distills complex criteria into simple elegant design solutions
CSC TEAM
Charles Stephen Cordero
EDUCATION – Charles Stephen Cordero received his undergraduate architectural education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and continued studies at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), earning both Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture Degrees. He completed his Graduate Thesis “The Formation of Primary Urban Elements” at the SCI-Arc Studio in Vico Morcote, Switzerland with Thesis Advisor Architect Mario Botta developing an ethos to
“Distill complex criteria into simple and elegant design solutions.”
FORMATION – Charles apprenticed with “Googie” style Restaurant Firm Armet Davis. He spent formative years with Johnson Fain & Pereira as a Designer on Commercial Projects like Fox Plaza, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, William Morris Agency and the Opus One Winery. Charles also worked on Planning Projects such as a Mixed-Use Master Plan for Ahmanson Development and UCI Main Street Campus Plan. At Rothenberg Sawasy Architects, Charles was the Project Designer for Union Bank Square a Multilevel Commercial Plaza at the Historic Union Bank Building.
GROWTH – Charles developed a Master Plan for Palauea Bay Beach Resort on Maui, and Harbor Court Mixed-Use Tower with Lacayo Architects. As the lead Concept Architect at Nikken America, Los Angeles Charles designed Residential Resorts, Golf Clubhouses, Restaurants, and Corporate Interiors, such as the Cypress Golf Club, Big Island Golf Club, and Sumitomo Bank Corporate Headquarters, Los Angeles.
CONFIRMATION – Critical acclaim of Zenzero Restaurant in Santa Monica, CA established CSC ARCHITECTURE garnering commissions from National Restaurateurs; Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Ark Restaurants, and Brinker International. With Projects in Chicago, Las Vegas, Detroit, and New York. Charles created Brand “Roll Out” Concepts such as Corner Bakery, and the Starlight Brewery.
California Projects include the Market Café for Patina Group, “Wurstkuche” Gourmet Sausage-Beer Hall in the LA Arts District, 396 Lake Retail Building, Executive Office/Post Production Building for 10Db Films and 110 unit mix use complex in Riverside.
CSC developed Brand Concepts for “El Portal”, a master planned 600,000sf “Digital” Lifestyle Center and Schematics for the “Bat Cave” Restaurant within a proposed Warner Brothers Theme Park Dubai, UAE.
RECENT / CURRENT PROJECTS – Custom Residence; Pacific View, Hollywood Hills CA, Corporate Interiors; SD Herman Company Downtown LA, Penthouse Interiors; Grandma’s House Entertainment, Sustainable Landscape/Community Garden; LA High School, And an Urban Food Hall and Plaza Upgrade at the Hollywood/Western Metro Rail Station.
AWARDS –Los Angeles Business Council Urban Beautification and International Illumination Design Awards: Zenzero Restaurant. CRA Community Service Award: Mid-City Los Angeles Redevelopment Project. Recognition from the Directors of the Los Angeles Art Deco Society and Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Charles also was a Featured Designer at the Pacific Design Centers’ annual “West Week”.
ACADEMIA – Former Editorial Board member for the LA Architect Magazine, Charles has lectured and written on a range of Architectural Subjects, and participates as a Design Critic at local Universities. He has taught for the Interior Architecture and Architecture Schools at Woodbury University and has participated as a Guest Architect with the USC Marshall School of Business, Graduate Real Estate Development Program.
REGISTRATION – Registered Architect; California (C-22587), Wilshire Rotary Club of LA and Paul Harris Fellow.
PUBLISHED WORK –Mako Restaurant, Beverly Hills (LA Times Magazine), Delvaux Handbags, Sunset Plaza (LA Architect), Zenzero Restaurant (Interiors Magazine & World Cities Los Angeles), Ben Pao Restaurant (Chicago Tribune Magazine).
Published Work
