A former shopping center near downtown Los Angeles is getting a makeover thanks to an innovative new design that promises to take CLT building to brand new levels.

LEVER Architecture is bringing mass timber construction to LA's Chinatown with a sizeable new office building that will add four new levels to an existing 1990s commercial structure to create an oasis in a high-density urban setting.

The 145,000-square-foot structure aims to push boundaries for the building material that is rapidly growing in popularity thanks to its reputation for safety and sustainability. Lever’s design layers a series of open-air spaces throughout the building in an attempt to connect users to the outdoors thanks to a landscape from Field Operations. The naturalistic element is further enhanced by a tiered internal courtyard garden that provides sectional variety and takes its visual cues from the Bradbury Building and New York’s Oneonta Gorge. 

The new building is one of several developments in the area currently overseen by Redcar. The 843 N Spring Street project broke ground earlier this year and is expected to be opened to tenants sometime next summer. 

The firm has invested extensively in materials research and was recently honored by a USDA grant for their continued work with CLT that they will look to expand on in the coming year.