seaside Forum & MCTF | June 13 @ 10:45 AM

Each tour offers a closer look at how architecture responds to context, community, and the evolving ways people live, work, and gather in San Diego.

Learn more + reserve your spot: conferenceonarchitecture.com/tours

With warmer days settling in, we’ve been thinking about the rooftop café space at Scripps Institution of Oceanography wh...
05/21/2026

With warmer days settling in, we’ve been thinking about the rooftop café space at Scripps Institution of Oceanography which opened last year as Destiny Coast – and where the campus community and the public are welcomed to dine 200 feet above the Pacific Ocean and alongside sweeping coastal views.

SRA designed this breezy space as part of the Ted & Jean Scripps Marine Conservation & Technology Facility (MCTF). Originally intended to be a purely academic facility, this project took a turn during early site analysis and expanded to include public access through the addition of the café space and a public coastal overlook at the site’s edge. In all, MCTF’s earliest plans transformed into a multi-use destination with close connections to its surrounding (and very scenic!) environment.

Last week, we joined AIA San Diego’s Custom Residential Architects Network committee for a tour of SRA’s recently comple...
05/19/2026

Last week, we joined AIA San Diego’s Custom Residential Architects Network committee for a tour of SRA’s recently completed renovation of a mid-century private residence.

The home blends art-forward spaces with sculptural lighting installations, curated furnishings, a mural by a local artist, and vibrant accents. Timeless textures and custom details come together to create a residence that feels both elevated and deeply inviting, and which celebrates design as art.

Thanks to everyone who spent part of their afternoon with us!

Behind the scenes at a residential photoshoot with Hebble Productions.Architectural photography requires careful plannin...
05/14/2026

Behind the scenes at a residential photoshoot with Hebble Productions.

Architectural photography requires careful planning: studying how light moves through the home, finding the right angles, and capturing small details that shape the experience of a space. Planning around the weather is also key – and this particular shoot had to be rescheduled 4x to ensure our (very patient) photographer could capture the home on a sunny morning, a challenge during San Diego’s May Gray season.

Swipe for a few casual shots by the SRA team during the shoot – and stay tuned for the reveal of Hebble Productions’ final images, coming soon!

This past weekend, the SRA team led the San Diego Architectural Foundation through a Hot Properties tour of the new 222 ...
05/08/2026

This past weekend, the SRA team led the San Diego Architectural Foundation through a Hot Properties tour of the new 222 North City. We loved seeing so many people come out to explore the project with us! From touring amenity spaces and outdoor terraces to this day’s conversations around design, housing, and the future of North City, it was a great morning connecting with the community and sharing the story behind this Safdie Rabines Architect x Turner Construction x Sea Breeze Properties project.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, and spent part of their Saturday with us.

The SRA team is excited to support the 2026 Annual Garden Walk on Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Organized by the M...
05/05/2026

The SRA team is excited to support the 2026 Annual Garden Walk on Saturday, May 9 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Organized by the Mission Hills Garden Club, this year’s theme Symphony of Inspiration invites attendees to our community of Mission Hills to explore beautiful gardens, enjoy live music and local art, browse the artisan bazaar, and pick up DIY ideas for your own space.

To learn more and for tickets, visit missionhillsgardenclub.org

Pictured here: a few of SRA’s favorite project gardens, inspired by the spirit of this year’s Garden Walk.

At the core of Safdie Rabines Architects’ design philosophy: blurring the lines between interior and exterior, between s...
04/30/2026

At the core of Safdie Rabines Architects’ design philosophy: blurring the lines between interior and exterior, between structure and nature – an approach that shapes how we think about architecture and residential design.

In San Diego, where sunlight and outdoor living are part of everyday life, that connection becomes even more meaningful. Windows and expansive glass façades frame views that extend living spaces outward and allow the landscape to be part of the home. Swipe for a few of our single-family designs that bring this indoor–outdoor relationship to life.

This Saturday, step inside one of North County’s newest mixed-use developments, 222 North City.Join the San Diego Archit...
04/28/2026

This Saturday, step inside one of North County’s newest mixed-use developments, 222 North City.

Join the San Diego Architecture Foundation for a Hot Properties tour of 222 North City, designed by and developed by Sea Breeze Properties, on May 2 @ 10AM. Hear directly from the design team and learn about the vision shaping the growing North City district.

Completed this year, 222 North City spans more than 800,000 square feet with 458 residential units across two twelve-story towers that frame a wide array of outdoor spaces and community amenities, from pools and gardens to al fresco terraces and art installations.

This tour is open to all—RSVP via San Diego Architectural Foundation.

Next Friday, March 1, Principals from Safdie Rabines Architects will participate on the jury for UC San Diego Architectu...
04/23/2026

Next Friday, March 1, Principals from Safdie Rabines Architects will participate on the jury for UC San Diego Architecture Club’s annual Campus Redesign Project.

The Campus Redesign Project is a culmination of work from the Fall and Winter quarters, where eight teams of 5-6 students collaborate to redesign a particular area on campus. The program is led by the student-run Architecture @ UCSD club and is driven by a shared passion for architecture, urban design, and planning. This year’s group is the largest yet with 40+ participating students! Each team has developed its own design approach, exploring themes of architecture, urban design, and planning.

SRA is happy to join this jury and offer feedback, engage in dialogue, and support the next generation of urban planners and designers. Mentorship and knowledge-sharing remain a core part of our practice and commitment to shaping the built environment.

Pictured here: UC San Diego’s North Torrey Pines Living & Learning Neighborhood, a collaboration between Safdie Rabines Architects, HKS, and Clark Construction.

This week is National Library Week, a celebration led by the American Library Association to highlight how libraries st...
04/21/2026

This week is National Library Week, a celebration led by the American Library Association to highlight how libraries strengthen communities and expand access to learning, connection, and shared resources.

From San Diego to the Bay Area, Safdie Rabines Architects’ library projects reflect a design approach that goes beyond books to create spaces that connect people, support everyday learning, and enrich community life. Projects pictured here: Lincoln Acres Library, Newark Public Library, Otay Mesa-Nestor Library.

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San Diego, CA

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

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+16192976153

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