Southeastern Live Well Center with Steinberg Hart | San Diego, California
The Live Well Center in San Diego is a central hub for health and social services that delivers accessible, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed care to a diverse population, including aging individuals, veterans, and those in need of behavioral health and restorative justice services.
A pretty neat and impactful shoot, huh?!
The cherry on top? Our client Steinberg Hart, the architectural design firm behind the Southeaster Live Well Center (SELWC), recently won the PCBC 2024 Gold Nugget Award in the category of Best Special Use Project.
Award submissions are a big reason why Architects, Interior Designers, and Commercial Real Estate Developers hire photographers like us. High-quality, professional photos are an absolute must when it comes to submitting projects as a nominee. Photographs are not just a record of a building's existence; they are a visual representation of the vision, creativity, and functionality of the design.
If you know us, you know we have a thorough planning process before every single shoot. A well-executed architectural shoot requires thoughtful planning and execution, showcasing how the design serves its intended purpose, reflects cultural relevance, and honors environmental sustainability. The SELWC project was no exception, and it was important for us to capture its full range of significance—both aesthetically and functionally.
Another big congratulations to Steinberg Hart! An amazing first project together and looking forward to many more to come.
How I Planned this Community Center Shoot
Going into this shoot, we knew we wanted to capture aerial shots, in addition to both the interior and the exterior of the building.
Our main goal to capture the cultural significance, integration of art, and focus on sustainability throughout the Center.
The Southeastern Live Well Center is not just a building—it is a cultural landmark designed with purpose. Steinberg Hart paid homage to the area’s cultural heritage while integrating state-of-the-art, eco-friendly technologies that ensure the building achieves net-zero energy status. We love to see it!
With these factors in mind, our team set out to capture every element that makes SELWC special, from its artistic installations to its sustainable architectural features. Our goal was to not only highlight the building's technical design but also the emotional experience it offers to its visitors.
We had a ton of people show up to be models, which really helped fill some of the larger interior spaces and bring it to life.
PHOTOGRAPHING THE INTERIOR SPACE
The key to the design philosophy created by Steinberg Hart is the integration of art throughout the center. The artistry merges seamlessly with the architecture, creating spaces that are not only wonderfully aesthetic but also culturally significant. It’s a true *chef’s kiss*.
To capture this, I focused on shots that showcased how art and architecture work together to create the emotional experience of this space. Whether it was a mural in the waiting area or the use of natural light filtering through the large windows, each shot had to convey a feeling of warmth, safety, and community.
We love working with Interior Designers, Architecture Firms, Engineers, Real Estate Developers, and Construction Businesses to capture the latest and greatest buildings.
While we’re based out of San Diego, California, you can frequently catch us traveling to work with new clients.
PHOTOGRAPHING THE EXTERIOR SPACE
The sustainability theme continued to the exterior of the center as well. Key features include solar panels, energy-efficient systems, and recycled materials.
Believe it or not, the parking structure was a highlight of the outdoor space. We made sure to capture the innovative design elements, including the use of recycled materials, which significantly reduced the building's ecological footprint.
Photographing the exterior required a mix of wide-angle and detailed shots. The wide shots allowed me to capture the building in its entirety, highlighting its Californian surroundings, while the detailed shots focused on key design elements that helped contribute to the Gold Nugget Award!
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
When a client requests aerial photography, I know we’ll be fast friends. Aerial photography offers a unique perspective that you simply can’t get from the ground. It allows the viewer to appreciate the full scope of the project, from the building’s footprint to its relationship with the surrounding landscape.
The aerial shots were particularly useful in showcasing the eco-friendly features of the center, such as the rooftop solar panels and the surrounding nature paths. The paths provide visitors with a serene, natural space to walk and reflect, further emphasizing the center’s commitment to healing both the mind and body. From above, you can see how these paths wind around the building, creating a peaceful environment that complements the center’s mission.
As a photographer specializing in architectural, interior design, and commercial real estate photography in San Diego, projects like SELWC are a reminder of why I love what I do. They allow me to be part of something bigger, capturing spaces that will leave a lasting impact on the people who use them.
A big congratulations to Steinberg Hart for their well-deserved award! It’s been an honor to be part of such a meaningful project, and I can’t wait to see what we create together next.
Architectural Designer: Steinberg Hart
Construction: PCL Construction
Engineering: DCI Engineers, Glumac, and ELEN Consulting
