TCA Newsletter - Summer/Fall 2005

Strong support from both neighbors and Los Angeles city officials were key components to the successful planning of 7950 West Sunset. The 183-unit mixed-use housing and retail development on Sunset Boulevard is near Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles and will serve as a catalyst to revitalize the area.

Ground has been broken for the mixed-use building that was designed by the Los Angeles and Irvine, CA, firm TCA. The project has five stories of residential over ground-level retail and four levels of underground parking. 7950 West Sunset is being developed by Legacy Partners and the land is owned by the Director’s Guild of America adjacent to its national

headquarters building at 7920 Sunset Boulevard.

TCA project manager John Brooks, AIA, said the Guild management as well as surrounding neighborhood groups was deeply involved in the 7950 West Sunset design process to ensure that the project invigorated the urban fabric on Sunset Boulevard. “This new mixed-use community is the result of a true collaboration between the design team, the developer, the neighborhood and the City of Los Angeles,” said Brooks. “We believe it serves as a model for an effective community outreach program that engaged stakeholders in a positive environment and embraced their input.”

Approved with the support of Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss, 7950 West Sunset is one of the first mixed-use projects built under the city’s new RAS-4 zoning that encourages mixed-use development in transitional urban areas. Brooks said the city’s planning, building and fire departments were involved in the community outreach for the project, helping to create a positive foundation for its 12-0 approval by the City Council.

Brooks said the architectural design of the project was also a collaborative effort. “The goal in designing this project was to reflect the area’s history and one way of doing that was to use a two and three story brick base as a connection to the Guild’s plaza and detailing of the neighboring community buildings,” he explained. “The building has a very traditional base that fits with the

surrounding buildings and neighborhoods, and yet it’s quite contemporary in its architectural statement. The developers hope that it will serve as an inspiration for revitalization of the surrounding area.” Modern-day layering of the facade includes vibrant colored wall panels with steel accents, canopies and contemporary detailed windows.

The project will offer one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as studio units and is expected to attract younger professionals working in the area’s entertainment and business service industries. The building will feature a swimming pool and spa complex, fitness room, saunas, men’s and women’s locker room, business center, and a lounge. The three roof sky terraces will be accessible to the residents and will have a lounge and seating areas, a fire pit, and offer unobstructed views of the city.

Parking for the residents and customers for the retail stores will be provided by four levels of subterranean parking directly under the building as well as surface parking for customers. Brooks said that this amount of subterranean parking for multi-family projects in Los Angeles is rare due to cost, but Legacy Partners and the Guild decided to go that direction to reduce parking pressure on adjacent neighborhoods.

“One of the messages that came through loud and clear from talking with neighbors and city officials is the parking situation and their concern that 7950 West Sunset would add to the problem,” Brooks explained.

“Legacy Partners and the Directors Guild agreed that subterranean parking was necessary to ensure that neighbors and other stakeholders would be supportive of this project.”

TCA’s design team on this project included Thom Cox, AIA, David Smith, AIA, John Brooks, AIA, Bryan Stadler, AIA, Rai Quintana and Paul Medel. Other key consultants include Faulkner Design Group, the project’s interior designer, HRP LanDesign, landscape architects and Fuscoe Engineering, civil engineers.