Donaldson + Partners

A Legacy of Art, Architecture, and Becoming

Our story

Architecture firms love to pretend they arrive fully formed. A logo appears, some sleek photos get taken, a monograph lands on a coffee table large enough to support structural loads, and suddenly history is edited into inevitability. But real studios are messier than that. They are built through obsessions, friendships, risks, fires, recessions, late nights, experiments, arguments over drawings, and people stubborn enough to keep making things anyway.

The story of Donaldson and Partners is ultimately a story about creative evolution. It begins with art, moves through architecture, expands into collaboration, and continues toward a future where design is not simply the production of buildings, but the cultivation of culture, research, fabrication, and dialogue.

What follows is not simply a chronology of projects, but a narrative of becoming.

A Practice of Becoming

The story of Donaldson and Partners is not a story of fixed style or singular ideology.

It is a story of evolution.

From fine arts at UCSB to SCI-Arc, from Morphosis to rebuilding homes after wildfires, from adaptive reuse offices to avant-garde residences, from architecture practice to fabrication research, the firm has continually reinvented itself while remaining grounded in creativity, curiosity, and craft.

At its core, the practice has always believed that architecture is more than construction. It is a cultural act capable of shaping relationships, experiences, identities, and futures.

Today, Donaldson and Partners continues to move forward through collaboration, experimentation, mentorship, and making. The integration of D+WORKSHOP, the cultivation of young talent, and the deepening relationship between architecture and fabrication all point toward a future defined not by repetition, but by exploration.

Because the most meaningful practices are never finished.

They remain in process.

Still drawing.
Still making.
Still becoming.

A modern building with large glass windows reflects trees and a clear sky. In front, there are lush green grass and trees, with a water feature or pond that has a smooth, reflective surface. The scene is outdoors and appears to be on a sunny day.
A scene of a modern building with large glass windows, trees, a water feature, and a concrete walkway reflecting the surroundings.
Peaceful scene with a large tree next to a modern glass building, with a reflecting pool and pathway in the foreground, under a clear sky.

The Artistic Roots

The origins of the firm begin with Robin Donaldson and an education grounded not in architecture, but in art. At UCSB, Robin pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking, developing an early sensitivity toward composition, materiality, abstraction, and craft. These artistic foundations would later become inseparable from his architectural philosophy.

While at UCSB, Robin encountered architectural historian Dr. David Gebhard, whose mentorship became a pivotal turning point. Through these conversations, architecture emerged not as a technical profession alone, but as a cultural and artistic discipline capable of shaping experience and identity.

This discovery ultimately led Robin toward SCI-Arc, where art and architecture could collide freely and experimentally.

A modern building with large glass windows reflecting trees and a clear sky, located next to a landscaped area with a paved pathway, lush greenery, and tall trees; a water feature or pool is visible in the lower right corner, creating a serene outdoor space.
Large trees with lush green leaves next to a reflective water feature in a landscaped outdoor setting during late afternoon.
A modern building with large glass windows reflects trees and the sky. There are trees and bushes around a water feature with a stone or concrete edge, and the scene is illuminated by warm, natural light.

Discovering SCI-Arc

In the early 1980s, Robin enrolled at SCI-Arc, completing his Master of Architecture in 1986. The school’s atmosphere of experimentation and critical inquiry profoundly shaped his worldview. Architecture was treated less as static construction and more as an evolving cultural project.

At SCI-Arc, Robin studied alongside and under influential figures such as Michael Rotondi and Thom Mayne. Their emphasis on process, conceptual rigor, and material exploration reinforced the idea that architecture could exist somewhere between sculpture, landscape, drawing, and construction.

During this period, Robin interned at Morphosis, immersing himself in one of the most progressive architectural environments of the era. The experience exposed him to an uncompromising approach to design and established a framework that would continue to influence his work for decades.

A modern building with large glass windows reflecting trees near a water feature, surrounded by trees and greenery during daytime.
View of a modern building with glass walls, surrounded by trees and reflecting in a nearby body of water at sunset.
View of trees near a modern building with glass walls, reflection of trees and sky in a water feature, and a pathway in the foreground during daytime.

The Morphosis Influence

While at Morphosis, Robin worked on the Crawford Residence in Montecito, a project that became deeply formative in his understanding of material expression and spatial experimentation. The house embodied an architecture that was tactile, layered, and conceptually ambitious.

The project sharpened Robin’s appreciation for the relationship between abstraction and construction, between artistic vision and physical reality.

Then came the Santa Barbara wildfires of the late 1980s.

Amid destruction and rebuilding, opportunity emerged. Contractors and clients began seeking Robin’s help in reconstructing homes and reimagining spaces. What began as necessity soon evolved into something larger: the foundation of an independent practice.

In 1990, Robin Donaldson officially launched the firm alongside Russell Shubin.

A serene outdoor setting featuring trees, a modern building with glass windows, and a calm water body reflecting the surroundings under a clear sky.
Photo of a large tree with dense green foliage next to a modern building with glass windows, a reflecting pool in the foreground, and a grassy area with shrubs and trees under a clear sky.
A modern building with large glass windows, a tree with lush green leaves, a reflecting pool, and a landscaped grassy area, all illuminated by warm sunlight in a serene outdoor setting.

The Birth of ShubinDonaldson

The early years of Shubin Donaldson were defined by adaptability, ambition, and creative reinvention. Initially rooted in residential work, the firm quickly expanded into commercial interiors and adaptive reuse projects.

Los Angeles at the time was filled with aging industrial buildings waiting for transformation. Rather than erase these structures, the firm embraced their rawness and potential. Old warehouses became vibrant creative offices filled with light, texture, openness, and energy.

This work resonated deeply with emerging media, advertising, and creative companies seeking spaces that reflected new ways of working and collaborating.

Particularly in neighborhoods like Culver City, the firm helped shape a new architectural language for creative workspaces in Los Angeles. The projects balanced refinement with industrial honesty, precision with experimentation.

The studio’s identity was beginning to crystallize.

A landscaped outdoor area with a modern glass building, multiple trees, a small reflective pond, a paved walkway, and grass, illuminated by warm sunlight.
A modern building with glass windows and a patio, surrounded by trees and greenery, next to a reflective water feature.
Outdoor scene with a large tree and a modern building with glass windows, reflecting sunlight and trees, next to a still water body.

Expanding Horizons

As the firm entered the 2000s, its influence and visibility continued to grow. Shubin Donaldson became increasingly recognized for creating sophisticated environments that merged architecture, interiors, branding, and cultural sensibility.

The work expanded beyond offices into larger commercial projects and multifamily residential developments. The firm’s approach remained rooted in design rigor while embracing increasingly complex scales and typologies.

In 2000, Mark Hershman joined the studio. Over time, Mark became an essential force within the firm, helping lead projects, strengthen operations, and guide the practice into new phases of growth.

His leadership brought fresh energy and continuity, helping bridge the firm’s founding ideals with the realities of an evolving architectural landscape.

Because architecture, unlike mythology, requires actual people willing to answer emails and coordinate consultants. Tragic, but necessary.

A serene outdoor scene with a large tree next to a modern building with glass windows, a reflective water feature, and lush green grass under a clear blue sky.
A modern building with large glass windows and outdoor seating area, surrounded by green trees and bushes, next to a reflecting pool, under a clear sky, during the daytime.
A tranquil outdoor scene featuring a large tree with dense green foliage near a modern building with glass walls. The building reflects the surrounding trees and appears to have a seating area inside. Adjacent to the building is a serene water body, possibly a pool or pond, bordered by a stone walkway and lush green grass. The sky above is clear and bright, suggesting a sunny day.

Evolution

Throughout the 2010s, the firm evolved significantly in both scale and ambition. Shubin Donaldson expanded beyond interiors into larger ground-up commercial buildings, multifamily housing, and increasingly sophisticated residential projects.

The studio grew to roughly sixty people and developed work across Culver City, the La Brea corridor, West Adams, and other rapidly changing urban districts throughout Los Angeles.

The client base also evolved. In addition to media and advertising agencies, the firm began collaborating with creative technology companies, artists, galleries, and cultural institutions. The boundaries between art, architecture, workspace, and lifestyle continued to blur.

This era reflected a deeper maturation of the studio’s identity. Architecture was no longer viewed simply as the production of buildings, but as the crafting of environments capable of shaping creativity, interaction, and cultural exchange.

Mark Hershman emerged during this period as a principal and eventual junior partner, helping guide many of the firm’s expanding initiatives and future-facing strategies.

Sunlit trees along a reflecting pool with a modern building and glass facade in the background.
A modern building with glass windows, surrounded by tall trees with green leaves, reflecting in a nearby water feature. The sky is clear and blue.
Outdoor scene with trees, a modern building with glass walls, a reflecting water feature, and a well-maintained grassy area under a clear sky.

Vison & Continuity

By the mid-2010s, the firm had established itself as a major creative force within contemporary architecture while maintaining the experimental spirit that defined its origins.

Mark’s ascent into leadership represented both continuity and transformation. His ability to navigate complex projects while preserving the firm’s design ethos helped position the studio for long-term evolution.

At the same time, Robin’s artistic foundations continued to influence the culture of the office. Design remained rooted in curiosity, process, making, and conceptual exploration rather than formulaic production.

This balance between discipline and experimentation became one of the defining characteristics of the firm itself.

Not every architecture office survives growth without becoming spiritually indistinguishable from an airport consulting firm. A surprisingly low bar, yet many fail heroically.

Donaldson and Partners did not.

A modern house with large glass windows beside a pond, surrounded by trees and greenery, with reflections visible in the water.
A peaceful outdoor scene featuring large leafy trees near a reflective body of water, with a modern glass building visible in the background and a clear sky.
Scenic view of a modern building with glass walls surrounded by trees and a reflecting pool, outdoor chairs, and lush greenery.

The Rise of R+D

In 2018, Robin met F. Myles Sciotto, whose background in architecture, music, fabrication and Sci_Arc + UCSB legacy aligned naturally with the Robin’s Vision and firm’s evolving interests. Together, they helped establish an internal R+D studio dedicated to research, fabrication, process, and conceptual exploration.

The studio became a space for experimentation beyond conventional project constraints. Drawings, models, installations, fabrication studies, and material investigations all became part of a larger dialogue about what architecture could be.

Then came the pandemic.

While much of the world slowed down, the firm turned inward toward reflection, documentation, and research. The R+D studio became an essential creative engine, reinforcing the importance of process, making, and collaborative exploration during a moment of uncertainty.

By the end of 2023, following Russell Shubin’s retirement, the firm entered a new chapter and rebranded as Donaldson and Partners.

The transition marked both an ending and a beginning.

A scenic view of a modern building with large glass windows beside a reflective water body, surrounded by lush green trees and a well-maintained lawn under a clear sky.
An outdoor scene with trees, a modern building with large glass windows, a reflecting pool, and a paved area, captured around sunset or sunrise.
A modern building with large glass windows, surrounded by green trees, reflected in a water feature in the foreground, with a pathway and grass nearby under a clear sky.

d+workshop & the Future

In its newest evolution, Donaldson + Partners has increasingly embraced the relationship between architecture, fabrication, research, and culture.

The R+D initiative expanded into d+workshop, a distinct yet interconnected entity focused on ideation, prototyping, fabrication, and experimental practice. More than a support arm, d+workshop became a creative laboratory where architecture could be tested, questioned, and reimagined through making.

The firm’s move to Hollywood further aligned it with a broader artistic and cultural ecosystem. The studio became not only a place of production, but a platform for dialogue between architecture, art, fabrication, music, and design culture.

Projects emerging from this period reflect a heightened level of experimentation and conceptual depth. Residential work, in particular, began pushing toward increasingly avant-garde territory while remaining grounded in material craft and lived experience.

In many ways, the work returned full circle to Robin’s earliest artistic instincts, now expanded through decades of architectural practice and collaboration.

A tranquil outdoor scene with a large tree next to a reflective pool of water, modern building with glass windows reflects the trees, clear sky, and surrounding landscape.
A modern building with a glass wall reflecting trees and the sky, next to a large tree with green foliage and a small water feature or pond, under a clear sky.
Trees beside a building with large glass windows and a reflective swimming pool in front, surrounded by grass and illuminated by sunlight.

Bridging Academia & Practice

A defining aspect of the firm’s contemporary vision is its commitment to mentorship and education.

Through an innovative internship program embedded within the d+workshop, young designers are introduced directly into the firm’s culture of making, experimentation, and conceptual inquiry. Interns engage not only with drawings and digital tools, but also with models, fabrication processes, research studies, and material investigations.

The goal is not merely professional training, but immersion into a way of thinking.

This environment creates a reciprocal exchange between generations. Young designers bring fresh perspectives and curiosity, while the studio offers experience, guidance, and a deep commitment to process-driven design.

The result is a culture of continual learning and reinvention.

Which is fortunate, because architecture schools produce students who can discuss phenomenology for six uninterrupted hours yet occasionally forget doors require hinges. Civilization persists through mentorship.

A modern glass building with trees and a small pond in front, reflecting the surrounding trees and sky. The scene is bathed in warm sunlight, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
Calm outdoor scene with trees, reflecting in a rectangular pool of water, near a modern building with glass walls and seating area, under a clear sky.
Outdoor scene with trees, a building with large glass windows, a paved walkway, and a reflecting pool. The sky is clear and bright, suggesting daytime.

Crafting Collaborative Fabrication

The firm’s work has always depended upon close collaboration with skilled fabricators, builders, and craftspeople. Over time, these relationships evolved into an essential component of the studio’s identity.

Each year, the firm highlights and collaborates deeply with select fabricators, studying their techniques, workflows, material knowledge, and approaches to craft. These partnerships create an ongoing dialogue between design intent and physical realization.

Rather than treating fabrication as a downstream technical process, Donaldson and Partners views it as a creative act inseparable from architecture itself.

This collaborative ethos reinforces the belief that architecture is not created by isolated authorship alone, but through networks of shared expertise, trust, experimentation, and making.

A serene outdoor scene with trees, grass, and a pond or water feature reflecting the sky and greenery, possibly near a modern building with large glass windows.
Modern building with glass walls reflecting trees and water, large tree with textured trunk, green grass and bushes, a water feature in foreground, clear sky during daytime.
A scenic outdoor view featuring large trees with green foliage, a modern glass building reflecting the trees and sky, a pond or pool with calm water, and a paved walkway with grass and plants along its edge.