Nalu Architecture® is a California-licensed San Diego studio led by architect Chris Schumm, AIA. We take projects from the first idea through the final permit — starting with feasibility to see what is possible on your site, mapping out city approvals, with optional construction-phase support so the contractor has a licensed architect to call when questions come up.
Our best fit is a commercial landlord, HOA board, or multifamily owner who wants one licensed architect from feasibility through final inspection, a clear entitlements road map, and a permit set the contractor can build from with clear intent and coordinated details.
New commercial buildings, tenant improvements (TIs), and adaptive reuse for restaurants, retail, offices, and industrial spaces. We produce the drawing set, the entitlements road map, and the coordination that keeps the landlord, the city, and the contractor working from the same page.
Commercial work →
HOA and condominium building updates, structural and life-safety repairs, and California's required balcony safety inspections (SB 326 for condos, SB 721 for apartments). We also design mixed-use buildings — housing above ground-floor commercial. Deliverables include sealed inspection reports, repair drawings, and permit-ready sets the board can circulate to bidders.
Multifamily work →
Custom homes, additions, and ADUs — including the entitlements required in the coastal zone (Coastal Development Permits). We take on residential projects that fit the studio's current mix, and can make introductions to other California-licensed architects when timing or scope is not right for Nalu.
Residential work →
Interior architecture drawn inside the main drawing set — kitchens, bathrooms, built-ins, lighting, and materials coordinated by one licensed team.
Interiors work →
Passive-design homes, on-site water catchment, and food-producing land — on the projects where it fits.
Land + Passive work →Nalu Architecture Inc. has been a licensed California practice since 2017. The studio carries a mix of commercial tenant improvements, HOA and multifamily renovations, mixed-use projects, and selective residential work at any given time — with senior architect attention on every set.
Have a project in mind? The Pre-Design Questionnaire is the fastest way to get us up to speed — or use the form below for a quick note.
