Cities ByDesign Episode: World Design Capital 2024 and Other Videos / February 3, 2025 by Barbara Leon

Last year, we were fortunate to be a part of an episode of Cities ByDesign by ByDesign TV alongside other talented designers, creatives, and community members. This special documentary highlights the unique collaboration and design innovation in the San Diego-Tijuana region, recognized as the World Design Capital 2024—the first time a U.S. city and a binational region have received this prestigious honor. Executive Producer Mike Chapman captured the vibrant energy of this border region, exploring how two cities in two countries operate as one, embracing "borders without boundaries." It was a wonderful experience to take part and contribute to this celebration of creativity and community.

watch here

More to See: Dive Into Our Latest Video Feature by Recording Architecture

Go behind the scenes of the Exchange Pavilion through exclusive interviews with the Heleo team about the design process, fabrication in Tijuana, and assembly in Balboa Park, San Diego.

watch here

Sessions by the Bay Opening Spring 2025 / February 3, 2025 by Barbara Leon

Exciting developments are making way in National City as the "Sessions by the Bay" project nears completion, with an anticipated opening in the Spring of 2025. Located at 700 Bay Marina Drive, the nearly 16,000-square-foot, two-story venue will feature a dispensary, lounge areas, and plans for partnerships with local restaurants to provide non-cannabis food and beverages.

Exterior Facade Feature

A standout feature of the building is its distinctive exterior façade (close-up of exterior facade image above). To address existing building conditions, we implemented a secondary "skin," creating an offset façade that forms a veil-like appearance. Inspired by the surrounding context, aerial images of the neighboring estuary were transformed into a moiré pattern, with the use of Dynamo scripts to iterate the size and gradation of openings, resulting in a unique perforation pattern that enhances the building's aesthetic and connection to its environment.

Installation of Exterior Facade

sEG Frames by matrix Usa

We utilized Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG) framing systems by Matrix USA to enhance the interior environment by creating an immersive visual experience. Their durability and precision engineering made them an ideal choice for this high-traffic venue, supporting both backlit and wall-mounted applications to elevate the atmosphere of the lounge and retail areas. These sleek aluminum frames provided a seamless, modern display solution, allowing for vibrant, edge-to-edge graphics that complement the project's innovative design and reinforce the brand identity while maintaining flexibility for future updates.