L.A. Dance Project is a cutting-edge independent dance company founded in 2012 by dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker Benjamin Millepied. The design of this multi-purpose space for the company’s first ever “home” — an operational hub, practice space, community event space, and performance venue — was an exercise in innovative space planning, and in a type of elemental design that showcased the former warehouse’s existing beauty.

We were able to meet the client’s goals: an ambitious timeline and tight budget, maximizing seating space to meet revenue goals for performances, fitting all the programmatic needs into the existing warehouse, and creating an aesthetic that was honest and beautiful on its own, but that could recede to the background depending on the needs of any given performance.

Our creative floor planning drove the design, along with our humility towards the beautiful elements that existed already in the warehouse: the exposed brick, bowstring trusses, and sawtooth window skylights, which created great opportunities for natural light. We designed a layout that maximized multi-functionality and flexibility: Studio A serves as a rehearsal space and as a performance venue, while Studio B is both a practice studio and serves as backstage on performance nights.

Visitors encounter a compression-release experience as they proceed through multiple quaint anterooms on their way to a stunning impact in Studio A, with its exposed brick, bowstring trusses, sawtooth roof and windows, and the custom designed bleacher seating. To maintain the clean gracefulness of Studio A, we designed an elegant seating arrangement that stands as a beautiful object in itself, with a built-in control booth and integrated recessed hand rail.

This project catered to an Iannuzzi Studio strength: the ability to process the logistical demands of a complex operation and solve client needs, while also providing a creative vision that matches and lifts the client’s creativity.