Project Data:

Completion Date:     9/12/2025

Square Footage:      184700

Building Use:           Mixed-Use, Medical Offices / Senior Housing

Project Description:

This iconic structure was originally developed by members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S), commonly known as the Shriners. Shriners Children Hospital of Los Angeles, located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Koreatown, was constructed in 1952 and designed by the renowned Los Angeles Architectural firm of Chambers & Hibbard (1948-1968), who also designed Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, also in 1952, as well as the Harold C. Chambers House in Los Angeles.

This facility operated for 31 years helping children with debilitating illnesses before renovations took place in 1983 and an addition of 73,500 square feet in 1983. In 2017, Shriners closed their doors at the Los Angeles location and sold the property for $24.5 million, moving their operations to a new hospital facility in Pasadena, leaving the 154,700 square foot historic, brick and steel framed building, a chance at new life.

In 2021 plans were begun for a complete building renovation and transformation into a mixed-use facility, Medical Office Building and Independent Living senior housing complex, comprised of medical offices, an imaging center, surgical center, dialysis center, endoscopy, hyperbaric chambers, physical therapy, and pharmacy and senior citizens apartments. The southern portion of the building, the 1983 addition, was determined to be capable of supporting an additional 30,000 square feet of 40 Senior Independent Living Units at the roof level. This addition would allow residents easy access to medical care as well as giving them a sky deck included on the roof of the new senior apartments for residents’ outdoor use and enjoyment. The development of the Independent Living Units aligns particularly well with the client’s goal for the mixing of everyday uses of this notable building and will showcase modern residential spaces that are extremely functional.

The original building’s exterior, the 1952 northern portion, will be preserved and restored to its original luster and glory while the 1983 southern addition will be updated with a new look and feel with a contemporary design using a current design pallet of materials such as exterior plaster, metal trim, wood siding, perforated metal panels as horizontal sunshades. A light and airy contemporary interior design elements are a key aesthetic to avoid the “clinical” atmosphere typically associated with medical facilities as well as senior housing.

The facility encompasses an entire city block between Geneva and Fourth Streets, and South Virgil and South Commonwealth Avenues with little space for landscaping except at the front and corners of the building; these areas will be upgraded to low water usage planting. There are also four atriums, two large and two small, which will also be upgraded to drought tolerant planting. New energy efficient lighting and new signage will be included in the exterior renovations. The parking on the ground level as well as the mezzanine and the two levels of subterranean parking, will remain unchanged.

Framework for Design Excellence

Design for Resources category was chosen for this simple reason:
Existing buildings are a resource that have value that need to be conserved and considered for other alternate uses when at the end of their original usefulness.
Instead of raising this old, “outdated” building we have chosen to reuse it, renovate it, redefine it and upgrade for an existing need in the community it thereby saving natural and monetary resources, for other uses.

Firm Name:              Varisco Designs

Completion Date:     9/12/2025

Square Footage:      184700

Building Use:           Mixed-Use, Medical Offices / Senior Housing

Location:                 Los Angeles

Design Architect:
Jeffrey Nisbet, AIA

Associate Architect or Firm:
None

Landscape Architect:
Travis Ebbert, ASLA
Ridge Landscape Architecture

Owner / Developer:
MITAA Group

Engineer:
Felix Gonzoles, PE, Adams Streeter Civil Engineers
Luis Flores, EE, A&F Engineering Group
Kyle White, SE, MHP Structural Engineers
Robert Wegenek, PE, Optum Energy Design

General Contractor:
Not Yet Selected

Consultant:
Beverly Stadler, ASID, Design Focus

Photographer:
Not Yet Selected