Culture

We are Better Together.

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Here at AO you’re not just a number, you’re family. We believe in casual Fridays, company sponsored events, annual holiday parties, picnics, bowling and more. As the host of Toastmasters International, we seek to expand one’s confidence in public speaking, leadership and teamwork while providing both professional and personal growth. With collaborative work spaces and driven coworkers, AO welcomes creativity, learning, and lasting relationships.

 

5th Annual Nick MacNeil Cornhole Tournament
April 3, 2025
Bags were flying and competition was a-maize-ing at AO's 5th Annual Nick MacNeil Memorial Cornhole Tournament! Corn-grats to our 2025 Cornhole Champions, Jonathon Weber & Mark Lagunzad! This year’s tournament was extra special as we took a moment to celebrate AO Day and another AO colleague, Mason Muratalla, sending him off with a heartfelt farewell as he embarks on an exciting new journey abroad. Wishing you all the best, Mason. You’ll always be part of the AO family!
Watch the recap here!
2025 Career Firm Day
March 4, 2025
Recently, AO attended Career Day events at top architecture schools like Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly SLO, UCLA, USC, and SCI-Arc, where our team met with students, reviewed portfolios, and shared insights into life at AO. We were impressed by the creativity and technical skills demonstrated, including the use of AI as a design tool. The innovation we saw reaffirms the bright future of architecture. Interested in joining us? Apply for our Summer Internship Program by sending your resume and portfolio to designexploration@aoarchitects.com.   Watch the recap here!
11th Annual Friendly Center Fitness Fundraiser
January 20, 2025
Our partnership with the Friendly Center has developed a significant connection to our community, enabling us to make a positive impact. During this year's event, Ioanna Magiati and Vickie Oshima presented a check for $10,649 to Kenia Hernandez Cueto, PhD, President & CEO at Friendly Center. During the past 11 years, AO's collective support has transformed the lives of local families facing crises, providing crucial assistance during the holiday season. Watch the recap here!
AO Gold Hollywood 2024
December 19, 2024
It was lights, camera, action at the AO50 Gold Hollywood Cocktail Party! The Charleston in Fullerton shimmered with the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood as guests dressed to dazzle in their finest vintage attire. The evening was filled with timeless elegance, entertainment, and a touch of cinematic magic — the perfect way to wrap up the season and our momentous AO50 year. One thing is for certain, AO knows how to set the stage for a night to remember. Here's to making 2025 even more unforgettable with celebrations that shine! Watch the recap here!
AO50 Client Party
November 18, 2024
AO gathered with esteemed clients and partners at Chapman Crafted Beer to raise a glass in honor of our 50th anniversary. It was a special evening of celebration and reflection, highlighting the enduring relationships that have been central to our success over the past five decades. Watch the recap here!
AO50 Fright Feast
November 1, 2024
For over two decades, AO's Halloween traditions have unleashed the creative, the spooky, and the downright silly in all of us. A huge congratulations to all the costumed competitors over the years, keeping our Halloween spirit alive with endless dedication and creativity. These moments go beyond costumes and decorations—they’re part of who we are. Here's to the next round of Halloween shenanigans, keeping this legendary tradition alive, and uniting us year after year!
One Can. One Piece. One AO.
October 29, 2024
In honor of AO’s 50th Anniversary, this year’s CANstruction OC entry, "The Fight for Hunger Starts with One Can. One Piece. One AO," embodies a decade-long commitment to philanthropy and positive impact in our community. For the past 10 years, we’ve proudly joined CANstruction, partnering with local sponsors to fight hunger, one can at a time. Each build is an opportunity to come together, designing and constructing structures that push the boundaries of creativity and provide thousands of cans of food to those in need—aligning with our values of partnership, service, and innovation. Winning Best Original Design and Best Structural Integrity this year highlights the impact we make together, which truly matters. Here’s to a decade of building partnerships, serving our community, and leading with purpose.
AO50 Staff Party
October 4, 2024
Oh, what a night! AO’s 50th golden anniversary party was one for the books! We kicked things off with a warm welcome from the partners, a heartwarming nod to Jack and the founding partners' legacy, and shining reminder of this year's theme: "Remembering who we are. Becoming who we want to be." After a giant group photo, the celebration hit full swing with photo booth fun, delicious food, drinks, and dancing! It's truly been an unforgettable year, and the best is yet to come! Stay tuned for what's next! Watch the recap here!
AO50 Summer Picnic
June 26, 2024
Last week, the AO family kicked off summer with our renowned annual company picnic! We met for an afternoon of games and delicious food at Knott's Berry Farm, even had a special visit from Snoopy himself! In this milestone year, we're excited to reflect on one of AO's first summer picnics from thirty-five years ago, when Architects Orange employees and families gathered at the park for a day of celebration and connection, much like we do today! Whether it's 1989, 1974, or 2024, the spirit of fun and togetherness remains the same. Here's to more smiles, memories, and the continued legacy of community we create with the AO family! Watch the recap here!
4th Annual Nick Macneil Cornhole Tournament
May 24, 2024
A big round of applause to Diego Alessi and Vickie Oshima for taking the top spot at this year's tournament! The competition was intense, especially against the formidable mother-son duo, Rhonda and Mason Muratalla, who secured a well-earned second place. Highlighting the event, MVP Diego Alessi and Sammy Saludo from the Commercial studio triumphed over Multifamily's Trevor Morales and Jason Rupp in the inaugural Partner Showdown exhibition, while Craig Prestininzi and Kopis Georgakopoulos won the award for best team spirit. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Macneil Family for joining us and to everyone who participated and made the event a success. Looking forward to another exciting tournament next year! Watch the recap video here!
Taco Thursday
May 8, 2024
AO hosted a taco lunch in our Restaurants and Interiors parking lot. Employees from both the commercial and residential studios gathered to mingle and enjoy delicious tacos catered by The Mexican Taco!
2024 AO Spring Fitness Challenge
May 2, 2024
Last month, AO staff championed the "Spring into Spring" initiative, participating in a month-long fitness challenge prioritizing our collective health and wellness. The goal was to complete 600 minutes of physical activity in 30 days! Collectively, the team clocked a total of 102,453 minutes of activity! From scenic hikes to gym classes to walks with our furry friends, it was inspiring to see everyone actively participating. Congratulations to all who achieved their fitness goals!  Click here for a recap video of the challenge.
AO Day Celebration
March 29, 2024
Marking a truly unforgettable milestone for AO, we were honored as Mayor Dan Slater officially proclaimed March 27th as AO Day in the City of Orange, commemorating our 50th anniversary. This was the perfect kick-off for AO50, an incredible year that is set to be filled with celebrations and reflections on AO's journey thus far. Watch the recap video.  
Spring Leadership Highlight
March 22, 2024
At last week's Spring All Leaders meeting, we unveiled an exciting new initiative focused on enhancing leadership and management skills within our team. The session featured a special guest speaker, Jen Wilson, who shared invaluable insights to elevate our approach to leadership. Jen's talk centered on the transformative power of fostering positive leadership actions through what she termed the "5 pebbles": intentional listening, decision-making, clear communication, empathy, and feedback.
Old Towne Orange Employee Rewards Program
February 7, 2024
AO takes pride in its engagement with the local community, providing a dedicated rewards program for team members based in Old Towne Orange.

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2024 CPP ARC/LA Firm Day
February 1, 2024
It was an impressive turnout at the 2024 Cal Poly Pomona Firm Day! The exceptional talent of the students was fully on display, filling us with Bronco pride. The event was a testament to rising standards, showcasing advanced project portfolios that demonstrated creativity and technical prowess. Many students stood out as promising candidates for AO's internship program, signaling a successful year ahead. We can't wait to see the innovation these future architects will bring to our industry and the AO team.
AO’s 10th Annual Friendly Center Fundraiser
January 12, 2024
Our partnership with the Friendly Center has developed a significant connection to our community, enabling us to make a positive impact. During this year's event, Ioanna Magiati and Elle Schulert presented a check for $18,452 to Mariah Martinez, PR & Marketing Coordinator at Friendly Center. During the past 10 years, AO's collective support has transformed the lives of local families facing crises, providing crucial assistance during the holiday season. Watch the recap here!
2023 Deck the Desks Contest
December 22, 2023
AO's annual 'Deck The Desks' competition unwrapped a competitive holiday spirit and creativity from our amazing staff! The design studios sleighed the competition with dazzling displays like "Santa's Workshop," "Abstract Christmas Worldwide," and "A Very Merry Star Wars Christmas." Hats off to this year's winners for spreading the joy and reaching a new level of festive flair! Watch the recap here
2023 Casino Royale Cocktail Party
December 14, 2023
It was a night to remember at AO's Casino Royale Cocktail Party! Guests embraced their inner James Bond and stepped into a world of elegance and intrigue at the Charleston in Fullerton. This glamorous night proved to be a splendid way to close out 2023 and welcome our #AO50 anniversary year in 2024. Until next time, AO knows how to throw a party that truly shakes and stirs. Watch the recap here
AO’s 2023 Friendly Center Fall Fitness Fundraiser Has Begun!
November 16, 2023
Team AO blazed new hiking trails this past weekend to kick off our annual Friendly Center Fundraiser and Fitness Challenge! Celebrating a decade of partnership with the Friendly Center, this challenge focuses not only bettering ourselves through wellness and fitness but also giving back to local our community and families in need. As we jump into the holidays and season of giving, we are more motivated than ever to reach our fundraising goals! A big thank you to Aaron Childs, Architect, Sr. PM, and Scout leader for leading the hike!
AO’s Halloween Fright Feast 2023
November 2, 2023
A spooky spectacular showdown took place at this year's Halloween Fright Feast! Ghouls traveled from far and wide to display their frightful costume and pumpkin carving skills. Congratulations to all our contest winners this year! We can't wait to see what ghastly delights you bring next year. Watch the recap video here!
3rd Annual Nick Macneil Cornhole Tournament
October 6, 2023
The competition was fierce at AO’s 3rd Annual Nick Macneil Memorial Cornhole Tournament! Thirty-two teams of AO’s finest cornholers gathered for an epic battle of hand-to-bean bag combat. In the end, only one team could win, but a valiant effort was displayed by every pair and the crowd was up on their feet cheering for the championship match. Congrats to our 2023 champs Elle Schulert and Jun Sia! Cheers until next year… Watch the recap video HERE!
AO Goes Back To School Shopping!
September 1, 2023

With Summer drawing to a close, AO hosted our annual backpack drive supporting local elementary school students in need. This year we partnered up with Think Together, a non-profit organization with the mission to “Change the Odds for Kids” by providing a safe community for neighborhood kids to come to after school and help prepare them for college and their future careers. Together, team AO collected over 750 items from the school supply list and assembled 45 backpacks for local students at California iInspire Academy right here in Orange!

https://vimeo.com/860239076

Ice Cream Social
July 14, 2023
AO Partners flexed their serving skills and took turns handing out ice cream to employees from each studio for July's Ice Cream Social and monthly treat. A tasty mid-day refresh from the summer heat courtesy of Archie's Ice Cream Truck!
Warner Red Hill Site Visit
July 13, 2023
The AO Multifamily Studio Team toured the active construction site of Warner Red Hill by Greystar in Santa Ana. It was a great opportunity for the designers to visualize and experience the HY-WRAP building typology, inspect components involved in the drawings and construction documents, and see them actualized on the site.
2023 AO Summer Picnic Bonanza
June 23, 2023
Last weekend, the whole AO family gathered at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park for our annual Summer Picnic Bonanza! We had a blast playing games, sharing stories, eating delicious food, and celebrating with each other. Till next year, thanks for the smiles and wonderful memories! https://vimeo.com/839076957
2023 Spring Into Spring Fitness Challenge
May 9, 2023
For the 2023 Spring Into Spring Fitness Challenge, AO staff participated in a month-long competition to boost our collective health and wellness. The challenge was to complete 600 minutes of physical activity in 30 days! At the end of the challenge, together we completed a total of 111,989 minutes of activity! We enjoyed seeing everyone participating and sending in photos of scenic biking views, long-distance runs, or evening strolls with loved ones. Congratulations to everyone who reached their goals! Click here for a recap video of the challenge.
May The Tacos Be With You!
May 4, 2023
AO hosted a taco lunch at the American Legion. This event brought AO staff from both the commercial and residential studios together to take a break from their computer screens, mingle and enjoy delicious tacos!
2023 Admin Appreciation Day
April 26, 2023
“Thank you” is not nearly enough for all that our Administration Professionals do at AO! For Admin Appreciation Day, we honored our Admin professionals with gifts and breakfast as a token of our gratitude. Video HERE.
Multi-Vendor Trade Show
April 21, 2023
AO hosted its first multi-vendor tradeshow in the 174 parking lot. Eighteen different vendors were on-site showcasing their products and materials. Employees that attended had lunch and were able to meet with the various vendors to discuss their products and answer questions. It was a successful event and we hope to host another one in the future!