Interiors

The Hall of Justice Repair and Reuse Project is a renovation and upgrade of an existing County of Los Angeles building located in downtown Los Angeles. The 335,000 SF project features 308,000 SF of office space equipped with entirely new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that tie back into the existing central plant.

The Hall of Justice was originally built in 1925, and closed because of seismic damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Historical renovations include extensive cleaning of the exterior granite and restoration of the marble-clad grand lobby and loggia. The original elevator cabs were refurbished and installed into the new elevators. In addition, the historic staircases along with one of the courtrooms and law libraries were preserved and restored to their former condition. The jail cells, which used to reside on the upper floors, were removed in order to accommodate functioning office space. The project goal was to restore the Hall of Justice as a landmark for the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center.

Adjacent to the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Architecture & Roski School of Fine Arts, the 790 SF Shop Café is designed to provide a convenient grab ‘n’ go coffee shop for the students and is a continuation of the University’s long-range plan to provide quality on-campus food service to the student body and faculty.

The existing shell, a former student wood shop for the architecture school, was gutted and all remaining elements were painted yellow. The interior architecture consists of a mosaic tile ‘wrapper’ that warps and transforms to seamlessly integrate all functional elements: the condiment counter, the recycling center and the stand-up bar where patrons can enjoy their drinks. The simple wall graphics liken a museum or gallery tag that announces its title, contents and patrons as the media of this living sculpture.

This project provides major tenant improvements to Fullerton’s original Pollak library building which is a 1966 Modernist six-story concrete building with a basement. Our team provided complete re-programming of all floors as part of CSU’s Library of the Future initiative, tenant improvement packages to levels one, four and five, as well as HVAC modernization and life safety upgrades. Improvements include: adding new windows to the existing pre-cast concrete panels on floors 2-6, overhaul of mechanical systems, updated restroom cores and elevator lobbies, miscellaneous accessibility improvements, LED lighting, and new interior finishes throughout. The improvements were conducted via design-build delivery through multiple contract packages and stages.

AC Martin was selected by PCL construction to renovate their 25,800-SF Glendale office to create a “Workplace of the Future”, that meets the varied demographics of today’s workforce. By 2025, 75% of the workforce will be made up of Millennials according to the Brookings Institute. This generational shift is changing the office landscape in new and exciting ways, trading in hierarchy for community. PCL was at an exciting crossroads to rethink conventions, redefine workstyles and, ultimately, create its own “Workplace of the Future”.

Flexible, adaptable, malleable work environments are key markers of a desirable next-generation workplace. By offering a diverse array of workspaces, we aimed to help PCL retain current employees and attract new talent by respecting and accommodating different ways of working. This was done by establishing private offices, huddle spaces, and a general open environment with physical separations from the communal areas centrally located in the plan. The departments are split between the executive and project management/estimating wings based on frequency of required interactions. The wings are tied together with common interstitial spaces, furthering the concept of the office as an ideation studio – an inviting place for people to be comfortable and hang out. This allows the exchange necessary for collaboration and encourages serendipitous dialogue. Lounges, communal tables, built-in benches, and booths ultimately define the ‘heart and soul’ of this workplace. A communicating staircase was added between the two floors, allowing the estimating and accounting teams easier access to the main floor and bolstering the overall team environment.

The major change brought about by the renovation was the breakdown of barriers between departments that interact frequently. Attracting the “next gen” workforce requires answering their need for a flexible, adaptable, malleable work environment. By offering a diverse array of workspaces—open-office seating, collaborative areas, quiet huddle regions--we met the challenges that PCL will face in retaining current employees and attracting new talent. A space for everyone does not mean ‘one size fits all’, but rather a move towards individualization and a customizable work environment that offers choices—quiet and loud, small and large, private and interactive, individual and group, formal and informal.

The Digital Media Arts Center project was developed for Chapman University’s Film School. The design’s primary purpose: to provide an ‘ideation’ lab or creative collaboration studio for faculty and students to exchange ideas and further their craft. Formerly the California Wire & Cable Company building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources, it now functions with 2D animation classrooms, green screen studios, an art classroom, faculty offices and a small but well-appointed, stepped screening room.

The layout of the program takes full advantage of the restored historic shell, made primarily out of brick, by utilizing the expansive glass and steel frame windows and the unique collection of sculptural light monitors and skylights which bathe the interior space in light. The seemingly irregular plan speaks to this alignment of new program and existing site conditions. The primary social spaces and collaboration lounge are located directly beneath the grand light monitor - wrapped in floor to ceiling tack board, Idea Paint and writable translucent glass walls.

Organized as a interconnected series of collaboration spaces, the design trades hallways and corridors for a more academic approach to circulation providing places for exchange and serendipity. Built in niche benches, an oversized communal table, a natural wood communal table and individual student lockers aim to keep students engaged and in the facility before and after classes. A catering bar just inside the glass entry and a BBQ grill just outside ties together the interior social arena with the sizeable exterior covered patio, allowing students to work and collaborate outdoors. The trellis and canopy are integrated into the existing historic architecture and feature a grid of pendant lights that extend the usefulness of the terrace well into the evening hours.

The Madera Courthouse was designed to demonstrate the transparency and dignity of democracy, providing a place to facilitate the workings of the American ideals of justice. It has been positioned on the site to work with the existing Historic Courthouse and Courthouse Park creating a "town square." Oriented towards true north, the monumental public façade reveals itself towards the Park and the greater Downtown area. The transparency in the design of the north-facing elevation welcomes the public and provides a visual connectivity from the outside to the inside. There is a procession and hierarchy in the design of the public flow, transitioning from the informal to the formal experience.

The four-story, steel-framed structure features ten courtrooms and ten judicial chambers with clerical support; administration and jury services; traffic, civil, family, juvenile and criminal divisions; prisoner holding and subterranean parking for judges and key courts personnel; and in-custody vehicle accommodations for the County Sheriff and California Department of Corrections. The design conveys the image of a courthouse, while reflecting the dignity of the public in an approachable way.

The lower lobby transitions hotel guests from the porte cochere to the sky lobby and features a signature art installation by Korean artist Do Ho Suh. The piece, entitled  “Screen”, is composed of 86,000 individually cast resin figures. The multi-colored piece dominates the space spanning the entire height and occupying multiple walls. From here, four double-deck high-speed elevators whisk guests to the unprecedented 70th-floor check-in lobby in under forty seconds. This experience is enhanced by a large digital display screening movie shorts and digital art installations.

AC Martin provided a feasibility study, programming report, and architectural/interior design services for this addition and renovation project. The interior renovation includes a living room surrounded by multipurpose spaces, the admissions office, a new faculty club and several types of foodservice. Adjacent to the faculty club on the third floor is a new rooftop terrace featuring planters, built-in seating and an outdoor living space centered around a fireplace.

Flexibility in programming and overlapping functions informed the design of the facility. Integrating foodservice and entertainment venues was important. The ability to host larger performances and concerts was achieved via operable walls and by designing and specifying light modular furniture that could be pushed aside to accommodate an audience. 

Throughout the space, warm yet modern materials and furnishings were selected to make the center less institutional. Walnut paneling wraps existing concrete columns and forms louvered screens between programmatic functions. These screens allow for visual connectivity while still providing physical separation, breaking down the large space into comfortable nooks and seating areas. Exposed ceilings, carefully located soffits and use of existing ceiling elevations allowed for an economical design that is rich and visually interesting. Glowing pendants, floor lamps and indirect lighting provides the space a feeling of hospitality and an almost residential scale. Furnishings are soft, yet durable and the seating is designed to be light, moveable and inviting.

AVEN is located in South Park, one of Downtown Los Angeles’ most desirable residential neighborhoods, surrounded by landmarks such as the Staples Center and LA Live. This new, 903,000-sf transit-oriented development features 536 residential units and 14,000 sf of commercial/retail space. The residential units comprise 38 floors above ground with views of the Hollywood sign and Downtown Los Angeles skyline, and include a mix of studios, and one- and two-bedroom units, as well as three penthouse units.

AVEN occupies the entire south end of a city block, leaving space for an urban park and enabling pedestrian access across the block via a public paseo. In a similar fashion, the lobby bisects the entire development, connecting to the park and allowing for visual and physical connections to a future development on the alley side.

A unique feature of this project is its expansive amenity deck located on the seventh floor—the California Deck—where views stretch over the tree-lined streets and beyond, but still give a sense of the urban activity below. This space offers a true indoor-outdoor experience, with retractable glass walls, double-sided fireplaces, and dramatic view corridors offering exciting city vistas. It features: a grand lounge, business center, indoor-outdoor fitness center and yoga studio, private barbecue areas, communal/event kitchen, self-serve coffee and concessions, dog run and wash station, activity lawn, basketball half court, full beach volleyball court, and pool and spa. The flexibility and diversity of these spaces embodies California living at its best, day or night. It’s a small “city” on the roof—a hub of various activities promoting social collisions. Another amenity deck located on the 32nd floor—the Ojai Deck—offers a more intimate setting, with an outdoor lounge and fireside gathering space to take in the sweeping city views.

AVEN is nestled within a vibrant section of the flourishing urban community of downtown LA, providing a unique opportunity for residents to take advantage of local art and culture. It includes a six-story parking garage for 800 cars, as well as bicycle parking, and is within steps of a Metro station and a proposed downtown streetcar stop.