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Stampeding ahead in a field of 536 entries, Santa Monica-based Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA) scored the coveted 2013 Golden Nugget Award of Merit earlier this month in three separate categories: Rehab Commercial/Industrial Project, Multi-Generational Concepts – Built or On The Boards, and Senior Housing Community.
The Hotel Wilshire, a chic new 74-room boutique hotel in the heart of Wilshire Boulevard’s Miracle Mile, snagged top honors in the Rehab Commercial/Industrial Project category.
A firm noted for designing numerous adaptive reuse projects in downtown Los Angeles, KFA transformed a hum-drum medical building built in the 1950s into a hip hostelry with broad appeal to sophisticated business travelers and tourists.
A rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the LA skyline and Hollywood Hills includes a fireside lounge, pool and private cabanas. LEED Silver certified, the Hotel Wilshire is a vibrant new center for business and leisure near the heart of many of the city’s cultural attractions.
In the Multi-Generational Concepts – Built or On The Boards category, KFA received kudos for Mosaic Apartments, a 56-unit, $21 million affordable housing project in the historic Pico Union area of Los Angeles. Designed to Silver LEED standard, the three-story building addresses the neighborhood’s historic housing created in the late 19th century and early 20th century– Craftsman, Queen Anne and American Foursquare.
To reinforce the traditional theme, portions of the building are defined by pitched roofs, gables, trellises, and a long linear court reminiscent of a bungalow court walk. Three smaller courtyards, one with playground equipment, add livability to the project. Each building houses a community room providing free social service programs.
Situated in the heart of the NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood, NoHo Senior Villas won in the Seniors Housing Community category.
One of the last projects in the state of California to be developed with assistance from the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, NoHo Senior Villas is a five-story, 49-unit project specifically created to provide a supportive environment for a special needs population, including low income seniors and those living with physical and mental disabilities.
The $16 million project is distinguished by extensive recreational amenities designed to promote a sense of community among residents including a rooftop garden, a landscaped front-yard, central courtyard with a water feature, a large shade tree, and a community room that is also available for neighborhood civic forums.
The building also focuses on wayfinding for its senior residents, with varying color schemes to identify different floors, units, and building elements. The project was built to Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Platinum standards.
