MEP Engineering for Architects | Roger Vivier – South Coast Plaza
Project Overview
MEP engineering for architects on a luxury retail renovation at South Coast Plaza—precise coordination, Title 24 compliance, and permit-ready design.
MEP Engineering for Architects: Roger Vivier – South Coast Plaza
Luxury retail expansions require more than technical compliance—they demand precision, discretion, and seamless integration with architectural intent. In environments like South Coast Plaza, architects need an MEP consultant who understands how lighting, comfort, and system coordination directly support brand experience while navigating tight construction constraints and strict permitting requirements.
For the Roger Vivier boutique at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, our team provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering for an interior renovation and expansion of a single-story, high-end retail space. The project encompassed approximately 1,400 SF of renovated area and required careful integration of new systems within an existing luxury retail environment.
This project highlights our role as a collaborative design partner, supporting refined architectural expression with technically sound, permit-ready MEP solutions.
Project Scope
How We Support Architects
Precision Coordination in High-End Retail Environments
Luxury retail projects often involve limited tolerance for visible systems, compressed schedules, and evolving brand-driven layouts. We supported the architect through:
- Review of available as-built drawings and existing system capacity
- Electrical load evaluation to confirm adequacy of existing infrastructure
- Coordination of power and lighting systems with architectural and lighting design
- Integration of exterior façade lighting and signage power requirements
Our MEP coordination approach emphasizes early resolution of constraints—reducing RFIs and protecting design intent through construction.
Title 24 and Plan Check Readiness
Retail projects in California require careful alignment with state energy codes and local plan check expectations. Our documentation included:
- Lighting control intent diagrams compliant with Title 24
- State lighting energy compliance calculations and forms
- Emergency egress lighting layouts and photometric calculations
This allowed the project to move through permitting efficiently without unnecessary revisions.
Our MEP Design Approach
Discreet, Constructable Systems
In luxury retail spaces, MEP systems must perform reliably while remaining visually unobtrusive. Our mechanical electrical plumbing engineering scope focused on:
- New HVAC equipment and air distribution coordinated with ceiling and display layouts
- Supply and return diffuser placement aligned with spatial and aesthetic goals
- Power and plumbing support for new restrooms and breakroom areas
- Electrical infrastructure to support low-voltage equipment racks and specialty systems
Where existing conditions limited verification, assumptions were documented clearly to manage risk and contractor expectations.
Energy Compliance Without Compromising Design
We completed all required California Title 24 energy compliance, including:
- Electrical lighting energy calculations
- Mechanical energy compliance and envelope documentation
- Ventilation and exhaust coordination for new plumbing fixtures
This ensured regulatory compliance while maintaining the refined environment expected of a luxury brand.
Services
Highligths
Why Architects Choose Us as Their MEP Consultant
Architects partner with us on luxury retail projects because we understand the balance between technical rigor and design sensitivity.
- Architect–Engineer Collaboration: Engineering decisions aligned with design intent
- Luxury Retail Experience: Familiarity with brand-driven lighting and comfort strategies
- Permit-Ready Documentation: Clear drawings aligned with AHJ expectations
- Reduced Risk: Early identification of constraints and coordination challenges
We act as a trusted MEP consultant, supporting architects through every phase of design and permitting.
Project Types We Support
This project reflects our broader experience providing MEP engineering for architects on:
- Luxury retail and flagship store renovations
- High-end tenant improvements and expansions
- Mixed-use and shopping center retail
- Hospitality and boutique environments
- Architecturally sensitive interior renovations
Across all project types, our focus remains the same: coordinated, constructable, and permit-ready MEP design.
Let’s Collaborate
If you’re looking for an MEP consultant who understands the expectations of luxury retail environments—where precision, coordination, and discretion matter—we’d welcome the opportunity to collaborate.
From early design coordination through permit approval, we support architects with thoughtful MEP solutions that protect design intent and reduce risk.
Let’s discuss your next retail or hospitality project.