TCA Architects

The Grand

tcaeditor - Jun 15, 2017

On a prime sloping parcel at the edge of Downtown Los Angeles, across the street from the iconic School of Visual and Performing Arts and just southwest of Chinatown, this proposed new 299-unit, mixed- use, multifamily tower will anchor the north end of Grand Avenue with a dynamic and iconic, yet efficiently-designed structure that breaks the standard mold of fortress-like block housing and establishes in its place a progressive template of urban porosity, openness to views, and generous outdoor space, while still maximizing unit count and advancing the argument for verticality and density in Los Angeles. The roof of the parking forms a plinth that incorporates a generously- sized, south-facing swimming pool for residents, in addition to open green and plaza spaces that can be developed to house a playground and other outdoor amenities.

2222 FIGUEROA

tcaeditor - Mar 02, 2017

Located between Downtown Los Angeles and the USC campus, the 2.3-acre site is flanked by the Expo Line to the east and the MyFigueroa Streetscape Improvement project to the west. The property is bounded by Figueroa, Flower, 22nd and 23rd Streets and is a collection of rental and for-sale housing above 20,000 square feet of pedestrian-oriented commercial space facing Figueroa and the adjacent light rail station. The project includes 1,063 units, 645 condominiums, and 5% low income housing. Amenities include pool, bicycle accommodations, a beach volleyball court and multiple fitness centers.

PLEASANTON HACIENDA

TCA Architect - Nov 16, 2016

Designed within the Hacienda Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) guidelines, Pleasanton Hacienda is a TCA High-DEF product located adjacent just south of the Pleasanton BART station. Pleasanton Hacienda provides 251 units ranging from studio to three-bedroom floor plans. Targeted at families, the site includes a public park, private courtyards and a public tot-lot. Pleasanton Hacienda is designed in a three and four story building configuration, with the four story buildings framing the park and the three story buildings (smaller in scale and mass) placed along the outer edge, responding to the lower density of the residential community across the street. Varying roof lines and a bold color scheme revitalizes the area with a unique visual backdrop.

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.

LA JOLLA HOTEL

TCA Architect - Nov 15, 2016

This six story hotel concept is positioned in the urban design/lifestyle segment and is conceived as a contemporary, simple yet elegant Southern California-inspired design that appeals to business and leisure travelers. Created with an urban vibe, the active bar lounge scene and convenient stylish meeting and gathering spaces are up–to-date with the latest trends and functionality to satisfy all the needs of today’s travelers. The hotel forms are composed to relate to the context of the retail center and to take advantage of the solar orientation and the La Jolla climate, establishing an intrinsic connection with the local area of San Diego. The building orientation will enable a convenient auto drop-off and self-parking as well as easy pedestrian-friendly access to the nearby retail services and food and beverage venues. A 4,000 square foot restaurant is located on the ground floor with alfresco dining, providing an active and inviting face to the commercial center, especially during the evening hours. The hotel lobby and lounge are open spaces with a clean aesthetic and infused with a local connection via arts and music enabling ease of circulation and a flexible flow for breakfast, informal events and business meetings. The guestroom plan serves 150 rooms complimented with an elevated pool deck, a high-tech second level fitness center and state-of-the-art business center amenities.

BLOCK 8

TCA Architect - Nov 13, 2016

TCA designed and constructed Block 8 – a master plan of 4 individual parcels that seek to restore the urban fabric, life, and vitality of six acres of underused, dilapidated parking lots at the edge of Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood. Sakura Crossing (Parcel C) completed construction in 2009 and AVA Little Tokyo (A & B) recently completed construction in 2015. Wakaba (Parcel D) is developed by Sares-Regis Group and upon it’s completion in 2016, the development will provide a total of 750 apartments for a variety of incomes and over 40,000 square feet of retail space. New residents, restaurants, and retail will help link the Little Tokyo area to the energy from the emerging downtown area. Over 650 spaces of public parking will also be included to help support the new and existing retail in the neighborhood. Adjacent to Block 8 is a public library as well as the historic St. Vibiana’s cathedral, recently restored as a performing arts venue. The Japanese American Cultural Community Center, is located to the east and consists of a theatre, a garden, a public plaza, and the World War II memorial—a site of significance to maturing Japanese-Americans.

EVOLVE

TCA Architect - Nov 13, 2016

Targeted towards families, utilizes courtyard housing techniques that allow for community, family-oriented, outdoor space as well as providing light and air to the interior spaces. Comprised of 186 units of studios, one, two and spacious three bedroom apartments, the project has two-story townhomes that wrap the ground floor activating the ground level. A green belt wraps the entire building, doubling as an emergency vehicle access and outdoor space to benefit the entire project. A pedestrian path is defined with the material selection to emphasize this as a community walk. The walk connects the building to a tot lot and dog run as well as a family fitness zone. A Community Porch faces the Tot Lot, encouraging even more “eyes on the street” for this community space. The design grounds itself within the context of the industrial history of the region, but re-imagines this context with a playful and modern sensibility. Exterior materials like red brick and metal panels reference the old factories of the area, but are used in a more playful manner, creating a cheerful new home for the future residents.

ASTARIA

TCA Architect - Nov 13, 2016

The dramatic 14 story design is daring, yet inherently fundamental and concise in its organization. The project’s mass is sensitively sited to respect its immediate context establishing a pedestrian friendly street edge lined with shops, restaurants and a public plaza. The narrow parcel of land is located at the south-western corner of Washington Boulevard and Via Marina, marking a prominent gateway intersection to Marina Del Rey. The program consists of 159 residential units, landscaped sky decks, club lounges, fitness rooms, and 34,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. The building footprint tapers at both ends improving view corridors while creating a slimmer overall profile. A carefully positioned void space provides a relief along the Washington Boulevard façade, forming a 7-story atrium space. This becomes a unique visual emphasis to the porte-cochère at the ground level and creates an indoor-outdoor experience at the entrance. The ‘saw tooth’ configuration of the façade allows for each unit to have privacy between their balconies whilst framing views of the ocean and Marina. The faceted façade also diminishes the scale of the building, offering a distinct visual experience of the project from every angle.

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.