2025 Year in Review: Building Connections
As we close out another year, we’re reflecting on what made 2025 meaningful for our team, our clients, and our community. This year was all about connection; strengthening relationships, designing spaces with purpose, and celebrating two decades of creativity and collaboration at studio 2G Architects.
By the Numbers
Every year tells a story and sometimes the small, everyday metrics capture the spirit of our work just as much as the big milestones. Here is a snapshot from 2025 that reflects our creativity, community impact, and the rhythms of life inside the studio:
Volunteer hours contributed: 44+
Mentorship meetups around downtown SLO: 84
Team events & celebrations: 39
Cups of coffee consumed: 2,250
Office plant count: 28
Project Highlights
Our projects are at the heart of what we do, each one shaped through collaboration with clients, consultants, builders, and our team. This year’s highlights reflect both the range of our work and the process behind it, from early ideas through construction and into spaces that serve their communities.
Irish Hills Community Center
Construction began this year on the Irish Hills Community Center, an adaptive reuse project within the existing handball court at the Irish Hamlet Apartment Complex. Our team recently visited the site to review the foundation work ahead of an upcoming concrete pour, marking a key step in transforming the structure into administrative offices and a shared community space. The project also includes a thoughtfully designed outdoor community space featuring an outdoor gym, BBQ areas, a flexible event stage, child-friendly bike paths, and a small play field for activities like soccer and football—expanding the site’s role as an active, welcoming hub for residents both indoors and out.
Decemil Tasting Room — Completed!
Early in the year, we were excited to be selected to design Decemil’s downtown tasting room and by year’s end, we were celebrating its completion and opening to the public. Designed, permitted, and built on an accelerated three-month timeline, the project was especially rewarding to see move so quickly from concept to finished space. The tasting room was envisioned as a place for connection, conversation, and lingering, with a sleek bar anchoring the space, a sculptural trio of suspended globe lights defining the seating area, and thoughtfully layered lighting throughout. We capped off the project with a November photo shoot—and yes, the space photographs beautifully.
Project Site Visits: Designs Taking Shape
Site visits were a meaningful part of our project work this year, giving our team the opportunity to see designs take shape in real time and collaborate closely with partners in the field. Highlights included visits to San Luis Obispo City Hall’s Finance and IT spaces, now nearing completion, and the Reeves residential project, where framing had just wrapped, which made for an ideal moment to walk the site and review construction progress. Most recently, our team visited the Irish Hills Community Center (see above) to check in ahead of a major concrete pour. These hands-on moments reinforced the importance of being present throughout the construction process and offered valuable insight as projects moved from drawings to built environments.
Team & Culture Highlights
The strength of our studio lies in our people. This year brought meaningful celebrations, shared adventures, and ongoing opportunities to learn from one another.
Celebrating 20 Years
In May, we proudly celebrated the 20th anniversary of studio 2G Architects, marking two decades of thoughtful design, collaboration, and community engagement. Reaching this milestone offered a meaningful moment to reflect on where we started, the relationships that have shaped our work, and the many projects that have allowed us to contribute to the Central Coast and beyond. We’re deeply grateful to the clients, collaborators, and team members whose trust, creativity, and dedication have brought us here!
Outdoor Adventures & Community Fun
Kayaking Trip: our team traded blueprints for paddles during a kayaking trip to Morro Bay. Paddling through the bay reminded us just how strong the current can be in one direction, making for a fun challenge that called for teamwork and perseverance. In true architect fashion, we couldn’t resist admiring the waterfront homes along the way, and we started the day together with coffee and breakfast—an energizing kickoff to an outing filled with sunshine, connection, and a bit of design inspiration.
Volunteering at Concerts in the Plaza: In July, our team came together to support one of San Luis Obispo’s most beloved summer traditions by volunteering at Concerts in the Plaza. Serving as bartenders for Downtown SLO’s weekly concert series, we spent the evening pouring drinks, sharing laughs, and contributing to the lively atmosphere that makes these events so special. Between the great music and the chance to give back as a team, it was a fun and meaningful way to support our local community and enjoy a classic SLO summer night.
Peer Mentorship Program
Our peer mentorship program continued its strong momentum this year. Each staff member is paired with a rotating mentor for monthly one-on-one meetups around downtown SLO—from cafes to park benches to quiet corners of our favorite coffee shops. Every three months, pairings shift, giving everyone the chance to learn from the varied expertise across our team. It’s become one of our most valuable internal initiatives, fostering deeper professional growth and connection.
Individual Volunteering
Community involvement is an important part of our studio culture, and every staff member is encouraged to spend four paid hours each year volunteering with local organizations and events. This year, our team contributed more than 44 hours in support of causes across San Luis Obispo County, including downtown events like Concerts in the Plaza and Artober, the ACE SLO Mentorship Program, Cal Poly’s CAT Program, and the Twin Cities Hospital Emergency Department. These efforts reflect our shared commitment to giving back to the communities where we live and work.
Looking Ahead
We’re excited for what 2026 will bring—from new project opportunities to continued investments in sustainability, collaboration, and community impact. There’s a lot on the horizon, and we can’t wait to share more soon.
Thank you to our clients, partners, and team for an inspiring and rewarding year. We’re grateful for your trust and collaboration and we look forward to building the next chapter together.