TCA Architects

CANVAS LA

TCA Architect - Apr 29, 2020

Canvas LA was designed to create a signature urban living environment that would attract a hip, young urban professional market. The dilapidated site, once a parking lot, had freeway frontage with wide-open views of the downtown Los Angeles skyline creating differing adjacencies on all sides. The design of each façade reflected its corresponding edge. Stacked townhomes on the freeway side create a deliberate, repetitive module overlaid with a series of random horizontal metal awnings referencing the movement of the freeway and take full advantage of the downtown LA view. The southern façade is a white, neutral building with moveable glass panels on private balconies which provides a dynamic architectural feature for the building and allows residents a fun custom lighting feature. Residents enjoy numerous vibrant indoor and outdoor spaces with views of the downtown skyline, giving a visible connection to this dynamic urban setting. The courtyards and pool area create a variety of social opportunities and acts as an outdoor extension of the resident’s living and entertaining space.

7950 WEST SUNSET

TCA Architect - Apr 25, 2020

Located next to the Hollywood Screen Actors Guild, 7950 West Sunset aims to attract residents looking for a glamorous upscale Hollywood lifestyle without the cost and responsibility of owning and maintaining a single family residence. The units are well-appointed and amenity spaces include: a rooftop infinity edge pool modeled after older Hollywood hotels like the Roosevelt, an entertainment lounge, billiards room, fitness studio and 4 separate outdoor sky terraces offering views of the Hollywood hills, Sunset Strip and a distant downtown Los Angeles. The design team was inspired by the vibrancy and history of the Hollywood area and the brick siding is a nod to the former brick auto repair buildings that previously occupied the site. 7950 West Sunset revitalized the area by demolishing the severely dilapidated auto buildings (greatly reducing neighborhood crime) and providing much needed housing to support local businesses. The development achieved total community support from two cities and achieved successful financing for an extraordinary 65 year ground lease.

SHADE AT DESERT RIDGE

TCA Architect - Apr 20, 2020

This project was conceptualized as a “horizontal mixed-use” project in Phoenix, Arizona. The community was visualized as a contemporary enclave of mostly 3-story walk-up flats and townhomes, plus one 4-story elevator building. The master plan sought to achieve a very high level of walkability throughout the community and was developed around a circulation spine of walkable streets, with a minimum of garage doors facing the semi-public automobile access routes. The entire 1/4-mile long site is traversed by an enhanced pedestrian walk path that gathers pedestrian flow throughout the site and delivers it, by way of the central recreation area, to the adjacent commercial center which proffers a desirable blend of neighborhood-serving retail uses.

BAYVIEW SENIOR LIVING

TCA Architect - Apr 10, 2020

Designed to be reflective of Southwest Mission, Bayview is contemporized with smooth planar walls, simple fenestration, and accent columns. Bayview Landing consists of 120 affordable 100% affordable units with 20% of the units at 50% of AMI and 80% of the units at 60% of AMI, all of which are restricted to tenants aged 62 and older. Situated on five acres, amenities include a 3,000 square foot community center, a central courtyard including a pool, jacuzzi, and an outside fireplace as well as a fitness center, lounge, crafts room, and theater. The buildings were positioned to maximize views of the bay, and provide easy access to the nearby 10-acre park and walking trail. A bike trail descends to the western edge of the site and connects with the existing trails at Newport Dunes in Newport, CA.

MENDOCINO

TCA Architect - Apr 05, 2020

In the city of San Clemente, Mendocino offers 186 two- and three-bedroom apartment homes. The property also includes several tot lots, barbecues, a library, a 5,400 square-foot community room, and a room for Housing with HEART’s resident services center. In addition, the community features a swimming pool and a fully equipped fitness center, as well as volleyball, basketball and tetherball courts. It is home to families earning from 40% to 60% of the area median income. Financing for Mendocino was obtained as a result of a six-year inclusionary housing ordinance adoption process and at the time of its completion, represented its most complex financing package undertaken totaling seven layers.

BOTANICA ON THE GREEN

TCA Architect - Apr 01, 2020

Located on the former site of the Stapleton International Airport, the 244 units were designed to have separate walk-up entries with virtual front door access to the 2.5 acres of open space called the Founders’ Green. Highly walkable, Botanica makes an edgy testimonial in a brand-new, fresh, non-traditional community in Denver, CO.

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.

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.