TCA Architects

MERRIWEATHER

TCA Architect - Aug 25, 2024

The master planning evolved around the creation of the shared, linear park. The park’s central location provides both orientation and a shared sense of place for all the adjacent buildings in Columbia, Maryland. The park is then linked to Merriweather Drive at both its east and west ends by the primary public roads which lead into the district. These tree-lined roads are designed as outlined in the Design Guidelines to be animated with retail shops and restaurants, and have generous sidewalks promoting pedestrian activity. The project embraces the naturally distinctive context of the Merriweather district neighborhood and is a truly unique collection of residential, retail, office and entertainment space located within a surrounding forest. The buildings draw whimsical design inspiration from local forest inhibitors the “fox” and the “owl.” Marlow (the fox) a visually prominent beacon for the community and is expressive, bold and vibrant. Juniper (the owl) is quiet, calming and serves as a connector to the adjacent outside public symphony. While both buildings are intricately connected to nature, they purposefully juxtapose each other, contributing to a dynamic living environment.

Merriweather fly through video: https://vimeo.com/368404510

THE ASHER

tcaeditor - Aug 15, 2024

The Asher is comprised of two residential buildings on a 12.6 acre site, divided by a Linear Green which serves as a publicly-accessible, park like space in the city of Fremont. The Linear Green joins with the East Greenway, which is a pedestrian link between Litchfield and Walnut Ave; and fosters a safe connection for the neighborhood. The design allows the dwellings to front existing neighborhood streets; activating the surrounding neighborhood and providing a defined street edge. The architectural motif was to ground the style within the context of Fremont’s history and existing vernacular. Mid-century modern architectural style speaks to the City’s formation in 1956.

Interiors by: Rodrigo Vargas Design

Placentia Veterans Village

tcaeditor - Jul 30, 2024

The Placentia Veterans Village, offers 50 furnished apartment homes to low-income and disabled veterans residing in Orange County, including a designated manager’s unit. These veterans have access to a range of on-site services, including comprehensive, individualized case management and service coordination to connect with education, employment, healthcare, benefits assistance, legal assistance, and family reunification services.

Located on 3.66 acres of unimproved land in an industrial/commercial corridor of Placentia, the development enhances the quality of life in the area while helping to meet the need for affordable housing for veterans.

The Placentia Veterans Village apartment project is designed in a traditional Craftsman style using simple expressive forms and articulated massing to create an environment that is both comfortable and familiar. The one and two bedroom residences offer amenities such as indoor and outdoor community spaces, elevators, private terraces and laundry rooms. The project also provides a private community garden along with ample green space for the residences. The development is designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, utilizing energy efficient design principles and building materials.

Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources, including a federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit, California Proposition 41, a conventional mortgage (relying on a HUD VASH subsidy), Project Based HUD VASH and/or Project Based Section 8 – Orange County Housing Authority, and a pending City of Placentia Development Impact Fee Deferral.

AVALON PUBLIC MARKET PARCEL D

TCA Architect - Jul 23, 2024

Parcel D sits at the nexus of three zones, and the building design reflects these zones through variation in mass, window patterning, scale, and material. The building marks the nothern terminus of the Public Market retail heart and its main entrance helps define a small public plaza across the way. The solid rectangular mass with distinct window patterning sets this corner off from the rest of the development, and its color ties back to the brick hues of the Market. Along Shellmond, the building takes its cues from the industrial buildings across the way via larger scale of horizontally oriented openings. Entries are placed in strategic locations to further engage with the surroundings. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.

BALDWIN ROSE

tcaeditor - Jul 15, 2024

Baldwin Rose is a veterans housing project that brings 54 units of critically needed affordable housing to low-income veterans and their families residing in the San Gabriel Valley. Of the 54 units, 32 are designated for low-income veterans and their families, and 22 are specifically for homeless veterans. 19 units are fully accessible for persons living with disabilities. The project also includes one onsite manager’s unit.

Designed in a Craftsman style using composite shingle roofing, fiber cement lap siding, stone, and wrap around porches, the dual-site project is designed to create a strong sense of place and a feeling of security, without being isolated from the neighborhood at large. The buildings are organized and oriented to front the main artery (Baldwin Ave) creating a pedestrian-friendly environment. The units are arranged in a series of “row houses” that collectively integrate the project within the surrounding community of single-family homes and every unit comes with a large private patio or deck.

The main “campus,” located on the East building, provides residents of all ages with ample outdoor space, including a tot lot, landscaped sitting areas and edible gardens. There is also a large community room for recreational activities.

The project is designed for LEED Gold and was built in accordance with ENERGY STAR Homes version 3 guidelines. Sustainability measures include a graywater irrigation system, and solar hot water, among others.

The City of El Monte will be transferring property rights to the site and is also providing financing in the form of a low-interest loan over a period of 55 years. Funding was also provided through NOFA and TCAC.

Cadence

TCA Staff - Jul 09, 2024

Cadence is a combination of two, 7-story residential buildings in the heart of South San Francisco, adjacent to a high-traffic Caltrain station. Originally, an additional 6-story residential building was planned on a third parcel. The project serves as a gateway to the city’s downtown and as an icon from the freeway. Designed to attract nearby tech workers, the project takes its inspiration from both the city’s manufacturing past and its future by creating a design that is modern industrial and chic. One of the main challenges in the design was creating three buildings that relate to each other, but are not repetitive and do not overwhelm the scale of nearby buildings. The solution was to make each building unique, while interweaving shared elements and material, to give a feeling of continuity. This cohesive design unites the project as a whole and creates a diversity that breaks down the scale of the entire project.

ELEVEN 10

TCA Architect - Jul 08, 2024

Eleven 10 is a residential development on a 5.75-acre site in the city of Orange. The project is four stories of Type V residential over one-level of on-grade Type I parking structure, with one and one half levels of subterranean residential parking. By placing three large courtyards in strategic locations, the majority of the 260 units are provided with views into the active and passive courtyards. The Pool Courtyard opens toward the existing office tower’s public plaza and flanked by a 7,200 SF double-height fitness center and club room. The location of this largest courtyard and the residential amenities allows for greater interaction with the office tower, as well as activation of the plaza. The material palette consists of exterior plaster, cementitious siding, metal awnings, enhanced materials at key elements, and a contemporary color scheme.

HANOVER NORTHGATE

TCA Architect - Jul 03, 2024

Hanover Northgate is a 7 story mixed-use project of 225 apartments and a total of 22,000 SQ FT of ground floor retail in Oakland, CA. In keeping with the Broadway-Valdez Design Guidelines, the design of the building breaks the building mid-block, coinciding with the main building entry. Variation in color, material and façade rhythm between the north and south halves of the building help accentuate this break. The building follows the curved lot line as it faces 27th Street, and presents a unique set of gestures and materials at this location to highlight this important corner. There are numerous changes of plane, balconies and other projections that add visual interest throughout all faces of the building. High quality exterior materials are used, including stone, brick, glass, metal wall panels, and cement plaster. Resident amenities include lobby, mail room, fitness room, bike parking, dog grooming, and clubhouse, along with three courtyards at the second level of the building.

HANOVER BROADWAY

TCA Architect - Jul 01, 2024

Hanover Broadway is a seven-story mixed use residential and commercial project that consists of 254 apartments. There is 33,100 SF of ground floor retail on Broadway and an additional 3,900 SF of restaurant space facing a new plaza at 27th and Valdez. Resident amenities include fitness facility, bike parking, dog grooming, clubhouse, and a rooftop deck with barbecues and expansive views of Oakland and the East Bay. Exterior materials include stone, brick, glass, cementitious wall panels, and cement plaster. The design of the building includes changes of plane, shadow lines, balconies and other projections, subtle color and material changes and other architectural elements.

ANTON LADERA

TCA Architect - Jun 30, 2024

Anton Ladera responds to the growing population of the Bay Area tech cities in Mountain View, CA. The community contains 144 apartment units in four residential levels over two below-grade levels of garage. The podium style building is oriented around two courtyards; which open onto a heavily amenitized ground floor including the leasing office, club room, fitness center, bicycle repair, lounge. Tenants also enjoy access to two-podium courtyards, pool/spas, BBQs, private resident patios, a dog park, game lawns and roof deck.