SOMArts is a non-profit cultural center with exhibition, theater and studio spaces housed in a former factory building adjacent to an elevated freeway. SOMArt’s mission is to promote and nurture art on the community level and to foster an appreciation of and respect for all cultures. The building’s exterior is dilapidated and the main entrance is tucked to the far rear of the outdoor courtyard.

We are providing pro bono services to help SOMArts fulfill its community-oriented mission by transforming the building into an attractive and engaging community icon and re-designing the outdoor spaces for public events and performances. We have developed a new graphic identity for SOMArts and designed exterior building improvements to provide greater visibility to the public. The design includes a canopy with signage at the street, an entrance pylon sign, repainting the building with a new paint scheme and creating panels for changing work by artists to be exhibited. Exterior landscape improvements include modifying the landscape to make the entrance more welcoming and easier to find; reducing the amount of impermeable paving; creating a gathering place for events; planting drought-tolerant, easy-to-maintain plants; installing cisterns to capture rainwater and installing screening to shield the view of the adjacent parking lot and freeway.