LABC Celebrates the Best of Los Angeles Architecture!

The<a href="http://www.labusinesscouncil.org/"> Los Angeles Business Council</a> recently celebrated the finest that the local architecture firms have to offer at their annual <a href="http://www.labusinesscouncil.org/programs.php">Architecture Awards</a>. One of the few award ceremonies of its kind, the LABC honors not only the architects, but also the developers and the construction teams involved in bringing these beautiful projects to life. Of the many awards given away, Inhabitat salutes the best of the best with our following picks ahead!

The project shown in the lead image is located in the heart of Los Angeles. The new 10,000 square foot visitor center includes an observation deck and viewing areas, hiking trails, picnic areas, and restored natural landscape. The center’s architects, <a href="http://www.safdierabines.com/">Safdie Rabines Architects</a>, carefully sited the building to be unobtrusively tucked into a hollow near the summit of the park.

The firm of LABC’s Architecture Award’s Keynote speaker took home an acknowledgement for Concept Design in the Education category. Thom Mayne noted a need to change the urban fabric in architecture, and <a href="http://www.morphosis.com/">Morphosis</a>’ Emerson College Los Angeles Center does just that. The residential program borders the academic structures in such a way that a vibrant live/work environment results. In spite of the small footprint, the project integrates indoor and outdoor terraces and open space into the campus program that includes classrooms and residences.

Architects, <a href="http://www.hplusf.com/">Hodgetts + Fung</a> took a very sensitive approach to the contextual design of this multi-use project along Los Angeles’ infamous Sunset Strip. In addition to the 24 market rate condos and 10 low-income rental units, the building also includes 3,000 square feet of retail, a 4,500 square foot restaurant, and an integrated billboard that adds visual interest to the streetscape. Intermixed throughout the project are a number of outdoor pools, trellises, and green spaces.

Community spaces were integrated throughout the senior housing project in order to encourage healthy social interaction while offering a feeling of safety and protection. <a href="http://www.kfarchitects.com/">Killefer Flammang Architects</a> designed a number of community rooms into the project, brining in lots of daylight to maintain an airy feel within the space. In addition, residents have access to and are more than welcome to attend to the large community garden.

<a href="http://www.moorerubleyudell.com/">Moore Ruble Yudell Architects &amp; Planners</a> envisioned a new prototype for socially diverse urban living in their design of the village. Challenging the conventional ratios of affordable to market-rate housing, there are also a number of integrated public community open spaces in the project along with neighborhood retail spaces and artist loft housing.

This year’s coveted LEED building award went to an older building. The Los Angeles Convention Center was awarded LEED-Existing Building certification, becoming the largest convention center of its size (4.2 million square feet) and age (40 years), in the nation to achieve this milestone.

A combination mixed-use retail/low-income family housing development is centrally located near the University of Southern California Campus within the historic Central Avenue corridor and Adams Boulevard. Designed by <a>John Cotton Architects</a>, each of the residences are located two stories above ground for added security, and each of the elevator lobbies offer residences striking views looking south of downtown LA.

The development at Harper West Hollywood strives to incorporate a sectionally diverse and environmentally sensitive response to a program that includes high-density housing in a midblock urban residential infill context. By scissoring and crossing over units, <a href="http://workplays.com/">WorkPlays Studio*Architecture</a> was able to create varied, interwoven, light-filled interior spaces for contemporary living.

Designed by <a href="http://www.witheemalcolm.com">Withee Malcolm Architects</a>, the T-Lofts is a mixed-use complex incorporating the rehabilitation of an existing 1947 industrial, two-story, concrete building. The project received a California Green Builder accreditation, and has been praised for its smart growth and sustainable approach.

For two companies that use all-natural ingredients to harness the power of fresh, nutritious fruits, it was essential that the design of their offices be just as sustainable. The designers at <a href="http://www.pollackarch.com/">Pollack Architecture</a> took the company’s “Performance with Purpose” targets literally, shooting for LEED Silver.

The most sustainable buildings are more frequently those who manage to stand the test of time. Originally built in 1959, the Thompson Mosley House was restored to its magnificent beauty by <a href="http://www.space-intl.com/">Space International Inc</a>.

The redesign of the Sunset and Vine Tower required the redesign and adaptive reuse conversion of a 22-story office building in a 63 unit apartment building. <a href="http://www.kannerarch.com">Kanner Architects</a> accomplished this through the use of a glass curtain wall that envelops the building, but leaves its core structure visible.

Santa Monica Place has targeted LEED Gold with the redesign of one of Frank Gehry’s first designs. The <a href="http://www.jerde.com">Jerde Partnership</a> literally blew the lid off of the old mall opening up the space and creating a new grand public plaza and a large rooftop dining deck that brings in a ton of natural light to the once ominous covered mall.

The design for the new Council District 9 building servicing South Los Angeles took home the Sustainability Award in the New Building Category. One of the more significant features is the 8,000 square foot public roof garden, the first of the City of Los Angeles. Designed by <a href="http://www.paulmurdocharchitects.com/">Paul Murdoch Architects</a>, the structure is meant to create a safe, open space for the community.

Renovations are always better than new buildings in our book when it comes to sustainability. <a href="http://www.nbbj.com/">NBBJ</a>’s design of the UCLA Pauley Pavilion Renovation is no exception, elevating an existing structure to a functional top tier 21st century sports arena.

The project shown in the lead is designed by <a href="http://gruenassociates.com/">Gruen Associates</a>, this 175,000 square foot facility is headed for LEED Silver. The Los Angeles County Fire District Headquarters enables the department to consolidate district offices into one efficient working machine to fight off all the fires that uncontrollably pop-up throughout Los Angeles county annually.