Los Angeles and Portland-based architecture firm West of West is currently working on a new creative office community in Hollywood, California. The studio's 6344 Fountain project integrates hybrid cross-laminated timber (CLT) construction within an adaptive reuse development. 

According to the architects, the design is modeled after "the intimate garden bungalows of historic movie studio lots." Project renderings show a four-story, 60,000-square-foot office building that incorporates an existing 20,000-square-foot commercial structure. Aiming to break away from the "traditional monolithic office building mass," the design team proceeded with a stepped building profile. 

Located at the building's north-facing facade will be a "grand stair" that's placed where the new and existing buildings will meet. Made of Fortina, this extruded aluminum material has an imprinted texture resembling wood with a "surrounding wood scrim" that compliments the building's CLT construction.

What's most intriguing about the project, however, is its construction process. Archinect connected with West of West co-founding partner Jai Kumaran to learn more about the project's CLT-hybrid construction approach. This month, the project reached an important construction milestone as crews began the installation of 125 CLT panels. This technique is said to save an estimated six weeks of construction time.

Kumaran explained that this approach was "an opportunity to be lighter and more nimble in our approach, both in terms of the design and the project schedule."

"A hybrid-CLT system is a highly-effective solution when weaving together an adaptive reuse building with new construction," continued Kumaran. "The new steel columns and beams are a visual reference to the existing building’s structure, maintaining a continuity of experience as you transition from old to new, and the CLT floors add material warmth while supporting technical and sustainable innovation."

According to West of West, 6344 Fountain will be one of the first CLT-hybrid buildings in Los Angeles. Our editorial coverage of CLT projects in 2022 alone shows that the use and application of this building material continue to grow globally. Job opportunities involving timber and CLT have also grown as well.

West of West is working with developers Bardas Investment Group and the firm House&Robertson on the project's development. The firm has teamed with Del Amo Construction for the project build and LA-based landscape architecture firm SALT, which is leading the integration of more than 2,800 square feet of native gardens within and around the building site. An official completion date has yet to be announced.

View additional project images below.