LA’s 40th Annual Architecture Awards Celebrate Sustainable Designs

<br> The <a href="http://www.labusinesscouncil.org/">Los Angeles Business Council's</a> 40th Annual Architecture Awards were just announced, and Inhabitat was on the scene to scope out some of the city's most incredible architectural marvels! Unlike other architecture awards that are decided upon by architects like the <a href="http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/AIAB025046">Gold Medal</a> and the <a href="http://www.pritzkerprize.com/">Pritzker Prize</a>, the LABC awards are decided by a local jury that includes city officials, contractors, and developers. Surprisingly, a large cross-section of the jurors' selections are not only sustainable, but feature public spaces that engage the surrounding communities. Click through our gallery to see Inhabitat's top sustainable picks from the LABC's 40th Annual Architecture Awards!

<br> <big>Lofts at Cherokee Studios by Pugh + Scarpa</big> <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2009/11/13/cherokee-lofts-renovated-recording-studio-seeks-leed-platinum/">The Lofts at Cherokee Studios</a> is one of the greenest mixed-use buildings on the West Coast. In addition to its LEED Platinum rating, Cherokee contributes to the urban fabric of LA through iconic architecture and cultural preservation. Professional home recording studios on-site keep artists working where they live and preserves the rich history of musicians like Frank Sinatra, David Bowie, and Michael Jackson who recorded over 300 gold and platinum albums here.

<br> <big>Ritz-Carlton Hotel &amp; Residences and JW Marriott at L.A. Live by Gensler</big> <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/12/las-new-ritz-carlton-jw-marriott-tower-going-for-leed-gold/">The Ritz-Carlton Hotel &amp; Residences</a> and JW Marriott at L.A. Live is a high-rise exclamation point for a the city's comeback -- its construction created 3,600 jobs and the tower will employ another 700 people permanently. The hotel and conference center is the architectural beacon of <a href="http://www.lalive.com/">L.A. Live</a>.

<big>Silver Lake Branch Library </big> The <a href="http://www.lapl.org/branches/Branch.php?bID=72">LEED Gold Silver Lake Branch Library</a> creates a public plaza backdrop for the building's library functions. The raised plaza and meeting room create a community gathering place, the glazed reading room removes the separation between interior and exterior spaces, and a channel-glass spine, skylight, and clerestory bring natural light into the core of the building.

<big>Lincoln &amp; Rose</big> The Lincoln &amp; Rose project involved renovating an aged 75,327-square-foot neighborhood center in Venice that had become blighted, suffering from awkward additions, low-rent tenants and crime. Existing buildings were used to minimize construction and products containing recycled content were used wherever possible. Other sustainable components include LEED qualified bio-swale/filtration system to treat storm water run-off, LEED TI certification for Whole Foods, native plantings, reduced site lighting and additional shading to reduce the heat-island effect.

<big>Calhill Center for Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics at Caltech by Morphosis Architects</big> The <a href="http://morphopedia.com/projects/cahill-center-for-astronomy-and-astrophy">Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics</a> will allow Caltech's top-ranked astronomy and astrophysics faculty and graduate students to work together in a building dedicated to their needs. The building itself acts as an astronomical instrument. A vertical volume pierces the building, tilting its lens to admit light from the skies.

<br> <big>Hidden House by Standard LLP</big> The <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/03/30/hidden-house-is-a-stunning-example-of-sustainable-modern-architecture/">Hidden House</a> in Glassell Park offers a unique example of local architectural innovation. The construction of this eco-friendly home involved incorporating an existing two-bedroom cottage into a new, larger structure, doubling the size of the residence from 1580 square feet to 3500 square feet.

<big>Camp Emerald Bay Boy Scout Eco Cabin by Gensler</big> The result of a pro bono effort by the architect and structural engineer, the <a href="http://www.jetsongreen.com/2010/02/eco-cabin-shipping-container-camp-emerald-bay.html">Boy Scout Eco Cabin</a> is designed to be functional and demonstrate good stewardship of the environment. It is made of two old shipping containers and a translucent fire-proof roof that lets in filtered daylight. The deck is made from the wood reclaimed from an old pier and all lighting is LED powered by a dedicated solar panel. The cabin only touches the ground at 6 points, reducing its impact on the site.

<br> <big>UCLA Campus Police Station by STUDIOS Architecture</big> Located on a prominent site on Westwood Avenue and adjacent to the university physical plant, <a href="http://www.ucpd.ucla.edu/">UCLA's new Campus Police Station</a> partners with neighboring buildings to create a primary gateway to the campus. The design incorporates an industrial aesthetic with the university's traditional brick palette.

<br> <big>LAPD Habor Replacement Station and Jail by Perkins + Will</big> The <a href="http://www.lapdonline.org/harbor_community_police_station">LAPD Habor Replacement Station and Jail</a> were designed to fit in with the nearby harbor complex. The structure includes an oversized shipping container clad with corrugated metal and a monumental picture window that looks out onto the harbor.

<br> <big>Olympic Police Station by Greun Associates</big> The LEED silver <a href="http://lapdblog.typepad.com/lapd_blog/2009/02/new-olympic-police-station-shows-very-positive-results-violent-crime-drops-13-arrests-up-60.html">Olympic Police Station</a> certified project explores the concept of "protection" by virtually extending the station's presence into the surrounding context. The plaza functions as an urban connective tissue, naturally channeling visitors into the entry lobby and engaging the intersection of Vermont and 11th Streets with the public entrance. Public meeting rooms and lobby spaces are carefully planned to further utilize the plaza as an extension of the surrounding community event spaces.

<br> <big>Hollenbeck Area Community Police Station by AC Martin Partners</big> <a href="http://designandarchitectureonkcrw.vox.com/library/photo/6a00fa96792b0500020123f175b717860f.html">Hollenbeck Police Station</a> is a 54,000 square-foot, 2-story main building that houses a multi-purpose room, offices, temporary holding cells and support areas. Its green features include energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems along with water-wise plumbing and irrigation.

<big>Los Angeles NFL Stadium by MEIS Architects/Aedas Sport</big> This <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/02/first-leed-certified-nfl-stadium-ever-set-to-be-in-la/">75,000-seat stadium</a> is designed for a location in the City of Industry that is intended to house a NFL football team. The plans for the stadium call for nestling the seating bowl into a hillside, which would reduce the steel used in the structure by 40 percent. This is one of a number of cutting-edge sustainable features in the stadium's design.

<br> <big>California Science Center: Phase II - EcoSystems</big> The Phase II expansion of the <a href="http://www.californiasciencecenter.org/MainPage.php">California Science Center</a> represents a significant step forward in the effort to restore Exposition Park and its surrounding community. The major expansion nearly doubles the volume of exhibition space at the Science Center and features an unprecedented blend of live animals and hands-on science exhibits in 11 immersive environments - unique among science centers in the United States.

<big>Frontier Project by HMC Architects</big> The <a href="http://www.frontierproject.com/index.aspx?page=232">Frontier Project</a> is a 14,000 square-foot demonstration building in Rancho Cucamonga, California designed to assist in educating resident consumers, commercial builders, and sustainable advocates about the latest methods and technologies for water, energy and site conservation. This project's features include water harvesting, storm water management, drought-tolerant landscaping, green roofs, solar power, a cool tower/solar chimney natural ventilation system, displacement HVAC system, a weather station, and recycled and rapidly renewable finish materials.

The honorable Anthony Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles, was on hand at the awards, noting that as a major metropolitan city, Los Angeles contains more <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/02/first-leed-certified-nfl-stadium-ever-set-to-be-in-la/">LEED certified buildings</a> than other similarly sized cities in the US.