Architect: HLW International
Landscape Architect: Ah’be Landscape Architects
Photographer: Benny Chan, Fotoworks
Photographer: Tony Hoffmann
This office complex, home of music and video production companies, on the border of Santa Monica received an extensive facelift and landscape revival. Originally built in the 1970’s, the building reflected the materials of the era and was in need of an update to attract new tenants. Today, the building management mentions the nighttime environment as one of the selling points.
The façade and landscape renovation included a complete lighting re-design, fresh paint on the façade, a complete landscape re-design and new architectural elements to bring into the 20th century. Project-wide, horizontal wood slats were added to all of the brick vertical surfaces, adding a contemporary look. Grade mounted compact uplights are evenly spaced to enhance and light the warm wood tones, contrasted against the white façade. Sleek, tubular pedestrian scale poles demarcate the pedestrian entry, while a new canopy and signage marks the vehicular portal. As a design guideline, only color corrected metal halide and fluorescent lamps were used due to the long lamp life, and to make the lighting installation easier to maintain. Illuminated building address signage was added at the east and west ends of the building for better visibility.