RBB Architects: Bringing A Legacy of Architectural Excellence for More Than 70 Years

What distinguishes a well-acclaimed architecture firm from its competitors? The answer lies in the firm’s capability to imagine and visualize complex healthcare projects and successfully communicate the design intent with the clients, at a very early stage.

“At RBB Architects, we believe that the work we do is profoundly important and that it is our responsibility to continually improve the quality of healthcare to promote positive patient outcomes. Working closely with our clients, we develop patient and caregiver-centered strategic and lean design solutions that reduce initial costs and optimize results.”

RBB Architects Inc, led by Mr Joseph Balbona, is one such company, which has been at the forefront of innovation in healthcare design, planning, and programming, bringing architectural excellence for more than 70 years.

RBB designs an average of more than $600 million in buildings annually, providing much more than only architectural and interior design services. Around 15,000 projects in the fields of healthcare, laboratories, higher education, and master planning have been successfully executed by the company throughout the United States and overseas.

Achieving pathbreaking success by showcasing its excellence to clients worldwide, RBB has become a preferred provider for leading healthcare entities such as Harbor UCLA Medical Center, LA County / USC Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, and Providence Health & Services, to name a few.

The Man of the Hour

Joseph A. Balbona, CEO

This name has evolved into the pinnacle of architectural excellence! Joseph Balbona, CEO of RBB, holds over 40 years of experience in the fields of architecture, programming, and facilities planning. Joe received his education at Havana University, Harvard Graduate School of Design, and the University of Colorado at the Denver Extension Center. He has been a consistent design and planning resource, and the firm’s leader for the last four decades, bringing his “hands-on” approach to every project. Joe is a founding member of the American College of Healthcare Architects and the former Chairman of the AIA Los Angeles Committee on Architecture for Health.

When asked how he came to be a part of RBB, the visionary leader Joe Balbona stated, – “I arrived in the United States as a political exile with the intention of returning to Cuba, my country of birth. In order to do so, I joined a CIA undercover paramilitary operation and landed at the Bay of Pigs with the goal of toppling the communist regime. After the unsuccessful attempt, I assimilated into American culture. I was trained as an architect before moving to the United States, and I was fortunate to work with many excellent designers and architects in the early stages of my career. I took part in a number of healthcare projects during that time. I started working in this field and eventually became a healthcare planning consultant. While I enjoyed the challenge, I much preferred the role of healthcare architect to that of a planning consultant. I joined RBB Architects in 1978, and in 1986 I was promoted to CEO. Under my leadership, the company’s revenues grew 10 times fold.”

Key Differentiating Factors

• RBB’s principals capitalize on early-on acquired expertise and continue to improve those skills by remaining involved in each project. This is the key factor that makes the firm stand out.
• The clients appreciate that as principals, the key executives don’t delegate their work to intermediate or novice staff. This also benefits their bottom line as they minimize their overhead.
• The leading team at RBB manage by doing; in the process, they mentor and empower the new generation by having them by their side. As a result of this approach, delivering lean operational and cost-efficient designs have become their strength.
• They consistently deliver projects that exceed the industry standard; state-of-the-art hospital planning delivers 1,800 to 2,000 SF per bed. Mercy Merced Medical Center in Merced, CA, as designed by RBB, offered beds at 1,400 SF and was identified by Dodge Report as one of the most efficient hospitals in the country.

RBB’s Secret Formula of Employee Motivation

The team at RBB is constantly exposed to in-house seminars and continuing education programs, and the staff is encouraged to learn about new technology. The team can learn about current and future trends and technology and have the opportunity to respond by taking part in interactive seminars. This fosters a positive working environment that encourages retention and aids the team in identifying talent and future leaders.

RBB has been fortunate to have the rare opportunity to have access to a wide range of experienced and talented individuals from different backgrounds and ethnicities. They are firm believers that diversity enhances the decision-making process and outcomes, and improves creativity and innovation. The work culture at RBB has been diverse and inclusive for decades. The company’s ownership is composed of two immigrants from Latin America, one male and one female. The team is also a perfect example of their diversity.  They represent 15 countries from all over the world, and half of the team is a minority.

Impact of Pandemic Directly from Joe’s Mouth

“The sudden pandemic, which was unchartered territory, resulted in an abrupt transition from working in the office to remote work. We quickly transitioned to 100% remote working, similar to most businesses. It wasn’t easy at first since we conduct creative work, where face-to-face and cross-table connections are essential for effective communication. But as essential workers doing healthcare infrastructure for the County of Los Angeles, we were able to return to the office with 50 % of our staff within 2 months of March 2020. After 6 months, we were close to 100% in office work. To maintain the safety and health of our workers, we adhered to the CDC and County regulations and used common sense. We were able to continue to serve our clients seamlessly; the pandemic only had a minor impact on our business, and our performance had no negative effect on our clients.”

Obstacles Along the Way

Every area of healthcare planning and design is impacted by technology. It is difficult to stay updated on the latest advancements in medical equipment. All facets of RBB’s design are impacted by the ongoing product design changes made by manufacturers. This is even more challenging by California’s increasingly stringent rules, the nation’s rising labour and material prices, and the pandemic’s effects on how the company designs buildings, particularly in terms of infection control.

The Biggest Professional Failures

Joe responded, “My failure led to our professional achievement,” when questioned about his most significant professional failure. We failed in our ability to promote our story since we don’t have a traditional marketing department. Our business comes not from active marketing, but from repeat clients and referrals. We learned that when we deliver above expectations, everything else falls in place.”

The Achievements and Future Outlook of RBB

During their long journey of 70 years, RBB has several milestones to its name. It was ranked #1 by The Department of Healthcare Access and Information (HCAI), formerly known as the Office of Healthcare Planning and Development (OSHPD), and the regulating agency for all healthcare construction work in California. The firm was honoured as ENR’s Top 100 Green Building Design Firms and consistently ranked in the Top 10 healthcare firms in Southern California. RBB has received numerous AIA Design Awards over the last two decades. RBB Architects is an MBE-certified firm with the City of Los Angeles and a CBE-certified firm with Los Angeles County.

Given their hands-on management style, RBB intends to continue serving its clients in the coming years. They also aim to develop their team members into leaders who will help the company grow and thrive. By doing this, they want to continue being one of the country’s most successful businesses and deliver exceptionally efficient projects.

“We made a career of doing what we love best, and that is healthcare architecture. The more we do it, the better we do it.” – Joe Balbona.

Joe’s Words of Advice to the Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Joe says, “Do what makes you happy; when you do what makes you happy, that makes you a winner!”

Create consensus through active involvement and train future leaders. As Vince Lombardi said: Winning is a habit; do it all the time. You must know yourself and the people you lead in order to lead by example. Teach them to have courage, passion, confidence, integrity and honesty. This will pave the way to their success.