Located in Downtown Los Angeles, one block from the Los Angeles Police Department’s new headquarters, this 5-story 300,000 square-foot concrete structure integrates three components that typically stand on their own: an 800 car parking structure for the LAPD’s employees; a mechanics’ garage, car wash, and refueling station for the LAPD’s top brass; and a culturally-oriented retail component along Main Street. Holding all these elements together is an undulating, vertically-banded, stainless steel mesh screen, painted in a pattern of leaf-like forms with two tones of green.

In order to minimize its impact on the developing neighborhood, the mechanics’ garage is located at the rear of the site, a half level below the street. The main volume of the structure is set back from the sidewalk in order to preserve views of St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, which until recently was the home of the Archdiocese and now serves as a cultural center. Slated to be an art gallery, the one-story retail component has a glass curtain wall that will allow the art to have an enlivening presence for both pedestrians and passing cars alike.

AWARDS

• 2011 Building of America, Gold Medal Feature Award
• 2009 AIA/Los Angeles, Presidential Honor Award: Building Team of the Year