Mendelsohn|Zien

Mendelsohn|Zien was a prominent Los Angeles-based advertising agency. It was highly regarded in the ad industry for creating bold, provocative campaigns for major West Coast brands, most notably the iconic, controversial Carl's Jr. celebrity ads. In 2009, the agency was acquired by the Japanese agency network Hakuhodo and rebranded as MZ Advertising.

The top two floors of a 22-story office building were reimagined for the large advertising agency. Part of the upper floor was cut away to create a grand, double-height lobby, with a new stairway providing access between both floors. The stair wraps around a central wall, with tall glass panels flanking the outside so that the treads appear to float. Finish materials include integrally pigmented veneer plaster, frameless sheet glass, modular plastic glazing panels, and Syndecrete tiles. The existing concrete lobby floor was pigmented, polished, and left exposed.

All new furniture and office systems were chosen to reflect a simple, minimalist environment.