Michael White is among the go-to designers for local tech, media and entertainment firms. White, who has a master’s of architecture from Columbia University, has designed a variety of spaces in his career, first at the local office of HLW, a New York firm, and, for the last two years, at the downtown L.A. office of San Francisco architectural giant Gensler. His portfolio includes work for Westside gaming companies Riot Games Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc., as well as KCET-TV (28), for which he designed its new studios.
How did you begin your career?
I began my career leading News Corp.’s consolidation of the 20th Century Fox Film Corp. and the Fox Broadcasting Co. onto a single studio campus in Century City.
How did you start working with tech clients?
When I designed the Fox Network Center (in Century City), the world’s first fully digital broadcast facility. It was during this project that I learned how to combine creative workplaces and technology.
What’s the best part of designing for tech tenants?
Their focus on creating spaces that encourage innovation. KCET was extremely interesting because they were trying to figure out how the creation of their programming, which is there to support the community, could be linked together with the community. So in the production studio, instead of office walls there are glass panels that allow you to view into the studio to view the art of making the program.
What’s the most challenging?
Anticipating and planning for change, which happens every day.
How does designing for tech differ from other industries?
By focusing on constant change. The space must support complete flexibility and mobility.
What’s the most unusual tech design you’re working on?
I can’t comment specifically … (but) a computer video game live competition battle arena. In the same way one would follow Kobe Bryant and basketball teams, these fans follow these video game players and teams via the Internet. But now there are public social events to view, meet and see the gamers perform. On a huge Jumbotron you see the video game being played in front of you while the player is operating.
What other industry do you want to design for?
Product design. I would like to design the next iPad.
Describe your dream project.
My dream project would be to design the next space station.
Favorite project I didn’t work on.
My favorite project I did not work on is New York’s Apple Store (a large glass-cube entrance above ground that leads to an underground store.) I think those stores are a very genuine display of the product and the culture of the company.
– Jacquelyn Ryan
