project

In nearly 15 years of practice, the firm had grown, with a deep portfolio of built projects throughout the California wine country and beyond. In that timeframe the City of Napa had experienced a renaissance, developing into a vibrant downtown that acts as a hub of creativity and business, and a vital entry point for the valley. In response to both our firm’s expansion and the thriving community of downtown Napa, Signum relocated to our new downtown headquarters in 2024.

Our 2,500-square-foot office space occupies one of two street-front retail spaces in a newly-constructed mixed-use development on Second Street that the partners had been following for several years before it finally became available. With walls of windows on two sides, the soaring two-story space is flooded with light and open to the life of the street. The interiors are designed to facilitate the open communication and collaborative approach that are hallmarks of our design process. On the ground floor, open work stations arranged to promote conversation overlook views of the street and living wall. Large and small meeting rooms enclosed with glass doors allow privacy without foregoing transparency. The most striking element of the space is a central open stair leading to a large mezzanine with additional work stations. A standing-height desk running along one wall provides ample room for collaborative work. 

While it is designed to be highly functional, material choices and design details form a space specifically suited to Signum’s ethos and firm culture. A double-height arrangement of plants of differing shapes and sizes brings greenery and a connection to nature into the office space, helping to clean the interior air and promote well-being. A custom-printed black-and-white mural illustrates a project under construction and provides an artful backdrop. And an on-going collaboration with Napa-based Aerena Galleries brings local art into the office space — including a light sculpture that became a permanent fixture.

Located near a bike path and bus line, with large open spaces that encourage communication and collaboration, natural light that contributes to a sense of health and well-being, and a downtown location that fosters a sense of community and a walkable/bikeable lifestyle, our new office space has had an immensely positive impact on our practice. One partner walks to work, while one bikes, most staff can go home for lunch, other downtown businesses are now friends, and a nearby park even functions as an additional space for open-air meetings — all in support of a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.