The Alexandria is a contemporary events space in Torrey Pines, best known as the location of Brian Malarkey’s Farmer & The Seahorse and its whimsical indoor Airstream. The amenities building was built by Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. to serve the life science and technology communities. It is also open to the public and makes great use of its various spaces to showcase local San Diego artisans.

As you walk into the main lobby, you’ll see a substantial but elegant coffee table of salvaged wood and custom-crates by Derick Wyman of California Hardwoods. Next to the reception desk is the lobby’s central artistic focal point, a large-scale paper installation, by local design studio Tecture, which re-purposed Alexandria’s annual reports and represents connection and community.

Above the main lobby is a second level lobby that leads to the Illumina Theater. The walls and ceiling of this pre-function space feature custom lighting sconces and fixtures designed by local artist Uri Davillier for Neptune Glassworks. These fixtures represent magnifying glasses, microscopes, and other optic lenses significant to historical scientific discoveries.

From the second floor, just outside of the Alexandria’s marketing suite, there is an art piece inspired by biotechnology innovations. It spans the wall and is composed of wood that: depicts San Diego’s coastal topography; glass to represent the Pacific Ocean and brass embellishments to signify the company’s San Diego location. Last, but not least, is a mural collaboration by two local graffiti artists, Christopher Konecki and EXIST 1981 that brings the underground parking garage to life by visually defying the laws of gravity.

Artwork throughout the building connects visitors to Alexandria’s story and its values in a creative, purposeful way, while also supporting local artists and San Diego’s scientific contributions.