Media contact:
Roger Darnell
DWA for Shilo
+1.828.264.8898

Shilo was established in 2004 in Del Mar, California, and in New York City, by co-founders Jose and Danielle Gomez, Andre Stringer and Tracy Chandler, with Shilo East opening for business that year in lower Manhattan.  Since then, the Emmy Award-winning company's reputation for creating original and commissioned work that is powerful, provocative and visually extraordinary has spread internationally, and as a result, they have grown steadily.  With recent attention-grabbing projects spanning short films, commercials, music videos, a groundbreaking MTV public service announcement produced to aid the people of Burma, and many more high-profile assignments currently underway, following the opening of their new studio in Manhattan last fall, the partners decided the time was right to expand their West Coast operation.

"In our old studio, we had essentially run out of space," said Jose Gomez.  "After it was filled head-to-toe with animators and producers, it just wasn't very client-friendly. 

"There were a few key things we wanted in our new space," Gomez continued.  "For starters, we wanted to keep a nice open feel to allow our artists and producers to collaborate easily and effectively.  Second, we wanted an amazing area for clients to relax and work while they were with us.  Last but not least, we wanted to be in an area where everything was within walking distance, close to dining and entertainment, with an overall sense of convenience.  La Jolla fit that bill perfectly, and the location we found on Girard Avenue, with its 19-foot ceiling and almost floor-to-ceiling windows, offers great light and wonderful ocean and sunset views."

Gomez learned about Public over the years as their creative uses of space and design caught his attention.  After buying land near the ocean in Del Mar, California for a new home, Gomez chose Public for that project, and their creativity in designing his new residence earned them the Shilo West commission.  Like on the Gomez residential project, San Diego-based RGB Group handled construction on Shilo West.

"Shilo's new space was raw – an empty shell," explained Public's Jim Brown, who handled the project along with Gates, project manager Adam Bowhay, and construction project manager Jonathon Stevens.   "The central issue addressed in designing the new space was to maintain a feeling of collective creativity within the organization as exemplified by the design," Brown said.  "The plan facilitates the central design goal, which was to maintain a centralized design node, where all of the artists can continue to inspire each other."

Public's Stevens addressed more specifics of the building's features, Shilo's objectives, and the design solution.  "The third floor suite is long, and there are great expanses of exposed brick and concrete which the clients wanted left exposed," he said.  "As we focused on the central design node, we had to consider the space's large footprint as well as Shilo's desire to be able to expand in the future."  Public's design solution was a slight variation on the new design of Shilo East in New York:  Their main feature became an 80-foot design desk which forms a centerpiece in the studio by defining the curvature of the office, conference room and kitchen.  Together, the design desk and the offices create a dynamic space where everyone is interconnected.

"The visual connection between the central design desk and the adjoining office and meeting areas is very powerful," Stevens concluded.  "The space elegantly achieves the public, semi-private and private spaces required to run such a productive, creative company."

Gomez and his colleagues are equally pleased with the results.  "Public is an amazing firm, and they really did a stellar job on this," he said.  "I really love the old brick walls and the overall feel of the place… and how all the offices are different heights and form a mini skyline in our space, since none of them actually go all the way up to the ceiling.  Also the main desk for the artists looks amazing, serves our needs beautifully, and just makes the perfect statement.  I also really like our conference room overlooking the street."

About Shilo
Shilo is an Emmy Award-winning creative production company representing a group of filmmakers led by directors Jose Gomez and Andre Stringer.  Internationally known for creating original and commissioned work that is powerful, provocative and visually extraordinary, Shilo's deeply held passions for design-infused storytelling and their innovative applications of live-action, design, and animation techniques deliver breakthrough experiences for screens large and small.  From its studios in New York and La Jolla, California, where recent projects have spanned short films, commercials and music videos, Shilo has the capacity and experience to originate ideas and handle all aspects of production.  Shilo published its first book, We Make It Good, in 2007, and also curates the site www.WeMakeItGood.com. For more information, or to request a reel, please contact Tracy Chandler at +1.212.219.4700, or visit Shilo online at www.Shilo.tv. 

About Public Architecture + Planning
Public maintains a studio environment with two principal architects, James E. Brown and James F. Gates involved in every project. The studio setting allows project teams to work together, engage in collective creativity, stay current and manage projects through every stage to completion. The end result is ongoing success in designing and delivering architecturally compelling projects. True to their roots and background in fine arts and sculpture, the firm keeps one foot in the arts community, including recent museum work at The New Children's Museum in San Diego, California. Both Brown and Gates value the hands-on experience and continually guide the firm's studio designed and studio built contributions of both interior and exterior details.  By assembling a diverse group of designers, craftsmen and fine artists to execute projects from conceptualization to completion, Public assures architecturally distinctive, detail oriented projects. The firm advocates and practices sustainable design and holds membership in the US Green Building Council. Public enjoys the process of design and continues to transform strong concepts into equally focused and complete realities that impact the built environment. Their work is serious and reasoned but does not exclude humor or poetics. For more information, please visit www.publicdigital.com.

Shilo's Jose Gomez.
(Image courtesy of Shilo)
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Shilo's Andre Stringer.
(Image courtesy of Shilo)
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