March Studio

March Studio We help visionary clients tell their stories and create spaces that are right for them, right for the people they serve, and right for the planet.

Since 1998, March Studio’s constant vision and passion, in both our teaching and our practice, is to combine the principles of good design with the best practices in marketing to create branded architecture with purpose. The result is something boldly innovative: beautiful, functional buildings and spaces that tell our clients’ stories, by capturing the essence of who they truly are. Brand is the

starting point. It both inspires us and guides us. It helps us to understand whom we are designing for and what’s important to them. The brand helps us to create meaning and purpose in the design. It informs what we are doing, how we are doing it, and why. We value our relationships and believe in a fully collaborative effort that leads to buildings and environments that help to fulfill our clients’ purpose. It is our intention that the spaces we create and the connections we foster will inspire creative collaborations and visionary ideas that add value to the architecture, the brand, and the community.

The materials we choose do more than define how a space looks. They shape how it feels to the children who learn, play, ...
08/24/2026

The materials we choose do more than define how a space looks. They shape how it feels to the children who learn, play, and grow within it.

At March Studio, we believe thoughtful material choices are never just aesthetic. They’re an essential part of designing places where childhood can flourish.

Explore our early childhood projects through the link in our bio.

Every child enters the world with an innate sense of curiosity. The spaces around them can either nurture that instinct ...
08/20/2026

Every child enters the world with an innate sense of curiosity.

The spaces around them can either nurture that instinct or slowly diminish it.

At March Studio, we believe architecture has a responsibility beyond providing shelter. It can encourage exploration, spark imagination, and create opportunities for children to discover the world on their own terms.

Untitled No. 1 was designed with this philosophy at its core: a learning environment where nature, movement and curiosity become part of everyday life, and where the building itself quietly supports the journey of growing up.

Explore the full project through the link in our bio.

At March Studio, we believe great design starts long before the first sketch.Over the past few weeks, our Principal, Tod...
08/13/2026

At March Studio, we believe great design starts long before the first sketch.

Over the past few weeks, our Principal, Todd March, has been teaching Making Place at Outer Coast, a seminar that encourages students to slow down, observe, ask thoughtful questions, and build genuine relationships with the places they’re exploring before proposing solutions.

That philosophy is deeply connected to how we approach our own work.

Whether we’re designing a community space, a healthcare environment, or a place of worship, we believe every project begins with listening.

Understanding the people, the history, and the character of a place isn’t a step in the process. It is the process.

Seeing the students share their final projects was a reminder that the strongest ideas don’t come from assumptions.

They come from curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to understand before creating.

Thank you to Outer Coast, the students, and the Sitka community for making this year’s studio such a meaningful experience.

We’re excited to see where these future designers go next.

*Photo credits Asia Milewska

Grateful for the people (and the pups) who make March Studio what it is. The work we do is only as good as the people we...
08/07/2026

Grateful for the people (and the pups) who make March Studio what it is.

The work we do is only as good as the people we do it with, and we got lucky with this crew.

We’ve been asking students to do something that surprises them: don’t design anything yet.For the past few weeks, our pr...
07/28/2026

We’ve been asking students to do something that surprises them: don’t design anything yet.

For the past few weeks, our principal Todd Erlandson has been teaching at Outer Coast in Sitka, Alaska.

Before students sketch a single idea or propose a solution, they’re asked to do something much more important.

Walk.

Observe.

Listen.

Return.

They’re documenting how people move through the town, how the landscape shapes daily life, what buildings have endured, and what the community chooses to care for.

Only then do they begin thinking about design.

It’s the same philosophy that guides our work at March Studio.

Whether we’re designing a child development center, restoring a church, or creating a civic workplace, we believe meaningful design begins with understanding a place, not imposing an idea upon it.

The best projects don’t start with answers.

They start with curiosity.

Because before architecture can shape a community, it has to learn from one.

*Big thanks for Asia Milewska for the cover photo.

Some projects aren’t just about creating a better building. They’re about creating a place where people can gather, cele...
07/23/2026

Some projects aren’t just about creating a better building. They’re about creating a place where people can gather, celebrate, reflect, and build stronger connections with one another.

Simkins Hall was thoughtfully reimagined to support the evolving needs of First UMC of Santa Monica while honoring the history and character that have shaped its community for generations.

Looking back on this project reminds us that meaningful architecture isn’t measured only by how a space looks, but by the life that unfolds within it.

If you’re planning a project that strengthens your community, we’d love to hear your story.

07/21/2026

Every child deserves a place to learn, no matter where they are.

The NEST Global Mobile Classroom transforms a school bus into a flexible learning environment that supports curiosity, creativity, and connection for children and families on the move.

Because thoughtful design isn’t defined by permanence.

It’s defined by the opportunities it creates.

Explore the full project at the link in bio.

07/09/2026

Water has a unique way of transforming outdoor learning environments.

Beyond keeping children cool on warm days, it invites exploration, creativity, and discovery through open-ended play.

Children naturally experiment by pouring, redirecting, splashing, and observing how water moves, building problem-solving skills without even realizing it.

The best part? It doesn’t have to be elaborate.

A water table, hand pump, shallow stream, or simple runnel can completely change how a space is experienced.

When thoughtfully integrated into school and early childhood landscapes, water becomes more than a play feature.

It creates opportunities for learning, connection, and joyful curiosity every day.

Learn more about our projects and how we incorporate water play in early childhood centers at the link in bio.

Construction is progressing steadily at the with work underway on new second-floor classrooms and a new elevator shaft....
06/29/2026

Construction is progressing steadily at the with work underway on new second-floor classrooms and a new elevator shaft.

Once complete, both levels of the building will be fully accessible for the first time in more than 40 years.

It’s been inspiring to see contractors, teachers, and children working together throughout the process.

Special thanks to Vancrest Construction for their artwork and ongoing partnership.

What can a building do for the people it serves long after we hand it over?That question defined our week at AIA 2026 in...
06/22/2026

What can a building do for the people it serves long after we hand it over?

That question defined our week at AIA 2026 in San Diego and it’s one we’ve been asking at March Studio from the very beginning of every project we take on.

A few things we’re bringing back to the studio:

- Design for abundance, not scarcity. The most inspiring work we saw this week started by asking what a place could gain, not what it needed to avoid losing.

- The building is never just the building. It sits within systems… and the best architecture improves the status quo of all of them.

- Materials tell a story. The work that moved us most used appropriate materials that reflected the community, the landscape, and the process, not just the brief.

- Handing over a project is the beginning, not the end. A building’s job is to keep helping its community long after the architects have left the room.

This is how we approach every project at March Studio. It’s how we’ll continue to.

An inspiring week. Grateful to AIA and to every practitioner in that room who is pushing the work - and the profession - forward.

Address

3008 Lincoln Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA
90405

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+13106640651

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