Nadel Architects Launches "Third Space"

Nadel Architects (Nadel), a leading architecture and planning firm based in Los Angeles, today announced the launch of Third Space, a new studio dedicated to designing community-focused destinations that foster connection, discovery, and lasting emotional impact. Led by Nadel Chairman and President Greg Lyon, the new venture brings together industry veterans John Simones and Curtis Scharfenaker, two well-known visionaries in the experiential architecture and urban placemaking world.

Third Space will operate as a creative studio within Nadel, with a mission to elevate the design of mixed-use, retail, and entertainment environments — and their role within large-scale urban design — by reimagining them as modern-day gathering places, or “third places,” that exist beyond the home and workplace.

“Design has the power to shape how we connect with our cities and each other,” said Lyon. “Third Space gives us an opportunity to return to architecture as a form of storytelling — to build places where people want to linger, explore, and come back to. John and Curtis bring unmatched vision and insight to this effort, and together we’re aiming to redefine what successful placemaking looks like in today’s world.”

John Simones, best known for his transformative work on the Universal CityWalk masterplan, The Battery Atlanta, and other global projects with the late visionary Jon Jerde, brings decades of experience designing immersive, emotionally resonant destinations.

“People remember how a place made them feel — not just what they bought or saw,” said Simones. “With Third Space, we’re designing environments that go beyond function. They create memories and spark curiosity. That’s how you create authentic connection between place and person.”

“Great placemaking doesn’t start with a layout — it starts with understanding people,” said Scharfenaker, whose portfolio spans high-profile retail and urban design projects across the U.S. “Third Space is rooted in that idea. We’re building destinations that reflect the rhythm of community life, places that people are drawn to not just for convenience, but for experience.”

Third Space projects will focus on urban design and large-scale mixed use, emphasizing emotional engagement, social functionality, and architectural storytelling. Several design commissions are already underway, with details to be announced later this year.