Southern California-based commercial interior design and architecture firm Shlemmer+Algaze +Associates (SAA) has combined with Pasadena-based City Spaces, a 23-year-old commercial interiors firm, in a move that executives say will expand the firm into new markets and new client practice areas. Combined, the two firms now employ more than 100 professionals in four southern California locations that include Newport Beach, Culver City, Encino and Pasadena.

June 10, 2009, Official SAA Press Release. By Amies Communication

According to Rick Shlemmer, partner, SAA, the firm had been looking to increase its presence in the Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles area for some time. "Adding City Spaces is a natural fit because their design talent and culture complement ours. We value their clientele, and plan to keep the current staff and office location as is so that there is no change to the delivery of their service. This also enables us to grow regionally as well as expand our client base to include more entertainment and governmental clients," he adds.

City Spaces clients include LA Daily News, City of Los Angeles, Raleigh Studios among other major entertainment firms, LA Department of Children's Services, General Services Administration, to name a few.

SAA has been expanding since its formation in 2000. In 2007 the firm opened an office in Encino to service clients in North Los Angeles County making it one of the largest commercial interior and architecture firms in Southern California.

"All organizations are going through change. That change is driving decisions about operations, marketing, finance, human resources, and how the work space affects the way organizations innovate to deal with these changes," Shlemmer says. "With our new combined expertise we offer more when our clients need it. We create value-driven design solutions that respond to today's market dynamics."