Located at a busy intersection in densely populated Cypress, California, this former Office Max location has been transformed into hub of indoor and outdoor dining.

Pasadena-based architect firm McKently Malak was tasked to tackle the redevelopment project focused on attracting restaurants and food offerings to the space.  In order to achieve that goal, the firm set about creating an outdoor environment that would entice and encourage diners to visit and linger.

“The aim was to create an organic, comfortable, pedestrian friendly space,” said Michael Hidalgo, who led the project for McKently Malak. “It had to be somewhere people could relax and enjoy their meal”.

Outside of the 13,700 sq. ft. building, the McKently Malak team created a contemporary space with an urban park feel. They combined composite wood, metal and stone materials to achieve that modern look. The clean and welcoming space is lined with greenery, and enhanced and illuminated by light columns.

(Image: Luminis)

The lighting was an important component to bringing the whole ambiance together. “The lighting choice was based on two criteria,” said Hidalgo. “The aesthetic had to work; the lighting columns needed to look elegant and clean. And we needed the functionality; the seated area had to be well illuminated with a color temperature that was kind to the users and the surroundings.”

The team at McKently Malak opted for Luminis’ LumiSTIK columns, a product suited to lighting applications where space enhancement is the goal. The product’s clean extruded aluminum base and high impact acrylic diffuser provides an architectural aesthetic that complements any surrounding.

Twenty-one LumiSTIK columns were used in the project. Measuring 12 ft tall, the slim columns are an ideal fit for the contemporary feel the architect was going for. This clean design ensures the lighting fixtures look as good in the daytime as they do after sunset.

More than just enhancing the space, the LumiSTIK products have a job to do and needed to be functional. The area is busy with diners, and the obvious hazards of tables and chairs are at every turn, so it was important that the lighting was able to adequately illuminate the area in the evenings. Delivering 8400 lumens from each LumiSTIK column ensures that the area is well lit, and the 4000K color temperature chosen for the lighting provides a soft, warm and welcoming feel for the evening diners. 

“The client has been very positive about the results”, said Hidalgo.