Category Archives: Projects

Sacramento Commons Masterplan

Sacramento Commons Masterplan

Sacramento, CA

Client:

Kennedy Wilson

Lot Size:

10.25 Acres

Area:

1,525,300 sf

Status:

Design Development

Total Units:

1,422 Residential Units

Site 1:

High-Rise Type I – 2 Towers
-609,600 sf
-604 Market-Rate Apts.
-11 Live/Work Apts.
-913 Parking Stalls

Site 2:

Mid-Rise Type III Apartments
-405,500 sf
-435 Market-Rate Apts.
-12 Live/Work Apts.
-559 Parking Stalls

Site 3:

High-Rise Type I Hotel/Condos
-287,000 sf
-80 Luxury Condos
-320 Hotel Rooms
-400 Parking Stalls

Site 4: A.

15-Story Tower Conversion to Senior Apartments
-151,200 sf
-210 Senior Apts.

Site 4: B.

5-Story Mid-Rise Senior Apts.
-72,000 sf
-70 Senior Apts.
-144 Total Parking Stalls

Downtown Sacramento is on the rebound and poised to be a part of this evolution within the Downtown Central Business District. Sacramento Commons will transform nearly four city blocks through replacement of an aging garden apartment complex with a modern, composite development featuring four distinct residentially-themed products within an 11-acre area bounded by 5th, 7th, N, and P Streets. Individual sites for each product-type are stand-alone and have their own identity, function, and market targets.

A common and unifying element for the overall community has been designed in the form of a graceful pedestrian promenade, incorporating existing heritage trees and engendering a harmonious atmosphere in the center of this high-density setting.

UCLA SW Campus Housing

UCLA SW CAMPUS HOUSING

Westwood, Los Angeles, CA

GRADUATE STUDENT HOUSING MASTERPLAN

Client:

UCLA Capital Programs

Lot Area:

11.4 Acres – 497,000 sf

Units:

840 Apartments

Unit Sizes:

375 sf to 840 sf

Density:

74 du/ac – 1.25 FAR

Parking:

1,380 Cars

2009 Residential Architecture Awards Merit Award
Best Campus Housing

2007 Builder’s Choice Design & Planning Grand Award
Best Neighborhood Site Plan

2007 Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Neighborhood Site Plan

2007 Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best In-Fill, Re-Development or Rehab. Site Plan

The new Southwest Campus of the University of California Los Angeles provides much needed housing for 1,380 graduate students. Courtyard housing and street-level, walk-up townhomes concealing partial subterranean parking garages take precedence from traditional southern California residential prototypes. An arched breezeway leads to the central courtyard of each building. The project’s Spanish Colonial style responds to the original design guidelines of historic Westwood Village. Classical styling and a quad with lawns and palm plaza mark the center of the project, contrasting with the vernacular style and informal landscape elsewhere. Wood and wrought-iron balconies, tile and plaster detailing add visual interest throughout.

Granite Park Place

Granite Park Place

Pasadena, CA

Client:

Wasserman Real Estate Capital, LLC
& Vornado Realty Trust

Lot Area:

1.9 Acres – 83,000 sf

Area:

184,000 sf

Units:

68 Luxury Condominiums
3 Live/Work

Density:

37 du/ac – 2.2 FAR

Parking:

204 Residential Stalls
300 Replacement Stalls

2010 Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Multi-Family Housing Project (For Sale)

2010 Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Residential Attached Community of the Year

Bordering a desirable shopping neighborhood in Pasadena, the new 71-unit condominium project attracts affluent buyers with understated luxury. Entered from a quiet cul-de-sac, a cobblestone entry court leads to an elegant lobby with wood paneling, fireplace and lounge, and views to gardens beyond. Open-air corridors connect a series of graceful landscaped courtyards, creating a unique indoor-outdoor setting, enhanced with arcaded loggias, fountains, outdoor seating areas, plantings and stone paving.

The quiet architecture is based upon precedents from early twentieth century Southern California architect Irving Gill. Smooth-trowel white plaster walls articulated with numerous setback planes, a shadow-story under broad overhangs, with horizontal brick panels extending down as accent walls, elegant casement windows and French doors, bronze guardrails, and stone and tile accents, contribute an overall impression of quality and elegance.

Shops at Oak Creek

SHOPS AT OAK CREEK

Agoura Hills, CA

Client:

Adler Realty Investments

Site Area:

5.71 Acres

Commercial Area:

33,680 sf

Density:

0.14 FAR

Status:

Completed, May, 2010

The Shops at Oak Creek encompasses both commercial retail and restaurant uses in five detached buildings totaling 33,680 sf on 5.71 acres of site. This development is adjacent to Kanan Road and Highway 101 in Agoura Hills, California. It is the last phase of a larger Masterplan comprised of townhouse buildings to the north and a 125-room extended stay hotel to the east. Overall planning efforts concentrate on maximizing commercial building exposure, while paseos and plazas provide integrated pedestrian connection nodes between the buildings.

The Shops at Oak Creek draws its Architectural inspiration from the site context around it. Rolling hillsides with mature oak trees and the restored Medea Creek that bisects the site set the design palette of earth tones and rustic detailing of this neighborhood commercial center.

Cape Ann Townhomes

CAPE ANN

Huntington Beach, CA

Client:

John Laing Homes

Lot Area:

10.4 Acres

Units:

146 Townhomes
2-story & 3-story Units

Unit Size:

1,300-1,830 sf

Density:

14 du/ac

1999 Gold Nugget Grand Award
Best Affordable Project

The site organization incorporates popular ‘new urbanism’ textures in an attempt to provide an architecture of community. The homes are arranged, typically, in clusters of six or eight dwellings that are accessed in two ways. Resident (automobile) access is through attached garages which are rear-loaded, while guest and/or pedestrian access is either from a shared walk-street/common area or directly from a sidewalk connected to a community driveway. Home entries are typically identified and enhanced through the use of front porches adjacent to these shared access routes.

The project entry incorporates a diagonal street focusing on the primary recreation space which serves as a focal point for the community.

1738 Berkeley Street

1738 BERKELEY STREET

Santa Monica, CA

Client:

VTBS Architects

Area:

0.54 Acres

Commercial Area:

27,974 sf

2009 PCBC Gold Nugget GRAND AWARD
Outstanding Adaptive Reuse Project

“New openings cut from the upper level to the ground level serve to bring much needed natural light to the core of the space. Glass railings maximize light penetration, while also giving an open expansive feel to both the upper and new mezzanine levels. In all, the building has been cleverly modified and organized to take maximum advantage of new natural light sources and natural ventilation, providing a sustainable, functional and exciting working environment.”
–Judge’s Statement

The Crescent

The Crescent

Beverly Hills, CA

Client:

J.H. Snyder Company

Lot Size:

1.75 AC

Density:

2.25 FAR – 51 du/ac
Units from 900 sf to 1,600 sf

Offices:

40,000 sf

Townhouses:

8 units, 13,000 sf

Apartments:

80 units, 119,000 sf

Total:

88 units, 172,000 sf

2007 PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Mid-Rise apartment Project over Four Stories

2007 PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Project of the Year

The Crescent is an urban infill mixed-use residential and commercial development on the Wilshire corridor in Beverly Hills. Located in the “Golden Triangle”, just blocks away from Rodeo Drive, this project was the first new apartment built in the district in more than two decades.

A ground level motor court entry serves the project and parking for 534 cars is provided in 3 underground levels. The 4-story Class A commercial office space is separated from the housing by a landscaped courtyard. Twelve 2-story “liner” brownstone loft town homes with private entrances front Crescent Drive and conceal two levels of parking beyond. Seventy-six one- and two-bedroom units surround the inner courtyard on the podium level. The project serves as a prototype for the City of Beverly Hills’ mixed-use ordinance.

1738 BERKELEY STREET

1738 BERKELEY STREET

Santa Monica, CA

Client:

VTBS Architects

Area:

0.54 Acres

Commercial Area:

28,000 sf

2009 PCBC Gold Nugget GRAND AWARD
Outstanding Adaptive Reuse Project

The innovative new design studio for VTBS Architects is the result of the adaptive re-use of this 2-story warehouse with rooftop parking. The design takes advantage of the existing 1960, brick-and-concrete warehouse characteristics by exposing the structure to reflect mid-century design elements. The results include a dramatic 32’-high atrium and multiple work areas that provide open ‘creative office’ space that is at heart practical, as well as warm and comfortable. The 17′ ceiling height on the ground floor allowed for the construction of a mezzanine level for an increase in usable area.

Committed to sustainable design, VTBS has incorporated ‘green building principles’ into the renovated building.

1738 Berkeley Street

1738 BERKELEY STREET

Santa Monica, CA

Client:

VTBS Architects

Site Area:

0.54 Acres – 23,500 sf

Commercial Area:

28,000 sf

2009 PCBC Gold Nugget GRAND AWARD
Outstanding Adaptive Reuse Project

The innovative new design studio for VTBS Architects is the result of the adaptive re-use of this 2-story warehouse with rooftop parking. The design takes advantage of the existing 1960, brick-and-concrete warehouse characteristics by exposing the structure to reflect mid-century design elements. The results include a dramatic 32’-high atrium and multiple work areas that provide open ‘creative office’ space that is at heart practical, as well as warm and comfortable. The 17′ ceiling height on the ground floor allowed for the construction of a mezzanine level for an increase in usable area. Committed to sustainable design, VTBS has incorporated ‘green building principles’ into the renovated building.

University Village

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE THOUSAND OAKS

Thousand Oaks, CA

Client:

Continuing Life Communities

Site:

65 Acres

Units:

251 Independent Living Units
72 Villas
48 Garden Terrace Apartments
32 Assisted Living Units
48-Bed Skilled Nursing Facility
16-Bed Dementia Facility

2008 PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Senior Housing

The Continuing Care Retirement Community embodies an “age in place” philosophy, accommodating residents in a variety of living arrangements. These include 250 independent living apartments in three-story buildings, 48 garden apartments in two-story buildings, and 72 single-story villas in the hills at the edge of the campus, for a total of 370 units. A 90,000 sf health care center includes a 45-bed skilled nursing facility.

Buildings are sited around courtyards of varying size and character connected by walkways. Arcades and trees offer shade; a lake, koi ponds and fountains, tranquility. Plentiful active recreation amenities include a swimming pool and spa, bocci ball, golf and tennis facilities, and an 8,200 sf recreation building. A 33,000 square feet Commons Building contains a 280-seat dining facility, a library with fireplace and beam ceilings, drinking establishment, card and billiard rooms among numerous congenial gathering, activity and entertainment spaces for residents and their guests.

Planning the 65-acre site required consideration of 25 acres of land that was to be left as natural riparian corridor. Walking trails allow residents to enjoy the natural setting of forested creek beds and mountain vistas.

630 “I” Street

630 “I” Street

Sacramento, CA

Client:

Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency

Commercial Area:

22,000 sf

Residential Area:

74,000 sf

Units:

108 Affordable Units

Owned and operated by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, 626/630 ‘I’ Street was an existing mixed-use building comprised of office and residential uses. The ‘Tenant Improvement’ of this structure updated the 12-story reinforced-concrete building constructed from 1972-1974 with deferred maintenance, repair and waterproofing of the overall existing building shell and roof, and the maintenance and repair of the building MEP systems, the replacement in kind of all exterior glazing and glazing systems and new exterior ‘skin’ cladding improvements for the existing building pursuant to an updated and freshened project identity. There was no change of use for the project and the ground level, designated ‘630 I Street,’ continues to be devoted to building entry, public and common uses with City Agency offices occupying a portion of the area, as well as the second and third stories.

Designated ‘626 I Street’, the HUD-funded residential living units on floors four through twelve required deferred maintenance (‘repair’), rehabilitation and interior decoration.

Picasso Pasadena Apartments

Picasso Pasadena Apartments

Walnut & Marengo, Pasadena, CA

Client:

Walnut Marengo Investors, LLC

Lot Size:

1.15 Acres – 50,372 sf

Leasable Area:

72,093 sf

Circulation Area:

17,965 sf

Total Area:

89,848 sf

Open Space Provided:

21,611 sf

Units:

100 Market-Rate Apartments

Parking:

128 Residential & Guest Stalls

Density:

87 du/ac

Status:

Design Development

Offering luxury living accommodations within walking distance to the MTA Goldline Memorial Park Station, this transit-oriented development is a 100-unit project directly across the street from VTBS’ award-winning mixed-use development, the Holly Street Village. Utilizing the slope next to the tracks by providing subterranean parking for its residents and guests, the building is five stories with a roof-top pool, large open terrace and central motor-court. Dwelling arrangements consist of two types of studio apartments as well as three 1-bedroom options and two 2-bedroom plans for residents to choose from.

Summit on Sixth

Summit on Sixth

Los Angeles, CA

Client:

Apollo Real Estate

Lot Area:

1.8 Acres – 78,000 sf

Retail:

23,000 sf

Residential:

209,000 sf

Units:

82 Luxury Condominiums

Density:

45.8 du/ac

2010 PCBC Gold Nugget Award of Merit
Best Adaptive Reuse Project

The adaptive reuse of a vacant 1960s office tower provides ninety-six condominium flats, as well as ground floor retail, a block from a Metro subway station in a revitalizing neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles.

The deep floor plate of the lower five levels accommodates one-bedroom units with high ceilings and generous dens near their entries. These levels are expressed with balconies and individual windows set deep into thick walls, relating to the predominantly lower-scale surrounding urban fabric, while a new curtain wall, relating to the sky, encloses the stepped-back, slender upper story tower. Here, wider two-bedroom units with bedrooms on both sides of living-rooms, and generous terraces, are accommodated in the shallower floor plate.

An existing garage under the building, extending to a partly-subterranean three-level structure north of the tower, accommodates resident and retail parking. Along a side street, planters screen the above-ground garage, whose low massing ensures preservation of spectacular Hollywood Hills views for north-facing units.

A gym and lounge for residents are tucked under first floor retail. The building was upgraded for accessibility, seismic, life safety and energy performance.

Granite Park

Granite Park

Pasadena, CA
Client: Wasserman Real Estate Group LLC
Lot Size: 1.9 AC
Density: 2.2 FAR – 37 du/ac
Apartment: 184,000 sf, 71 units
Units from 1,000 sf to 3,000 sf

Bordering a desirable shopping neighborhood in Pasadena, this 71-unit condominium project attracts affluent buyers with understated luxury.

This luxury condominium project is located at the corner of Granite Drive & San Pasqual St. in Pasadena, CA. The project provides 157 parking stalls to accommodate residents and their guests, and 353 replacement commercial parking spaces. The project is designed as a 5-story residential condominium with 3 work/live units over three levels of subterranean parking. The construction type for Granite Park is Type-I with post-tensioned concrete floor slabs.

The quiet architecture is based upon precedents from early twentieth century architect Irving Gill. Smooth-trowel white plaster walls articulated with numerous setback planes, a shadow-story under broad overhangs, with horizontal brick panels extending down as accent walls, elegant casement windows and French doors, bronze guardrails, and stone and tile accents, contribute an overall impression of quality and elegance.

Winner of the 2010 Gold Nugget Award of Merit for Best Multi-Family Housing Project

“Inspired by the work of Irving Gill, Granite Park’s striking design is quintessentially Californian. There’s grandeur to it, with an emphasis on simplicity.”
– David Wasserman, Developer