FEATURE FRIDAY: Brian Laubenthal on Sustainable Design, His Latest Projects, and His Favorite Spots in Scottsdale

This Friday, we sit down with Brian Laubenthal, the principal and co-founder of ALINE Architecture Concepts. Laubenthal has a love for eco-conscious architecture and is a LEED-accredited professional and a member of the AIA.

His projects have ranged from The Clayton House to developing eco-friendly classrooms with the Green Schoolhouse series.

We sat down to talk about his company, his latest projects—including his latest pro-bono endeavor—and where you’ll find him when he’s not working.

What is ALINE and why did you launch it?

ALINE Architecture Concepts is a full-service architecture firm providing concept creation, full construction documents, handling of municipal processes, and construction oversight. We started ALINE in 2010 with the purpose of creating a firm that would listen to clients, make a positive impact, with a focus on respect in our office culture.

What sets your company apart from others?

Simply put, WE CARE. We put in the time and effort to support our clients, create projects that stand out and make a positive impact on our community, we focus on sustainable design, and craft spaces that inspire.

Can you tell us about some of your most recent projects?

Currently, we are working on a pro-bono project to support the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children, designing a safe, clean space for the families and kids receiving care. We are also in construction on the Goodyear Civic Square, which consists of 40,000 square feet of new restaurant and retail buildings. We just finished two new restaurants in Scottsdale called The Eleanor and Jin Jia, which recently opened, and have been well received by the community.

The Clayton House. Courtesy Brian Laubenthal

Any project you’re most proud of?

Our passion is to help others while making a positive impact in our community and environment. Some of my top projects would include The Clayton House, an adaptive reuse project changing a warehouse into an event venue.

The Chasse Building Team’s office in Tempe, where we took an old industrial building and revamped it into a modern, open office concept with gardens around the outside. The building is a sustainable design and net zero.

Another favorite is Rosie’s House School of Music, which is a 9,000-square-foot school that gives children the opportunity to learn and play music in underserved areas. We donated our time to help their vision and goals for giving kids a better future.

When you’re not working, we’d find you …

You will find me with my family. I have two amazing sons who are very involved with sports and an incredible wife who is an oncology nurse. We are very active, we volunteer with local groups together, and love to go on new adventures.

Motto you live by?

Surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher. I believe in being a great resource and help to others in my community and having amazing people around me to give that support back.

Favorite places around Scottsdale?

I’m a restaurant guy, so I love the diversity and different types of restaurants you will discover in Scottsdale. South Scottsdale is more laidback and has some great local restaurants like Clever Ramen and Fellow Osteria, or I grab a beer at Fate Brewing. Downtown has more energy and some great upscale spots like Francine, Toca Madera, and Bourbon and Bones. North Scottsdale is more business and luxury living, so they have Etta and Sorso Wine Room as amazing places to enjoy. Then you have the North-North Scottsdale with resorts and a desert vibe. I particularly like to visit top resort restaurant Talavera, and golf course spot Dynamite Grille.

Where you hope to see yourself and your company in 10 years …

Our goal isn’t to grow our firm to be a massive company but rather to focus our efforts on project types and opportunities that feed our passion to make big impacts in design, supporting local companies, helping our community, instilling sustainable design into all our projects, and be embedded in a network of people who truly care and want to make a positive difference.

Courtesy Brian Laubenthal