TCA Architects

High-MASS

tcaeditor - Sep 15, 2024

Advancements in engineering and changes to building codes are creating new opportunities and applications for Mass Timber buildings. High-MASS (Materiality, Applicability, Sustainability, Scalability) is a Mass Timber building that was originally envisioned as a high-rise multifamily project using traditional concrete slab construction. The re-envisioned design will utilize the heavy timber option in Type IV-B, allowing up to 12 stories of Mass Timber over 1 level of Type I-A concrete at the ground level. The design accentuates the beauty of wood by allowing it to be exposed. Heavy Timber columns, beams and a portion of the ceilings are exposed, giving us a rich, warm aesthetic finish. The exterior expresses the aesthetic through transparent window wall in front of a grid of wood columns, with wood composite veneer panels over the remainder of the facade. The most efficient means to provide lateral resistance for the project is with concrete shear walls located in the vertical core. The lighter Mass Timber building in the Bay Area has many benefits including, but not limited to, quicker erection time with less labor, materials which sequester carbon, health and biophilic benefits for the residents and a nearly Net Zero building. High-MASS is the perfect blend of nature and science.

4TH & HILL

tcaeditor - Aug 28, 2024

A 31-story apartment tower located at the intersection of 4th and Hill in downtown Los Angeles. There are four districts that converge at the site: Bunker Hill, the Financial District, the Jewelry District, and the Historic Core District. The project is directly adjacent to the entrance to one of DTLA’s main transportation arteries Pershing Square Metro Station, one of the busiest metro stations in the area. Containing 428 luxury apartment homes, the tower is envisioned to be a beacon for the community. Through design and programming, the base of the building is proposed to not only ground the beaconing tower, but also to activate the currently lackluster Metro station corner. Orientation of the building captures views of the LA City Hall to the Northeast, Angels Flight to the West, the Historic Broadway strip to the South, and Pershing Square to the Southwest. 4th & Hill is designed to achieve LEED Gold-certification.

MODERA RINCON HILL

TCA Architect - Jun 15, 2024

Modera Rincon Hill is a 14-story, 180 unit apartment community that sits at a key hilltop intersection in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. The project, along with the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific building across First Street, bookends a major departure gateway from San Francisco to the Bay Bridge. Like the Sailors’ Union, the building massing is composed of an assemblage of discrete masses. The stepped 5 to 7 story podium is clad in precast concrete, again in acknowledgement of the Sailors’ Union. It employs projecting bay windows, a cornice, and deeply inset openings. The light and glassy 14 story tower faces First Street, a section of it extending to ground and incorporating the main entry. The Lansing Street frontage faces the narrow pedestrian/auto “shared street,” with a smaller scale residential focus employing townhouse- style stoops in a manner sympathetic to traditional San Francisco residential architecture.

Brooklyn Basin Parcel H

tcaeditor - May 10, 2024

In a challenging market, TCA was asked to re-envision this approved development as two projects instead of one- a lower density Phase 1 of townhouses, and a higher density future Phase 2 that could be either a podium or tower, depending on market conditions. TCA’s novel solution for the first phase was “stacked towns”, which allowed the developer to bring to market a unique for-sale product at a higher density in Phase I. Phase 2 includes higher density podium or tower options. In a neighborhood of monotonous 8 story rental buildings, the design sought to exploit the differences with these prototypes. The 5 story- townhome project expresses the inherent verticality of the townhomes via a façade with deep incisions. The Phase 2 options anchor the prominent frontage on Clinton Basin with a singular large-scale façade expression for the podium, or a dramatic “blade of glass” that sits on an undulating base for the tower option.

1335 GRAND

tcaeditor - Jul 01, 2023

1335 Grand Avenue is a 28-story luxury apartment tower along Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. The high-rise will contain 297 residential apartments, 6,200 SF of retail, 16,000 SF of amenities and will be topped by an expansive sky deck overlooking the downtown skyline. Five levels of above grade parking wrap around the tower and support an open-air pool deck that is located six stories above the surrounding streets. This 1.25 acre site is in the emerging South Park district of downtown Los Angeles.

Modera Little Italy

tcaeditor - Oct 01, 2020

The project is an ideal gateway to downtown San Diego from the north side of town. San Diego’s casual coastal lifestyle inspired the design as it references the dynamic waves of the ocean. Angled walls create multiple corner conditions and vantage points that direct views towards the waterfront. The result is a unique design that is both iconic and practical. The program calls for a 21-story tower comprising of 182 residential units and 12,000 sf of retail. Parking will be above and below grade through shared access with the existing county garage. Leasing is located on grade with the residential amenities located on the tower’s podium and sky deck.

MERCURY

TCA Architect - Nov 15, 2016

Constructed in 1963, the former headquarters of the Getty Oil Company was originally designed by renowned architect Claud Beelman and is considered one of the city’s finest expressions of mid-century modern architecture. In 2007, TCA converted Mercury from office space into 238 condominiums with 10 distinctive floor plans ranging from 740 to 1,500 square feet. The major design challenge was the unusual dimension of the units (18’ wide by 52’ deep). The solution was to place the bathrooms and walk-in closets) to the deepest portion of the unit and reserve the natural light for the open common areas. In the deepest units, the entry door was embedded nearly midway into the dwelling, which helped mitigate the perceived depth of the space. The rooftop was transformed into an urban oasis with the addition of a pool, indoor-outdoor fitness facility, and expansive lawn for residents to enjoy 360 degree views of Los Angeles. Across the street, the Metro Red Line subway station connects to Pasadena, Long Beach, Hollywood, Universal City, and many downtown destinations including Staples Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall and world-class restaurants.

1100 WILSHIRE

TCA Architect - Oct 10, 2016

The 22-story triangular spire in Los Angeles sat virtually vacant for nearly 20 years before a trio of developers bought it in 2004. Previously comprised of office suites, TCA converted the building into 228 high-end condominiums totaling 260,000 square feet of residential living space. Floor plans range from 788 to 3,466 square feet of one and two bedroom floor plans or two-story loft-style penthouses. The major challenge was rerouting the plumbing systems as the entire 37 stories of the building needed to be re-cored to accommodate each unit.

Halla Vivaldi II

TCA Architect - Oct 09, 2016

TCA Architects worked hand in hand with the leadership of Halla and their Korean architect to not only re-design their high rises, but really transform the way the Korean culture views multifamily housing. The international collaboration explored new ways of land planning and building orientation to maximum light, air, and river views. The unique green spaces and gardens between buildings were a main focus and were given extra attention so that they were visually interesting from above and at ground level in Icheon, Chungla, Korea.