Interior Architecture Preserves Original 1940s Warehouse in Santa Monica’s Former Industrial Corridor

Santa Monica, CA, October 3, 2012
Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio, Inc. with Andy Waisler has recently completed an adaptive reuse of a 1940s bowstring truss and brick warehouse in what was Santa Monica’s Industrial corridor, now a hotbed of entertainment and hi tech. The 17,000 square foot building was artistically designed for a well-known, International animation studio that has achieved significant commercial success. Urban Studio designed an interior renovation that is warm, forthright and efficient, while also elegant and inspiring.

As is a consistent throughout all of Urban Studio's designs, sustainability and conservation were of paramount concern throughout the tenant improvement process. The design maintains the structure of 1940s bowstring truss and brick warehouse along with stripped down and polished concrete floors. The centerpiece is the ‘Cube’ which houses a screening room, two editing rooms and a central IT/Server room for the entire office. Designed with a small black band that secures the foundation of the room, the office appears to float within the space.

Urban Studio’s design successfully offers maximum flexibility of space, as the use of the studio varies widely, including viewing and editing spaces, general offices, and production facilities. The plan is open with privacy between offices and creates a visual connection to the overall space.  On the mezzanine level architectural steel stairs connect to an overhead bridge and the conference room, which overlooks the ‘Cube’. The use of consistent and clean materials, the design shines as a representative example of Urban Studio's keen eye for clean and sharp design. Oversized sliding doors connect the interior to the outdoor garden area, bringing in the Mediterranean light and fresh sea air.