Project Data: 

Completion Date:     5/1/2025 

Square Footage:      150000 

Building Use:           Commercial/Retail 

Project Description: 

Located at the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Sorensen Avenue on the former site of the Fred C. Nelles School, The Groves blends historic preservation, contemporary design, adaptive reuse, and a tasteful curation of retail tenants to reinvigorate a historical landmark that was established over a century ago. The commercial hub promotes walkability and exploration by offering its visitors a broad selection of eateries, shops, and places to drink. Anchoring the project is Heritage Court, where the Nelles School historic Administration Building, Superintendent’s Residence, and Assistant Superintendent’s Residence have all been repurposed into retail, office, and food uses, while a new Food Hall building was constructed in a way to pay homage to former gymnasium that had been onsite but was no longer structurally viable. Like most adaptive reuse projects, the design process of the Heritage Court buildings involved delicate and deliberate decision-making to repurpose the century-old structures into a new community asset. Existing construction methods and original building materials like brick and mortar, wood shake, and single-pane plateglass windows and doors required attention, respect, and creative solutions to ensure the building could function as a modern-day retail and food destination. The project successfully expresses to the architectural layman that the details, inside and out, matter on all scales. It acknowledges the significance and history of the site, creating a meaningful connection to the past and unique sense of place for the people of Whittier and its visitors. Surrounding Heritage Court are site design features created through a healthy dialogue between landscape and architectural design. Pedestrian connectivity, activated frontages, and a series of gathering spaces all coexist throughout the site to create an open-air shopping and dining experience that benefits both patrons and business owners. As an anchor to the entire retail center, Rodeo 72 stands as a modern public market with curated food stalls, boutique vendors, and programmed outdoor areas all designed to foster a cultural and culinary destination for all its visitors. From its strategic site planning to its mix of adaptive reuse and new construction, The Groves at Whittier exemplifies retail placemaking at its best and acknowledges the significance of blending heritage and modernity to not only welcome future generations but to also pay respect to those who call Whittier home. 

Design for Integration, Design for Equitable Communities, Design for Economy, Design for Well-being, Design for Change, Design for Discovery 

Design for Integration: This project centers on reconnecting people to place through the restoration of three key structures—the Administration Building, Superintendent’s Residence, and Assistant Superintendent’s Residence —honoring their historic character while adapting the spaces for contemporary use and community engagement.

Design for Equitable Communities: Alongside restored historic buildings, the new Rodeo 72 food hall honors the site's heritage while promoting equity and inclusion through modern, re-envisioned design elements. Both new and existing Whittier residents alike are welcomed into this space with amenities and tenants that serve and uplift the community.

Design for Economy: For vendors, the Rodeo 72 food hall offers lower startup costs, shared infrastructure, built-in foot traffic, and flexible leasing options. For developers and operators, it offers higher space utilization, lower risk when offering diverse options, and an overall community appeal of fast-casual dining options.

Design for Wellness: Offering wellness-centered pedestrian access, natural light and ventilation, open-air corridors, outdoor walking paths, and open, large glazing creates an environment where exploration and physical interaction with the site is encouraged. Exterior design elements such as seating areas and outdoor dining space engage the community in a healthy way.

Design for Change: Longevity and historical preservation drove many of the design decisions of this project. Preexisting structures are given a new life in two ways: adaptive reuse that respects Whittier culture and history, but also creates new experiences, new views, and new city appeal with design choices that invigorate and excite Whittier residents and visitors.

Design for Discovery: The project team witnessed both historical change occur within this project, as well as environmental change as the project broke ground. The evolution of retail and commercial spaces was a point of conversation throughout the project’s many phases, and a sense of character was created from turning old into new, while still paying homage to existing structures, architectural styles, and themes of the community. The residents of Whittier were top of mind when designing The Groves, and the careful consideration of the site constraints, key design elements, and overall enjoyment of this project. 

Completion Date:     5/1/2025 

Square Footage:      150000 

Building Use:           Commercial/Retail 

Location:                 Whittier, CA 

Design Architect:

Bickel Group Architecture

Associate Architect or Firm:

N/A

Landscape Architect:

SWA
RLA

Owner / Developer:

Almquist

Engineer:

Structural Engineer: Wright Engineers
Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer: Building Mechanical Systems
Electrical Engineer: WSP
Civil Engineer: Tait
Civil Engineer: C3 Civil Engineering

General Contractor:

Layton Construction
CM Corp
Primus

Consultant:

ESA

Photographer:

Will Hare Photography