TCA Architects

Brooklyn Basin Parcel H

tcaeditor - May 15, 2025

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.

CASPIAN

tcaeditor - Oct 18, 2024

Caspian is the gateway site into the Brooklyn Basin master plan located at Embarcadero and Brooklyn Basin Way. The building is broken down into multiple facades inspired by the Oakland Estuary and surrounding industrial maritime facilities, with the facades relating to each other to create a cohesive design. On Brooklyn Basin Way the retail takes priority with grand corners, deep recesses and rich materials to break down the street wall into a pleasant pedestrian environment. Bike facilities located on Embarcadero, help activate the street and encourage residents to use the new bike lanes connecting to the rest of Oakland. Multiple breaks; step downs and set backs scale down the size of the project. Large courtyards and roof decks provide ample outdoor space as well as view terraces. Facing the freeway, the nautical theme is played up with dramatic angles reminiscent of a ship’s bow which landmarks the entire Brooklyn Basin master plan.

5420 Sunset

tcaeditor - Oct 17, 2024

5420 Sunset is a six-story mixed-use 735-unit apartment building that will also house 95,000 SF of ground level retail. The retail level will be home to an up-scale national brand grocer offering food service and on-site dining. A new residential community will sit just above street level within lushly landscaped courts surrounding a resort style pool that looks out to the Hollywood hills, Griffin Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign. The buildings’ exterior design language reflects a piece of Hollywood’s history by evoking a modern interpretation of Art Deco and Streamline Moderne, with an emphasis on horizontality, simple forms, geometric patterns, and an earthy palette of material finishes.

THE TOWNSEND

tcaeditor - Oct 08, 2024

The new high-density mixed-use apartment project on a 5.13 Acre site in Mission Valley, San Diego, provides 267 residential units and 10 shopkeeper units. The Type III apartment building wraps a 5-story Type I parking garage, and provides 3,600 square feet of commercial and 6,000 square feet of retail use. Organized around 3 courtyards which are programmed with residential amenities, the building’s architecture is designed in a contemporary style. Fundamental to the design is the connection of pedestrian access to and from the site. Holding the edge of the buildings 20 feet back from the curb of Camino De La Reina and carving out a 4,000 square-foot space for corner and central public plazas provides a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented atmosphere. Locating the project’s “front door” adjacent to the large central public plaza allows for a sense of arrival and shared pedestrian experience between residents and public visitors.

VOX AT CUMULUS

TCA Architect - Oct 06, 2024

Located directly adjacent to the La Cienega/Jefferson Expo Line, VOX at Cumulus is a comprehensive residential and commercial mixed-use project that embodies all the defining characteristics of a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). The site plan and architecture respond directly to the urban scale, fabric, and culture of its surroundings. The design is inspired by the notions of progress, change, and motion: the La Cienega frontage undulates back and forth to create a dynamic façade and to help break up the mass. VOX is a 7-story type III podium building, with access to 160,000 SF of indoor and outdoor amenities. The heart of the project features a publicly accessible 1-acre park, the Zocalo, and is flanked by 100k SF of commercial space, anchored by a new Whole Foods Market. In addition to providing a space for community events, such as movie nights and hosting food trucks, the Zocalo also serves to capture storm water and reduce the heat island effect. Those elements go hand-in-hand with more than 1,700 solar panels built into the complex, which helped the property achieve Green Point Rated Platinum status. The master plan of the 11.4 Acre Cumulus District is guided by the principles of connectivity and placemaking. Also, located on a portion of the site is a high-rise (ARQ at Cumulus) of approximately 290 units designed by SCB.

Evermont

tcaeditor - May 16, 2024

Evermont is a TOD mixed use development, with 118 family affordable units, and 62 homeless supportive senior units, above 50,000 sf of ground level retail and restaurants, along with a metro on-site job training office, and residential health services. The project is located near transit for ease of commute, and in a neighborhood with a strong need for housing in South Los Angeles. The multi-generation living, along with community service retail and restaurants, help to create a vibrant and safe community within the neighborhood. At the ground level, the retail and restaurants fronts onto a public pedestrian plaza, which becomes an active community gathering space for the neighborhood. The plaza has a much wider presence along Vermont Ave assisting with articulating the long urban edge while maintaining connection to the boarding school, the 6,000 SF restaurant fronting the garage and the retail anchor. Evermont’s façade is planar with strategic ‘carve-outs’ to allow for light into interior courtyards and provide an opportunity for a material and massing break. The adjacent parking structure will be 5 stories in height to allow for retail/grocer parking, school parking as well as Metro facility parking.

Bella Terra Mixed Use

tcaeditor - Sep 16, 2023

Bella Terra Mixed Use is a 7-story mixed-use infill project of 300 apartment units with 25,000 SF of retail and restaurant spaces located at the ground floor. It will replace the existing 149,000 SF retail building and 33,331 SF in-line retail. The new residential parking garage will have a direct ground floor connection to the existing retail parking structure, via an internal 3-lane street, for shared retail/restaurant and residential guest parking use. The ground floor incorporates a porte-cochere passenger pick-up and drop-off within the new residential parking garage footprint. Enhanced materials are used throughout the ground floor to highlight the key pedestrian pathways to activate the edges. The new community social space will become the extension of the mall’s renovated amphitheater and existing plaza at the mall.

CSUMB Master Plan Concept

tcaeditor - Sep 16, 2023

The CSUMB 2nd Avenue master plan achieves the Client’s and University’s design goals for a socially vibrant, wellness-focused community that is integrated with nature. The 72-acre development opportunity is located a half mile from the ocean and just adjacent to the CSU Monterey Bay campus. The largely undeveloped site with existing sporadic development presents an opportunity for a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented development, ranging in market rate residential, to senior and family affordable housing. The Client and CSUMB envisioned a supportive community to the university and surrounding area. The concept starts with restorative design by transforming the asphalt parking lot into an active, pedestrian friendly community with housing for all ages. The existing Cypress Grove is preserved for its natural beauty and contribution to identity of place. To complement the natural beauty of the site, the architectural and landscape design will create beautiful spaces that the community will cherish. The grading of the property influenced vehicular/pedestrian circulation, along with the preservation of cypress groves.

HANOVER DIRIDON

tcaeditor - Sep 15, 2023

Hanover Diridon at 717 West Julian sits on the edge of two worlds in San Jose- a lower density largely residential neighborhood of bungalows and apartment buildings, and the planned “Innovation District” as envisioned as part of the Diridon Station Plan in San Jose. The Innovation District includes planned housing as well as a large office presence from some of Silicon Valley’s largest employers. The building design expresses this nexus in three parts- a larger scaled gesture to the future district, a reduced scale rhythm to the residential district, and a dramatic corner gesture and plaza where the two meet.

LA PLACITA CINCO

tcaeditor - Sep 15, 2023

La Placita Cinco repurposes the prototypical auto-oriented strip mall into a neighborhood-serving, inclusive community consisting of family-oriented affordable homes, outdoor amenities, and reinvigorated commercial center. The site, formerly called Tiny Time Plaza is a 2.25-acre commercial property situated between a residential neighborhood to the north and east, and industrial and commercial uses to the south and west. The 50 year old retail center consists of 2 single-story commercial buildings and a former gas station. The asphalt surface area encompassed over two thirds of the property with ill defined edges that blended into the pedestrian walkways in front of the building storefronts and adjacent public sidewalks. “La Placita Cinco” replaces the former gas station and portion of the parking lot, encompassing a third of the overall property with a 3-4 story mixed-use building consisting of 50 two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartment homes with ground floor community space.

The massing of the building provides a strong urban edge along the Fifth Street commercial corridor, while responding to the Hawley Street residential connector by opening its courtyard and stepping down the building height. The two commercial buildings and all their tenants remained, and were integrated into a reimagined site plan that is anchored by the three buildings. The commercial buildings were reinvigorated by the complete transformation of the building facades with new architecture, signage, and enhanced pedestrian [ADA] access. The remaining surface parking was redesigned to support active use. Wide, landscaped plazas were added along the retail facades, allowing the businesses to extend their operations outdoors, including outdoor dining, and to support pop-up programming such as farmer’s markets and special events. Between the two retail buildings, a mini park was added to accommodate a variety of uses, from fitness programs and concerts, to a welcoming place to meet a friend or let children play while running errands.

Mercy House is providing supportive services for residents and neighbors. The ground floor space of the housing was designed to be available as a resource for community nonprofit organizations to host events. There are spaces that could be used for small meetings (job interviews, counseling, etc.) and larger ones such as neighborhood association meetings, art classes, training sessions, etc.

The project leveraged traditional and innovative funding sources that are unique to rehabilitating a blighted commercial property with affordable housing. In its final form La Placita Cinco is supported through a 9% tax credit award, and cooperative lender and investor partners who worked diligently to find solutions that supported both the new construction of affordable residential units with the plaza renovations. Making everything possible was the support from the City of Santa Ana, who approved not only all the necessary entitlements, but also $6 million in subordinated funding to ensure the financial feasibility of the project.

Design Architect: City Fabrick