Project Data:

Completion Date:     7/1/2022

Square Footage:      88000

Building Use:           Community Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC)

Project Description:

The West Hollywood Aquatic and Recreation Center is a study in challenges. Built as a replacement for an aging community gym and aquatics center in an attempt to create more contiguous park space, the ARC reaches beyond the boundaries of the park, spanning across a public street, resting in a parking lot 35 feet below the finished grade of the park. The site is bounded by an existing library and parking structure and a few small businesses and restaurants. Public tennis courts sit on top of the library parking structure. The goal of the project was to bridge the rooftop tennis courts to the ARC, create a main entry to the ARC at the park level and land the bulk of the facility in the parking lot 35 feet below the park.
This was a study in connections.
While the building stretches and pulls between multiple points of connection, an exterior "grand stair" based upon the proportions of the Spanish Steps, rises from the park and connects all levels of the 88,000 SF facility. The stair is symbolic of the broader sense of connection which defines the diverse nature of the West Hollywood community.
The stair is designed as a social gather place, a stadium, a stage, and is part of an overall fitness trail in the park. The stair provides varied experiences as you traverse over 65 feet to the rooftop swimming pools. A respite deck which provides seating and game tables for West Hollywood's older population as well as an event venue for the community and outside vendors breaks the journey and provides spectacular views of the park.
The varied nature of the building program also proved challenging especially given the segmented nature of the site and building footprint. Included in the facility is a local television production studio, automatic parking garage, multiple and varied community room spaces, a multi-sport court, tiny tots center, meeting facilities, social lobby, view deck, respite deck, yoga deck and two roof top swimming pools, one recreation and one competition.
The facility together with the park also are created around a universal access strategy giving everyone regardless of any type of impairment, equal access.
Another major design initiative for the project was a robust sustainable narrative that fueled all design decisions and directions. As a public building built by a low bid contractor, strategies were kept simple and straightforward. The project is tracking LEED Gold Certification as well as petal certification thru the Living Building challenge. The energy efficient envelope and systems beat Title 24 by 25%. The constraints of the site caused the building to have a minimal footprint and there is mitigation of 100% of the stormwater runoff on site.
A 65kW rooftop photovoltaic system supplements site and building power. Passive heating and cooling is achieved through natural ventilation, thermal mass and large format fans. Natural daylight fills the majority of the public spaces and a stacked, automated parking systems minimizes the impact of cars on the site.

Firm Name:              LPA INC

Completion Date:     7/1/2022

Square Footage:      88000

Building Use:           Community Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC)

Location:                 West Hollywood, CA

Project Description:
DESIGN FOR INTEGRATION

The design narrative for the West Hollywood ARC is one based on integration and connection. This is a project that is intimately connected to the place, the people and the process. As a low bid public project, it was imperative that the design team understand that each decision needed to be simple, straightforward and sound. The process began on a public bench in the former park engaging with park users and visitors to understand their vision for what the building could be.
This is a building with which the sole purpose is to serve the community, therefore the community must be fully integrated into the design process. This integrated approach also engenders the users to the project. It is the nature of the use, the process and the location which the community of West Hollywood will fight to preserve.
This design is meant to bridge the challenges of the budget and the constraints of the site with a strong sustainable design narrative, a connection to the community and the spectacular views and weather. Symbolically, the building represents the broader concept of connection through the integration of a figural "grand stair" which connects all levels of the facility directly to the park. The stair is also the center of gathering and community events while also creating a striking central focus to the design.
As an aquatics and recreation center, the facility is designed to support health and wellness. Through smart ,sustainable design strategies the building itself also supports this mission.


DESIGN FOR EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES

West Hollywood is an extremely dense community of very diverse individuals and families. The ARC sits within the West Hollywood Park in the center of the community. The park has always been the center of life for Weho and is bounded by businesses, residences, shops and restaurants. The majority of the users walk to the park as well as the ARC although the facility is attracting use by communities as much as 20 miles away. The design is well connected to the park and the community thru landscape, walking paths and public art. The project and the park were designed under the strict guidelines of universal access which provides equal experiential access to everyone regardless of age or physical impairment.
The very nature of the facility is to connect the community together thru socialization, events, physical activity, and celebration. The project is programmed to serve all aspects of the diverse community from the tiny tots facility, to the multi-sport gym and pools to the respite deck where seniors gather to play chess and checkers and observe the park below.
An integrated public access television studio keeps the community informed while the facility itself works as a safe refuge in the event of an emergency or extreme heat.


DESIGN FOR ECOSYTEMS

As the final phase of a park masterplan project begun in the 1940's, the West Hollywood park plan has managed to morph and change with the most current needs of a modern community. This phase implements a greater responsibility to the environment and the future of the planet as well as more impactful community connections..

The stacked building design implements a minimal footprint to create as much open park space for the residents as possible. While turf was required for park function, all other landscape areas adhere to the sustainable narrative.

A lift parking structure was incorporated which parks twice as many cars in the same amount of space previously supplied by a surface parking lot.
The topography of the park was embraced and utilized to incorporate a multi-level children's play area and a site for a future AIDS memorial. This gesture significantly reduced the amount of cut and fill for the overall project while incorporating diverse uses and community members.
While the function of the site has been a park for almost 100 years, this phase of the masterplan integrates greater community connections and interaction through the potential to support multiple types of community and public events, greater pedestrian connections, safe public restrooms, two dog parks, an outdoor fitness trail, an extensive children's playground, and public art.


DESIGN FOR WATER

The West Hollywood ARC project is the latest public project by a City that strives to be the greenest City in the nation thru example. Water conservation and storm water management are crucial to understanding the holistic vision for the site and the future of the community.
Landscape and water used throughout the park and around the ARC has been redesigned to reflect a drought tolerant and native approach. A 3,000 SF green roof balances the respite deck and assists in storm water mitigation of which 100% happens on site.
An underground cistern collects water for on site irrigation. Grey water collected from the showers and restrooms is also filtered and used for park irrigation. Drought tolerant, native landscape species require minimal water and turf was kept to a minimum for required park programming.

All fixtures utilized within the facility are water efficient and low flow exceeding the baseline by 30% using reclaimed water for all flushing fixtures.


DESIGN FOR ECONOMY

The West Hollywood ARC project was one based in program and function rather then trend. Materiality was based primarily on sustainability and maintenance to ensure longevity. Applied finishes were selective and much of the space and structure was was left raw to reduce cost and complexity.
The contextual relationship of the facility to the park and surrounding structures mandated a simple approach to form and finish which borrowed from or simplified the existing context.

Community connectivity was a paramount concern during the design process and therefore community safety as well.
Connections from the first level drop off, parking structure and public access television studio can happen by stair, elevator or an exterior pedestrian connection. Access to the main level of the facility as well as the gym, the event spaces and the tiny tots area happen directly off the grade level of the park. The Grand Stair access all levels of the facility and is augmented through ramps and elevators guaranteeing universal access to all.
The siting of the building is at the intersection of two primary pedestrian paths enhanced as part of the park remodel project.
From the entry plaza of the building, the community can connect to three main vehicular and pedestrian arteries. While the design connects physically to the community, it also connects visually through stunning, unobstructed 360 degree views of the entire city.


DESIGN FOR ENERGY

As the most recent public project in the City of West Hollywood, the ARC is also the most aggressive sustainable project built within the community. While the building integrates both active and passive strategies, the main objective was to provide cost and energy savings and maximize the heath ad well being of the community.
The building was designed to integrate natural ventilation in the majority of public spaces incorporating large bi-fold doors which open directly to the park.in addition to air flow, natural daylight and views to the park are prevalent in 90% of the interior spaces. The interior environment is also tempered by thermal mass walls and large format fans.

The building feels connected to the park and the environment. In addition, the large volume spaces are serviced through displacement ventilation systems. Exterior spaces were programmed and designed to work as event spaces therefore not limiting all activities within the interior.

An energy efficient building shell beats Title 24 by over 25%. A 65kW roof top photovoltaic array supplements the power for the building as well as the park and energy efficient lighting illuminates both the interior and exterior spaces.



DESIGN FOR WELL-BEING

The West Hollywood ARC is a light filled, naturally ventilated, all access connection to the community. the City has a very robust population made up of extremely active citizens ranging from toddlers to seniors.
A universal access approach to both the park as well as the building ensures not only equal access but an equal experience.
As part of the design committee, members ranged from a seniors and children to the physically disabled. ideas were discussed and tested constantly throughout the design process. The building common and staff areas exploit the dramatic views into the park and most are naturally ventilated. The design features many social and respite spaces of varied form and scale.
From a viewing lounge suspended over the multipurpose sports courts to a respite deck at the mid point of the grand stair. A yoga deck shares the terminus of the grand stair with the outdoor pool deck.
The Grand Stair is designed to be a statement about the diverse community as well as an opportunity to gather, to perform, to exercise and to rest.
It is meant to be a center of social life not only for the park but for the community as a whole.


DESIGN FOR RESOURCES

The previous community structures existed on the park site for almost 60 years. Looking into the future, it is in the best interest of our world to build structures that last.
That happens through an adequate needs analysis, and smart design that it is maintainable, durable, timeless and environmentally responsible.
As a public, low bid project, in a city that strives for sustainability, careful consideration was given to materials that were durable and maintainable as well as locally sourced whenever possible.
Composite woods were combined with reclaimed woods while natural rubber flooring, linoleum and polished concrete dominated the interior spaces along with carpet tiles containing heavy recycled content. Materials were left natural and unfinished to eliminate finish materials as well as reduce maintenance.
Composite and reclaimed wood works together with exposed and Corten steel.



DESIGN FOR CHANGE

The ARC is designed to exist well into the future by creating spaces that are flexible and adaptable but also appeal to a wide variety of uses and users. Spaces have the ability to break down or expand, or conjoin with public space to extend their usability.
The multi-purpose sports courts are designed to accommodate a wide variety of sports uses as well as social functions. The common areas are designed as social spaces as well as civic and cultural event spaces which can expand into the more specialized areas.

Varied community groups as well as private entities that would utilize the facility were consulted and involved in the design process to ensure that the facility had as wide appeal as possible and appealed to as many different uses and functions as possible.
While this project was not conceived as a money making endeavor, there was a cognizance of how the facility could potentially produce a profit from rental fees, special events, and private parties. Therefore the spaces needed to be able and function in may different capacities.
Many events can happen simultaneously throughout the facility maximizing use at any given time.



DESIGN FOR DISCOVERY

The ARC story is one that has already been shared throughout the 8 years of planning and construction of the facility. The design and design process has been presented to community groups, school groups and industry organizations.

From the start of the project, the community has been an integral contributor to the design process. A large and very involved community design review was formed and met regularly to ensure that all members of the community were heard. The group was made up of a wide variety of community users from athletes and seniors to the mobility challenged and even children.

The ARC is meant to be a facility that morphs and changes with the community so therefore community input will always be welcome.
A robust POE will be completed one year after opening the results of which will be implemented if possible.

This project is meant to solicit discovery and delight. it is a respite from the world and a place for joy, special occasions, events and learning. It is only through input and self awareness that this meaning will be maintained. With a central purpose of serving the public, it is imperative that the public's voice be heard.
West Hollywood is made up of a passionate and involved community that understands and deserves good design. The inclusive nature of the design process ensures that each voice is heard and the effectiveness of the design will be lasting.

Design Architect:
LPA Design Studios

Associate Architect or Firm:
N/A

Landscape Architect:
LPA Design Studios (Buildings)

Rios (Park)
3101 West Exposition Place
Los Angeles, CA, 90018

Owner / Developer:
The City of West Hollywood

8300 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood , CA
323/ 848- 6400

Engineer:
LPA Design Studios / MEP Engineering

LPA Design Studios / Structural Engineering

LPA Design Studios / Civil Engineering

LPA Design Studios / Sustainable Design

General Contractor:
Sinanian Development, INC

18980 Ventura Boulevard #200
Tarzana, CA, 91356

Consultant:
Heery International (CBRE) / Project Management

400 South Hope Street Suite 2500
Los Angeles, CA, 90071
619-508-2744

Tangram Interiors / Furniture

1375 Dove Street # 300
Newport Beach, CA, 92660
562-365-5000

Photographer:
Costea Photography

24721 Glenwood Drive
Lake Forest, CA, 92630
714-556-6450