Platt Whitelaw Architects

12/12/2025

We’re excited to introduce Michelle MacDonnell, registered architect and the newest member of our team! Michelle brings well-suited experience in community-focused architecture—and as a delightful bonus, she also brings Pandora, her calm and charismatic 14-year-old black lab who’s quickly become our unofficial office mascot.

After years in Salt Lake City, Michelle felt the pull of San Diego’s collaborative design community (and perfect weather!) and made the move west. She’s already contributing to projects like Baker Elementary School and diving into several others with her trademark communication skills and team-oriented approach.
Please join us in giving Michelle (and Pandora!) a warm welcome. We can’t wait to see what we create together.

https://plattwhitelaw.com/platt-whitelaw-architects-welcomes-michelle-macdonnell-as-architectural-project-manager/

Platt/Whitelaw Architects welcomes registered architect Michelle MacDonnell as its new Architectural Project Manager—along with her loyal labrador, Pandora. Discover Michelle’s move to San Diego, her enthusiasm for community-focused design and the impact she’s already making on the team.

12/09/2025

Thanks to San Diego Business Journal reporter Ray Huard for a terrific write up about our design work for Mira Mesa Community Park. A big shoutout to our collaborating designers at Schmidt Design Group and Aquatic Design Group, as well as Pcl construction Services, all of whom are also mentioned in the article.

Slated for completion next summer, area residents will get to enjoy an aquatics complex, playgrounds, ballfields, a pedestrian plaza, an all-wheels plaza and a renovated recreation center.

If you can’t access the San Diego Business Journal through your subscription, you can hop over to our blog site to learn more about Mira Mesa Community Park. https://plattwhitelaw.com/mira-mesa-community-park-phase-ii-a-family-friendly-makeover/

San Diego Business Journal: Mira Mesa Community Park Improvement Project Hits Midway Mark

Discover the exciting upgrades coming to Mira Mesa Community Park Phase II! New pools, play areas, an all-wheels plaza, and more are transforming this San Diego park into a family-friendly destination. Completion expected in fall 2026!

12/05/2025

We’re featuring Principal Thomas Brothers, AIA in our newest leadership profile. From beginning at Platt/Whitelaw as a high school intern to now helping guide the firm’s future, Thomas’ career has been rooted in community-focused design and meaningful mentorship. His work — including improvements to school campuses and cultural spaces — reflects his belief that architecture is most successful when it uplifts the people it serves.

As a firm leader and co-chair of AIA San Diego’s Committee on the Environment, Thomas continues to help shape not only our practice, but the next generation of architects in our region. Read Thomas’ story → https://plattwhitelaw.com/how-principal-thomas-brothers-shapes/

Discover how Principal Thomas Brothers, AIA, champions community-focused design and mentorship at Platt/Whitelaw Architects to shape impactful architecture.

11/25/2025

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for all of you. Have a great week!

11/24/2025

Progress update at Mira Mesa Community Park! Exciting progress is happening across the site - Crews are installing underground irrigation systems, pool plumbing, and subdrains as the main and instructional pools continue to take shape. The all-wheels plaza is coming together, and the public art feature is being crafted. Inside the aquatic and recreation buildings, flooring, fixtures, and casework are being installed, while tree planting prep is underway and fencing is going up around the ballfields.

Recently, tree and sod planting was completed in Area 1—officially beginning the plant establishment period. The recreation center now features new flooring, paint, and window improvements. The aquatic building tile work and pool tiling are complete, playground equipment is installed, new fencing is up, and major parking lot grading and curb construction are well underway.

We’re building spaces for play, connection, and community—one milestone at a time! Thank you to Pcl construction Services, Inc., (General Contractor), and Richard Brady & Associates, Inc. (Construction Management - WHB Engineers), and City of San Diego.

Deepest gratitude to the best Team!
Structural: Aark Engineering; Landscape Architect: Schmidt Design Group; Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing & Technical: Turpin & Rattan Engineering, Inc.; Aquatic: Aquatic Design Group; Geotechnical: Ninyo & Moore, A Socotec Company

11/21/2025

Designing a Temple on a Cow-Shaped Parcel.
After years of searching, a Hindu monk found an auspicious “cow-shaped” parcel of land in Escondido, California — the perfect site for a new ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temple.

Platt/Whitelaw Senior Principal Naveen Waney, supported by Emad Abdulwajid and Yumi Furukawa, is leading the temple’s design, guided by the ancient architectural science of Vastu Shastra. Every element — from the north-facing entrance to the sacred shikar spire — is thoughtfully designed to reflect harmony, spirituality, and tradition.

For Naveen, the project is deeply personal, connecting his childhood experiences with his professional purpose. For Escondido, it marks a beautiful addition to the region’s cultural and spiritual landscape.

Read how our team is helping bring this vision of transcendence to life: https://plattwhitelaw.com/designing-a-temple-on-a-cow-shaped-parcel/

ISKCON

Discover how Platt/Whitelaw Architects, led by Principal Naveen Waney, is designing an ISKCON temple in Escondido, California, guided by the ancient Vedic principles of Vastu Shastra to create a spiritually aligned and culturally significant sanctuary.

11/20/2025

Our second annual Staffgiving celebration (on Tuesday) was a recipe for fun! Everyone showed up with delicious dishes, big smiles, and even bigger appetites. The room was filled with amazing aromas and plenty of special moments. We were reminded just how much this team feels like family. So grateful for good food, great people, and a workplace that knows how to celebrate!

11/18/2025

Designing Solutions: How do you solve an issue at a fire station on top of Mount Palomar—where there’s water supply issues, extreme weather, and critical safety demands? Principal Peter Soutowood didn’t just find a solution — he designed one that was resourceful, resilient, and safe. In this video, Peter breaks down the challenge at Fire Station 79 and the creative problem-solving that transformed a potential risk into a smart, life-saving design. Watch how innovation meets necessity.

11/11/2025

We honor you.

Image by EdenMoon from Pixabay.

11/05/2025

A project this beautiful takes the best effort from an outstanding team. Thank you to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for showcasing this inspiring building! Thanks to the Balboa Park Botanical Building restoration team: City of San Diego (Manuel Flores Meza, Edgar Lozano, P.E., M.S.), Forever Balboa Park, Jim Summers of EC Constructors, Inc., Architect of Record Sandy Gramley, Yolanda Velazco & Samantha Saltzman (at PWA); Vicki Estrada and Michael Spohr of Estrada Land Planning; Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA; Pedro Arias of Michael Baker International.; Anthony B Court of AB Court & Associates; Peter Maloney of Degenkolb Engineers; Gary Kraut, Chris Aramburo and Guillermo Alvarez at Turpin & Rattan Engineering, Inc.; Nan Sterman, Waterwise Gardener; and Jim Madden of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates - WJE. Thank you to RNT Architects and Spurlock Landscape Architects for bridging documents. . Read the article below.

Nonprofit Forever Balboa Park led a $26 million restoration of the Botanical Building in San Diego, California, and the 15,000-square-foot structure reopened to the public in December 2024.

11/04/2025

Wow, this article just won a first-place award from the San Diego Press Club! Thanks, judges. I mean, who could resist this braggadocios line? “We’re confident to say we wear the architecture firm crown in Mission Bay thrones.” And now you want to click through, right?

Platt/Whitelaw Architects has designed eight public comfort stations in Mission Bay, providing durable, accessible restrooms for visitors. Learn about their impact on San Diego's iconic waterfront.

10/28/2025

Just a few of our recent Botanical building accolades. We are grateful to have been a part of this wonderful project. Our team was outstanding! Thanks to City of San Diego (Manuel Flores Meza, Edgar Lozano, P.E., M.S.), Forever Balboa Park, Jim Summers of EC Constructors, Inc., Architect of Record Sandy Gramley, Yolanda Velazco & Samantha Saltzman (at PWA); Vicki Estrada and Michael Spohr of Estrada Land Planning; Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson FAIA; Pedro Arias of Michael Baker International; Anthony B Court of AB Court & Associates; Peter Maloney of Degenkolb Engineers; Gary Kraut, Chris Aramburo and Guillermo Alvarez at Turpin & Rattan Engineering, Inc.; Nan Sterman, Waterwise Gardener; and Jim Madden of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates - WJE. Thank you to RNT Architects and Spurlock Landscape Architects for bridging documents.