project size:
18,000 square foot renovation of the top level of an existing 128,000 s.f. six story mid-rise.

project context:
In 2014 a prominent art and design school purchased 128,000 square feet, six story mid-rise at the end of the historic 110 freeway. By its position in the city, and its sheer scale, the building functions as a marker into the city and will soon become the gateway to the school’s south campus. But not yet. With an overall master plan implementation on a 15-year horizon the school needed to begin using the building to address its immediate needs and academic program growth.     

project program / design approach:
Starting at the top level of the building the school needed to convert existing nondescript office space to drawing and painting classrooms. More than that, the program called for another south campus outpost; An academic and cultural destination. In addition to direct instruction spaces the program included galleries, student ‘living rooms’, offices, meeting and conference spaces. The project needed to demonstrate that the existing building could be converted to support education, promote culture, and align with the high aesthetic standards of the college.  The design for the renovation utilizes the existing powerfully horizontal space and continuous ribbon windows while disrupting the typical monotonous high-rise core and program relationships. Cross axial connections are cut into the mass of the program to create public spaces with views and natural light.