TCA Architects

ALEXAN ICON

tcaeditor - Oct 08, 2024

The pair of 7-story buildings are designed as an ensemble, bracketing San Mateo Ave. and forming a southern anchor to downtown South San Francisco. The massing is broken into several large forms of complimentary language with a focal point where flanking facades of metal panel and cementitious siding over a base of stone and storefront hold the corner. Building 1 sits on a 2.56-acre site and consists of 294 apartments over 2 levels of parking. The ground floor includes fitness rooms and leasing offices for both buildings. The third-floor podium level features two courtyards, including a large pool deck with lounge areas. Building 2 sits on a 1.56-acre site and consists of 186 apartments over 2 levels of parking. The ground floor includes lobbies, bike parking and bike lounge. The third-floor podium level includes two courtyards, each opening to the west.

Wallace on Sunset

tcaeditor - Sep 30, 2024

Wallace on Sunset is a 7-story, 200 unit mixed-use project containing 4,700 SF of ground floor retail in Los Angeles, CA. In response to its context, which dramatically varies on all four sides of the site, the project uses simple rectangular masses. These masses are broken up with undulations and pops of color on the facade. Balcony railings consist of aluminum and glass on the outward facing facades to preserve views and minimal metal rails at the courtyards. The sweeping frame around the fitness center’s glass volume along with the solid canopies above the balconies is sheathed with pre-finished metal panels. Wallace on Sunset achieved LEED Gold certification.

Original design and Entitlement by HED Architects, with design modifications and Architect of Record services by TCA.

HANOVER DIRIDON

tcaeditor - Sep 25, 2024

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 20, 2024

La Placita Cinco transforms a typical auto-oriented strip mall into a community-centered space with affordable housing and amenities. Located in Santa Ana’s Artesia Pilar neighborhood, the development reclaims underutilized land from a large surface parking lot and a former gas station. It creates 50 affordable apartment homes surrounding a common courtyard with community services on the ground floor. The development integrates with the existing commercial buildings, which have been revamped with new architecture, signage, and improved pedestrian access.

Original design by Urban Architecture Lab, with Architect of Record services by TCA.

THE GARRISON

tcaeditor - Sep 10, 2024

The Garrison is a 5-story, 94 unit multi-family residential project on West Katella Avenue in Orange, California. The 1.1 acre site is located directly east of the 57 freeway and the Santa Ana river, and is proximate to the Angel Stadium, the Honda Center, and ARTIC. The site sits within the Stadium Promenade center and is walking distance to entertainment, dining, and bike trails. The design concept is all about capturing and framing “long” views – looking out and over the immediate industrial and commercial context toward the exciting activity of the surrounding area. Amenities like the 7,500 SF courtyard and the intimate rooftop deck are placed strategically to take advantage of these views, so that residents can enjoy spectacles such as the Disneyland fireworks from the comfort of their own home. The project’s architectural expression is inspired by boutique hotels, which celebrate individuality and contrast the old with the new and the gritty with the glamorous. The design sets itself apart from existing developments in the area by focusing on material choice, combining sophisticated boutique-inspired gestures with a rustic industrial palette. This creates an eclectic and unique juxtaposition within the promenade that will draw vibrancy and activity.

Bella Terra Mixed Use

tcaeditor - Sep 05, 2024

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.

ONE PASEO

tcaeditor - Aug 30, 2024

Located in the Del Mar Heights community of San Diego, One Paseo is a mixed-use project incorporating residential, retail and office space. The residential component (designed by TCA) provides the critical mass needed to sustain 24/7 activity by locating housing in direct proximity to shopping and working environments. Horizontal proximity integrates these essential uses supporting a sustainable, pedestrian friendly and livable environment. Ultimately, the intent is to energize the community with a variety of demographics by providing a choice in housing types that in turn creates a vibrant social fabric. The housing type is 4 and 5 stories of housing above ground-floor amenities.

The retail component (designed by Ware Malcomb) consists of 12 single-story restaurant and high-end retail buildings totaling approximately 96,000 square feet. The craftsman-style buildings feature primarily wood frame construction, intricate details and various finish materials to create a community-oriented environment. The neutral color palette for the buildings allows the merchandise and tenants to be the focal point. Two office buildings (designed by Gensler) totaling over 280,000 SF round out the site and create the perfect Live, Work, Play environment.

AMLI MDR

TCA Architect - Aug 29, 2024

Responding to site context and creating a strong link between the buildings and the community was among the top priorities during the planning stages of AMLI-MDR, located harborside in Marina del Rey, CA. Influenced by the scenery of the marina, the design drew inspiration from an image of a boathouse. Simple shed roof with exposed rafters and wall cladding composed of sidings, plaster and stone materials create a sublime visual nautical theme. Large corner windows and open rail balcony blurs the line between indoor and outdoor. Ultimately, the design is about living close to the water where people experience their surroundings – the sound of the water, the breeze of the sea and saltwater air. The 10.4 acre site will be developed as a 585 unit mixed-use apartment project configured in 6 separate buildings. Each of the buildings contain a lobby on the promenade with an elevator, club house, and amenity space such as a dog wash or bike shop. Some buildings will either have a roof top deck or landscaped garden. The property will also feature pool areas, fireplace structures, monument walls, trellises, plazas and promenades.

NEPTUNE MARINA

TCA Architect - Aug 26, 2024

In the city of Marina del Rey, Neptune Marina is inspired by the era of mid-century modern design. The design of Neptune Marina reflects the same timeless quality, clean simplicity, and integration with nature as the mid-century style is known for. The form giving influence of the project is derived from an architectural expression of post and beam with ample windows, open floor plans, and desire to bring the outdoors in. The architecture presents a disciplined use of material that integrates texture, stone accents, and natural color palette with the addition of a modest yet playful splash of color. A conscious effort was made to synthesize vernacular tradition with a modern language to create architecture firmly rooted in its own place and time. Symbolic forms and icons are borrowed from the past, and re-arranged in striking new compositions. The goal is not to attempt to change the course of a culture nor to produce stylistic replicas of a time past, but rather to fuse the current social realities and cultural expressions with the physical experiences of the site’s history.

ADDISON

TCA Architect - Aug 25, 2024

Addison is a seven-story, 107 unit apartment project in the Arts District of downtown Berkeley, California. Drawing upon the property’s location in the heart of the Arts District of Berkeley, CA, the building features a ‘Poetry Garage Door’, a collaboration between a local poet and artisan, that pays homage to the celebrated “Berkeley Poetry Walk” one block east on Addison Street. The ‘Poetry Garage Door’ is crafted from laser-cut, backlit, metal letters that completely fill the entryway with the poet’s verses. The site is within walking distance of UC Berkeley and Berkeley City College, BART, shops, restaurants, bars, and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. The project is the first double podium, “5 over 2” project in Berkeley. Addison’s street frontage is made active by resident amenities, highly visible from the sidewalk and framed by storefront scaled openings. The roof deck and upper residential levels have spectacular views of San Francisco Bay. Unique features of Addison’s sustainable design include a panelized rain screen and rainwater cistern that provides water to the dog wash; and a puzzle lift auto park system that can more densely accommodate up to 68 vehicles.