Who We Are & What We Do

The work of David Hertz Architects Inc, Studio of Environmental Architecture focuses on the design and construction of environmentally responsible residential and commercial buildings, and engages in multiple facets of design, including product design, furniture design, public sculpture, environmental consulting, as well as the research and development of resource efficient ecologic building products. In 1983 Hertz founded Syndesis Inc, and invented the material manufacturing process of Syndecrete®, the innovative pre-cast lightweight concrete surfacing material. Hertz sold the technology in 2006. Evolving from a generalist nature of practice to a more specified studio has allowed for a comprehensive understanding of creative problem solving and the opportunity to view design challenges from multiple perspectives simultaneously. S.E.A. has been located in Santa Monica for over the last 20 years. It is a small practice dedicated to design and green building, and employs about 10 people.

S.E.A. has particular experience in the practice and incorporation of sustainable and resource efficient design principles in its built work. The architecture of David Hertz and S.E.A. is often recognized as incorporating natural ventilation, natural light, and passive solar energy, as well as incorporating pre-fabrication and high performance wall systems. S.E.A. has particular interest and experience in utilizing innovative and unusual materials to create harmonious compositions of texture and form. Juxtaposing materials of concrete, glass and wood maximize the honest expression of structure and materials. Architectural projects have focused primarily on custom residential projects with particular experience in climate responsive buildings in the coastal zone and hillsides of Malibu, Northern California, and the Oregon coast, and tropical climates such as Hawaii and Costa Rica. Space-efficient, budget-conscious projects in the local community of Venice Beach have spawned several notable homes, unique in their use of space and innovative building techniques. Maintaining a strong connection to the exterior, while providing comfortable and energy efficient living spaces, is a determinant in the design of each project. Commercial projects have included master planning for LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) as well as several tenant improvement spaces for entertainment, retail, advertising and technology companies, and free standing commercial projects that include entertainment, housing, and educational facilities.

S.E.A., as a company, has become a model for the environmentally conscious enterprise, and won the City of Santa Monica Sustainable Leadership Award as well as the Eco-Home Network’s Sustainable Living Award, both in 2004. David is a LEED accredited professional through the US Green Building Council and is an appointed member of the Santa Monica Environmental Task Force. Recently, S.E.A.’s new studio, a LEED Registered Platinum project, has received a grant from the City of Santa Monica to be the pilot project for their new green building initiative: CEI- Community Energy Independence.

The work of S.E.A. and Syndesis, has been widely published, exhibited internationally, and is included in over one dozen television programs, disseminating information to the populace on its environmental work.

1920 Olypmic, Venice, CA

McKinley House, Venice, CA

Panel House, Venice, CA

David Hertz is founder and president of S.E.A. David is a native Angeleno born in 1960 and resides in Venice, California.

David Hertz became interested in architecture as an adolescent. And, at an early age, became interested in human habitation and the juncture between the natural and built environment. Serving as an apprentice to artists and working in construction trades gave David a tacit knowledge of construction and fabrication. With combined studies at UCLA, he enrolled at SCI-ARC (The Southern California Institute of Architecture), where there was a real interest in ecological design at the time. While there he obtained a strong foundation in pragmatic environmental design. Before graduating, in 1983, with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from SCI-ARC, David worked in the office of Architect, John Lautner FAIA (formerly an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright). After travel and study in Europe, David returned to serve an internship in the office of Frank O. Gehry and Associates FAIA before opening his own firm, Syndesis Inc., in 1984.

David Hertz and the work of Syndesis has been widely exhibited and published and has received numerous awards for architectural and materials design work, including the 1990 Progressive Architecture Magazine’s Young Architects Competition, the Architectural League of New York’s Young Architects Competition and Forum, and the 1993 Design Leadership Award sponsored by Inc. Magazine and Corporate Design. Recently, his work was featured in several architectural tours including CABoom, Venice Art Walk, AIA Home Tour, and the Reinvention Conferences. It has been published in architectural publications such as Dwell and Global Architecture. In 2008, David was elected to the prestigious College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects as the youngest member in its 152 year history.

Many of David Hertz’s furniture pieces are displayed in significant private and museum collections. In May 1995 the Syndecrete® product was included in an exhibition entitled “Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design,” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and was subsequently acquired as part of the Permanent Design Collection. In 1998 Syndecrete® was exhibited at The Smithsonian Museum of American History in an exhibition entitled “Inventing for the Environment.” Most recently, Syndecrete® and David’s architecture were featured in the exhibit “Liquid Stone” at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. In 2003, David won an award for Excellence in Concrete from the Oregon Chapter of the American Concrete Institute. Syndesis has won many additional national, state and local awards, including the AIA Service Award for Craftsmanship and the Sunset Magazine and AIA California Western Home Award.

David Hertz has been an active participant in the environmental and design communities for over two decades with participation in numerous organizations including service on numerous professional committees such as the L.A. Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment, the Environmental Affairs Committee of the Construction Specifications Institute, the Environmental Committee of Concrete Organizations, and the California Energy Commission’s High Performance Wall Systems Collaborative. In 2004, he became a LEED Accredited Professional, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. After selling the Syndecrete® technology in 2006, Syndesis Inc. evolved into the Studio of Environmental Architecture, a Santa Monica based practice devoted to green building.

David’s personal involvement includes membership and pro-bono services for many non-profit environmental and social service organizations including Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), and Heal the Bay.

David has served on the faculty of the SCI-Arc Professional Development Program and is currently on the Academic Advisory Committee for UCLA’s Extension Program while teaching sustainable design courses. He currently teaches a studio focused on prefabrication at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

Born: 10.6.60
Residence: Venice, California
Married, with three children

EDUCATION

USC School of Architecture- Faculty
Professional Degree: Bachelor of Architecture, SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) 1983
SCI-ARC, Vico Morcote: European Study/Travel Program, Ticino, Italy 1982
Faculty: Instructor SCI-Arc’s Professional Development Program 1992-94
Faculty: Instructor and Guidance committee member U.C.L.A. Extension Architecture and Interior Design program. 1994-Present
Faculty: National Sustainable Building Advisors
Guest Lecturer: UCLA Introduction to Architecture class 1995-Present
Guest Lecturer: SCI-Arc Thesis Reviews 1984-Present

WORK EXPERIENCE

Founded new studio, S.E.A., 2007
Founder, Syndesis, Inc./ David Hertz AIA Architects 1984
Frank O. Gehry and Associates, FAIA, Venice, California, 1983-1984
John Lautner, FAIA, Hollywood, California, 1979-1982
Harshbargar Construction Corporation, Mammoth Lakes, California, 1978-1979
Robert Bridges, AIA Architect and General Contractor, Los Angeles, California, 1977-1978
G.M. Shaw Design, West Los Angeles, California, 1977
Michael Swimmer ASLA, Landscape Architect, Los Angeles, California, 1976

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects
LEED Certified Professional
Architect, State of California Lic. #C25190
Member, AIA (American Institute of Architects) Since 1983
Component Member, LA/AIA C.O.T.E. (Committee on the Environment)
General Contractor, California Lic. # 596737
Member, ADPSR (Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility)
Member, BSR (Businesses for Social Responsibility)
Member, California Energy Commission, High Performance Wall Systems Collaborative
Member, CSI (Construction Specifications Institute)
Member, CTI (Ceramic Tile Institute)
Member, ECCO (Environmental Council of Concrete Organization)
Member, USGB (U.S. Green Building Council)

Art Streiber for Vanity Fair

Environmental Commitment

S.E.A.’S commitment to the environment is demonstrated in the innovative design of its products, manufacturing operations, marketing materials and building design. S.E.A.’S corporate values are holistic and based on the respect and efficient use of our human and natural resources with an overriding commitment to the greater whole. The company's high level of environmental awareness is demonstrated in every aspect of its approach to business, from its products and manufacturing processes to its marketing and promotional materials, internal corporate culture, architectural designs and the energy efficient design of its office, which was recently awarded one of the highest rated LEED PLATINUM ratings in the U.S. 

S.E.A. is committed to transforming the excesses and waste of today's society into value-added, quality designed products. S.E.A. actively researches and sources new environmentally responsible materials and procedures to use in the projects we design and build. The company actively promotes the environmental qualities of its products in the hopes of increasing the public's awareness and demand for recycled building materials. The larger goal is to increase society's value of such materials and products, thus inducing other companies in the industry to create well designed, complimentary, environmentally responsible building products. S.E.A. is an active participant in the environmental community, and is involved in organizations such as the Ecological Entrepreneurs Network, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association Conference, and the USGBC. S.E.A. is featured in many environmentally-minded material resource books including the Recycled Products Guide, AIA Environmental Resource Guide, Guide to Resource Efficient Building Elements, EPA Handbook, Smith and Hawken Catalogue, and the Interiors Concerns Resource Guide. We believe in the preservation and conservation of the earth’s resources, and our practice reflects these beliefs.

US Green Building

Sustainable Building Consulting

David Hertz FAIA Architects, Inc., and S.E.A., the Studio of Environmental Architecture, builds on 25 years as an acknowledged leader in the practice of sustainable architecture. Recently commended as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, David is an award-winning architect, educator and early pioneer in environmental Architecture and green building. Our Company’s origins are rooted in a firm belief in environmental responsibility.

In 1983, David developed Syndecrete®, one of the first sustainable building materials, which was used in the first LEED Platinum commercial building and the first LEED Platinum residential building in the U.S. David is a founding member of the USGBC U.S. Green Building Council and a LEED accredited professional. David’s work has been widely published and exhibited worldwide for its innovative and forward thinking approach to sustainable architecture and design.

S.E.A.’s role as consultant builds upon experience and success with it’s own green building projects and offers solutions to improve the environmental performance through cost effective and aesthetically pleasing solutions that balance the built environment with the natural environment. We accomplish this by providing our clients with realistic programs, innovative thinking and strategies presented as holistic, integrated systems. Sustainable buildings are equated with healthy buildings, resulting in greater occupant satisfaction, reduced employee absenteeism, greater resale value and increasingly lucrative lease contracts.

A key to project success is to ensure that all parties understand life cycle costs as well as first costs. In a departure from many traditional economic models, sustainable design/building sees the greatest return on investment over the lifetime of the building or project.

David Hertz was appointed to the City of Santa Monica’s Task Force on the Environment and consulted on the Cities green building ordinances. David has been teaching at UCLA for the last 15 years on Ecology and Architecture.

Read David's full bio.

Scope of Services

S.E.A. encourages the adaptive reuse of existing buildings and materials, is a proponent of green field preservation, and actively participates in product and system research and development, as can be experienced in our own LEED Platinum certified office building. We excel at providing innovative solutions to design and building issues that elevate the whole of a project, from a preserved natural environment with less developmental impact, to providing a healthier, more natural built environment.

Whether the goal is as simple as optimizing the healthy and energy efficient aspects of your project, or reaching to achieve certification under a Green Rating Program such as the US Green Building Council’s LEED program, or California’s Build-It-Green, S.E.A. is ready and qualified to guide your project’s sustainable development.

Our scope of consulting services offered and areas of specialization include:

Site planning and project orientation review. Solar orientation and shading.
Natural ventilation strategies incorporating both passive and active systems.
Climatic study and analysis relevant to project design, energy systems and building type using a bio regional and climatic responsive strategy.
Product research and development, with a specialization in concrete and high volume Fly ash mix designs and sustainable materials with recycled content.
Expertise in sustainably harvested wood including lesser known species, reclaimed lumber / renewable materials and bio composites.
Alternative energy systems research, modeling and implementation including PV photovoltaic and small scale wind and hydroelectric turbines.
Hydronic solar radiant systems integration for thermal solar heating systems.
Water conservation strategies and systems implementation.
Storm water mitigation measures including bio-swales, pervious concrete and rainwater capture-reuse systems for sub surface irrigation.
Green roof, vegetative “living walls” and green machine integration.
Planning/building code policy expertise and advisory experience.
Project team management, guidance and integration.
Feasibility studies based on project requirements and client priorities.
Green building guidelines, specifications, and procedures.
Indoor air quality and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) evaluation and prevention.
Cost benefit and payback analysis including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and embodied energy analysis.

Our long list of successful projects and satisfied clients prove that good design and sustainable design can be synonymous. We practice and encourage a responsible approach to the financial, social and environmental aspects of all projects. We enjoy the process of working with our clients to see these goals achieved at the highest possible levels, ensuring aesthetically pleasing and socially beneficial results.

Clients

Pierce & Keely Brosnan, Malibu, CA
Cati Van Vilders, Costa Rica
Trancas Country Market, Malibu, CA
La Salle Properties, Chicago, IL
Interface Architectural Resources, MI
Thacher School, Ojai, CA
Smith & Hawken, Mill Valley, CA
Kelly Slater Wave Company
Surf Parks, Orlando, FL
Living Homes
Toma Haus, Bali
Arden Realty

Testimonials

"I was particularly impressed with David, not just because of his substantive knowledge of environmental issues and green architecture, but because he was so willing to dig into this project…David worked very well with Thacher’s administration and Board of Trustees…He went out of his way to work cooperatively with us. He is truly a remarkable architect and this project is a job well done."

Sincerely, Michael K. Mulligan Head of School, The Thacher School

"I have known and worked with David for over 18 years, my first experience was working with David on design components for my residence…After my experience with David on my home, I asked him to create specialized, environmentally sound products for my business, Smith and Hawken…As (our company) grew, I asked David to be the lead architect for our company’s corporate office…I would highly recommend (David) to anyone contemplating a built environment that is fully responsive to the natural environment."

Sincerely, Paul Hawken Smith & Hawken / www.paulhawken.com