Construction Tour: Audrey Irmas Pavilion at Wilshire Boulevard Temple
A rendering of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion. Rendering courtesy of OMA New York.
At the corner of Wilshire and Hobart Boulevard sits the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a worship space for the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles. The Moorish-style building, completed in 1929 by architect Abram M. Edelman, will soon be joined by a new multi-purpose event space for both the congregation and the surrounding city. Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA New York, the Audrey Irmas Pavilion sits adjacent to the 1929 temple in a 5-story trapezoidal form that respects the landmarked building by sloping away from it, opening up a view corridor to the temple’s east facade. Steel superstructure has topped out and facade installation will soon be underway.
Southwest corner of the temple (left) and the new pavilion (right).
South facade of the temple (left) and the new pavilion (right).
The pavilions trapezoidal massing is punctured by three distinct volumes - a main event space, a smaller multi-purpose room and a sunken garden - that frame views of the temple and the surrounding neighborhood.
Southwest corner of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
South facade of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
Southeast corner of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
Rendering of the west facade of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion (left) and the temple (right). Courtesy of OMA New York.
West facade of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
Southwest corner of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
Looking up at the west facade of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
Rendering of the east facade of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion. Rendering courtesy of OMA New York.
Exterior cladding for the pavilion will pay homage to the temple dome’s octagonal tiling with hexagonal glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels. The pavilion will be clad in 1280 of these panels, which are approximately five-and-a-half feet tall and weigh 200 pounds. Rectangular windows and louver screens are inset into the hexagons and rotated in a randomized pattern that lends further texture to the facade.
Facade mockup.
Southwest corner of the Audrey Irmas Pavilion.
Rendering of the ground floor main event space. Rendering courtesy of OMA New York.
The main event space on the ground floor will reference the temple’s iconic dome with its 36-foot tall arced ceiling that spans the entire width of the space. Extending north to south, the arc creates a column free space capable of hosting a variety of programs. A skylight at the ceiling will allow for views of the temple’s dome, continuing the building’s engagement with the existing structure.
Main event space from the level one mezzanine.
Looking up through the skylight to the temple’s dome from the main event space.
Above the main event space, the second floor will offer a chapel, meeting spaces, and a west facing outdoor terrace with views to the existing temple . Offices will occupy the third floor.
Second floor outdoor terrace.
Second floor outdoor terrace.
The fourth floor will serve as the future home of the Wallis Annenberg Center on Purposeful Aging with programming dedicated to wellness, creativity, tech exploration, social connection, community engagement, and financial security.
A sunken garden extends vertically through the pavilion floors up to the roof, furthering the vertical connection of space with circular and semi-circular slab openings. The roof terrace will feature numerous planters and olive trees
Future home of the Wallis Annenberg Center on Purposeful Aging.
Roof terrace.
Looking down to the sunken garden from the roof terrace.
View west towards the existing temple from the roof terrace.
Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Looking up at the temple’s dome.
Modeled after Rome's Pantheon, the temple’s Byzantine revival dome, modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, measures 100 feet in diameter and rises 135 feet to the top from the street. The temple’s interior perimeter is ringed by the Biblically-themed Warner Memorial Murals, painted by Hugo Ballin and commissioned by the Warner Brothers.
View towards the Rose Window.
Architect: OMA New York (Design Architect), Gruen Associates (Executive Architect); Structure, MEP, Facades: Arup; Landscape Architect: Studio-MLA; Performance Space Consultants: Theatre DNA; Signage and Graphic Design: Space Agency; Civil Engineering: Rhyton Engineering; Lighting: L'Observatoire International; Client: Wilshire Boulevard Temple; Program: ; Location: Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA; Completion: Late 2020.
Construction Tour: 90 Sands Street
Supportive housing provider Breaking Ground is set to turn a former hotel for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society into permanent supportive and affordable apartments for formerly homeless and low to moderate income individuals. Located at 90 Sands Street in Downtown Brooklyn, the 29-story tower was built in 1992 to house members of the Jehovah’s Witness. As part of a larger selling off of the Jehovah’s Witness’ assets in Downtown Brooklyn, the building was sold in 2017 and eventually acquired by Breaking Ground from RFR in 2018.
The current plan to repurpose the former hotel requires approval through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) given the site’s zoning for manufacturing use. When completed, the Beyer Blinder Belle led renovation will offer 507 residential units ranging from studios to 1-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to a range of health and employment services as well as a multipurpose room for community events and meetings, a digital library, a fitness room, and plaza space for public use. Breaking Ground will also seek out community serving uses for the existing vast spaces at the lower levels for meetings and food service that were built for the hotel. Before construction begins later this year, I was given a tour of the building which has not been altered since the Jehovah’s Witness moved out in 2017.
Lobby
Lower Level Meeting and Food Preparation
Residential Floors
Rooftop Terrace
Architect (Renovation): Beyer Blinder Belle; Landscape Architect: W Architecture and Planning; Client: Breaking Ground; Program: Supportive and Affordable Housing; Location: Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY; Completion: 2021.
Construction Update: Maverick at 215 West 28th Street
Southeast corner from West 28th Street.
Facade installation is ongoing at HAP Investment’s 215 West 28th Street, a 21-story residential rental and condo building in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Designed by DXA Studio, the development features a facade divided into two halves defined by a dark and a light faceted precast concrete panel. When completed, the development will offer 112 rental and 87 condo units with ground floor retail.
Looking up at the south facade.
Looking up at the south facade.
Architect: DXA Studio; Developer: HAP Investments; Program: Residential Rental and Condo; Location: Chelsea, New York, NY; Completion: 2021.
2550 3rd Avenue - Tres Puentes
Southeast corner of the west building.
Tres Puentes, part of the South Bronx’s recent revitalization, is a two building senior housing development recently completed by SGVA. The project includes 175 apartments for seniors and individuals with special needs spread across two buildings, a 11-story west building and a 8-story east building. Along with the residential units, the project includes 10,000 square feet of health-oriented commercial and community space. The adjacent Borinquen Court Senior Center has also been expanded for neighborhood residents.
Southeast corner of the west building.
Close-up of the east facade of the west building.
Close-up of the east facade of the west building.
South facade of the west building.
Close-up of the south facade of the west building.
Southwest corner of the west building.
South facade of the east building.
Close-up of the south facade of the east building.
Architect: SGVA; Program: Affordable Senior Housing; Location: Mott Haven, Bronx, NY; Completion: 2019.
Construction Update: Columbia University Business School
Facade installation is ongoing at the new home for the Columbia Business School at the university’s Manhattanville campus. The Business School’s two new structures, known as The Ronald O. Perelman Center for Business Innovation and the Henry R. Kravis Building, are located on a site to the north of the first phase buildings by Renzo Piano. Design on the two buildings is led by Diller Scofidio + Renfro with FXCollaborative and associate architects AARRIS ATEPA Architects. James Corner Field Operations are designing a central open space. Curtain wall installation is nearing completion on the Kravis Building, and installation is underway on the Perelman Center.
The Henry R. Kravis Building
Rendering of the Henry R. Kravis Building. Rendering by DBox.
Looking up at the south facade of the west building.
The Commons space at the Kravis Building.
The Commons space at the Kravis Building.
The Commons space at the Kravis Building.
The Perelman Center for Business Innovation
West facade of the Perelman Center.
Rendering of the Perelman Center. Rendering by DBox.
Southwest corner of the Perelman Center.
West facade detail of the Perelman Center.
Close-up of the southwest corner of the Perelman Center.
The Forum space at the Perelman Center.
The Forum space at the Perelman Center.
The Forum space at the Perelman Center.
East facade of the Kravis Building.
Southwest corner of the Kravis Building (left) and the Perelman Center (right).
Southwest corner of the Kravis Building (left) and the Perelman Center (right).
West facade of the Kravis Building.
Southwest corner of the Kravis Building (left) and the Perelman Center (right).
Looking northeast towards the Manhattanville campus, including the Business School (left), the Lenfest Center for the Arts (right), and the Jerome L. Greene Science Center (far right).
South facade of the Kravis Building.
Southwest corner of the Perelman Center.
Northwest corner of the Kravis Building.
West facade of the Kravis Building.
Detail of the Kravis Building’s southwest corner.
Close-up of the west facade of the Kravis Building.
West facade of the Perelman Center.
West facade detail of the Perelman Center.
Northwest corner facade detail of the Perelman Center.
Architects: Diller Scofidio + Renfro with FXCollaborative and AARRIS ATEPA Architects; Landscape Architect: James Corner Field Operations; Program: Education; Location: Manhattanville, New York, NY; Completion: 2021.
Construction Update: 45 E 7
East facade from 2nd Avenue.
Scaffolding has come down at 45 East 7th Street, a 7-story residential condo building on the Lower East Side by developers Immobiliare Capital, Premier Equities and Nexus Building Development Group. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the facade features tan brick and large punch windows. When completed, the building will offer 21 residential condo units ranging in size from one-to-three-bedrooms and retail on the ground floor.
Southeast corner from 2nd Avenue.
South facade from East 7th Street.
Northeast corner from 2nd Avenue.
Architect: Morris Adjmi Architects; Developers: Immobiliare Capital, Premier Equities and Nexus Building Development Group; Program: Residential Condo, Retail; Location: Lower East Side, New York, NY; Completion: Late 2020.
Construction Update: Asteras Kings
West facade from North Kings Road.
Construction is underway at Asteras Kings, a residential building by Asteras Properties in the West Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. The four-story development will offer 25 residences ranging in size from one-to two-bedrooms, each with an average of 300 square feet of private open space. Residences will feature Italian-designed kitchens, floor-to-ceiling flush-sill sliding glass doors, walk-in closets and dressing rooms by Giesllesse, and marble stone tile in all living, dining, and kitchen areas.
Rendering of the southwest corner from North Kings Road. Rendering courtesy of Asteras Properties.
Ground floor residence with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.
Rendering of a residence with private balcony. Rendering courtesy of Asteras Properties.
Private balcony.
Pass through kitchen looking out onto a private balcony.
Residents will have access to a range of amenities including an on-site theater, fitness studio, a third-floor rooftop with a cocktail area, fire pit lounge, and heated spa pool.
Rendering of the third-floor rooftop terrace lounge. Rendering courtesy of Asteras Properties.
Third floor rooftop terrace.
Future fitness studio looking out onto the third floor rooftop terrace.
View from the fourth floor fitness studio.
Architect/Developer: Asteras Properties; Program: Residential Rental; Location: West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA; Completion: 2020.
Construction Tour: 543 West 122nd Street - The Vandewater
East facade from West 122nd Street.
Facade installation has wrapped up at Savanna’s 33-story residential condo tower The Vandewater adjacent to the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Morningside Heights campus. Designed by INC Architecture and Design, the tower takes cues from the classical neo-gothic architecture in the surrounding Morningside Heights neighborhood with it’s concrete and glass facade. The tower is clad in concrete panels with a weathered limestone patina that references the nearby Riverside Church and nearby residential buildings. Oversized in-swing casement windows are integrated into the facade panels.
Southwest corner from West 122nd Street.
Looking up at the southeast corner from West 122nd Street.
Residential amenities will include: a salon; a great room with full catering kitchen, dining room, and living room; a club room with large format TV screen and wet bar; practice room; teen room; study rooms; Little Forest children’s playroom; fitness center by The Wright Fit; and aquatics center with 70 foot long heated swimming pool. Michael Van Valkenburgh is leading the design of the outdoor spaces including the private gardens and outdoor dining terrace.
GFRG shaped columns in the ground floor lobby.
Part of the satin nickel spiral staircase to be installed at the ground floor.
When completed, the tower will offer 183 units ranging in size from one-to-four bedrooms. Kitchens will feature custom oak cabinetry with pewter hardware, polished Perla Venata Quartzite countertop and backsplash, honed brown antiqued granite island countertops, and Miele appliances. Master bathrooms will feature honed Windsor Cream marble walls and floor tile, custom stained white oak double vanity with honed black travertine countertop and under-mount porcelain sinks, custom mirrored medicine cabinet, custom pewter lavatory faucet and accessories, and under-mount soaking tub with honed Windsor Cream marble surround.
View south towards Midtown from a top floor apartment.
View south towards the Columbia University campus and Midtown from the rooftop terrace
View south towards Midtown from the rooftop terrace.
View east towards East Harlem from an upper floor.
View northwest towards Columbia University’s Manhattanville expansion campus and Harlem from the rooftop terrace.
Architect: INC Architecture and Design; Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates; Developer: Savanna; Program: Residential Condo; Location: Morningside Heights; Completion: 2020.
Construction Update: Cornell Tech Executive Education Center and Graduate Hotel
West facade of the Graduate Hotel (center left) and the House at Cornell Tech (center right).
Facade installation is nearing completion at Cornell Tech’s Verizon Executive Education Center and Graduate Hotel. Designed by Snohetta, the project includes a 18-story hotel and an adjacent 4-story structure for academic conferences, executive programs and academic workshops.
Close-up of the west facade of the hotel.
The hotel will be operated by Graduate Hotels, a chain that operates in college towns throughout the United States. Graduate Roosevelt Island will offer 196 rooms for visiting families, academics and visitors in town for campus conventions and events. Amenities will include a restaurant, rooftop bar, and flexible event space.
Looking up at the west facade of the hotel.
Looking up at the west facade of the hotel.
Facade installation is nearing completion at the executive education center, which consists of floor to ceiling glass panels with wood and metal vertical fins for sun mitigation.
Southwest corner of the hotel (center) and the executive education center (right).
Cornell Tech campus.
Southwest corner of the hotel (background) and the executive education center (foreground).
Cornell Tech campus from the East River.
Architects: Snohetta; Client: Cornell Tech with AJ Capital Partners; Program: Hotel, Conference and Meeting; Location: Roosevelt Island, New York, NY; Completion: 2020.
Construction Update: Front & York
Aerial view from the south.
Superstructure is nearing topping out at Front and York, a 21-story residential development by CIM Group and LIVWRK at 85 Jay Street. Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the 1.2-million-square-feet project features an 8-story podium and a tower at the northeast and southwest corner of the massive Brooklyn site. Rental apartments will be located in the podium, while one-to-four-bedroom condo units will occupy the two towers.
Rendering.
Aerial view from the south.
Southwest corner from York Street.
South facade.
South facade.
Custom Glen-Gery bricks and divided light windows clad the podium and towers. A scalloped, custom molded GFRC superframe, handcrafted in the Hudson Valley, overlays the facade in a 6 bay tall grid.
Brick and glass facade with superframe.
Looking up at the GFRC superframe.
Midtown view from a tower floor.
View southwest from the northeast tower.
View northwest towards Lower Manhattan.
View northwest towards Lower Manhattan.
View north towards Hudson Yards.
View north towards Midtown.
View north towards Midtown.
View south towards Downtown Brooklyn.
Residents will have access to a range of amenities on the 8th floor podium roof terrace including a co-working lounge, media lounge, game room, music room, kids playroom, party lounge, chef’s kitchen, bar and billiards room, wine room, coffee lounge, outdoor screening area, and outdoor pool with grilling area. A three level Life Time Fitness flagship will offer an indoor pool, full-size basketball court, fitness floor, five studios, and space for personal and small group training. Other amenities include a porte-cochere and driveway and the largest residential garage in DUMBO.
Looking south towards the future wine room (right) and outdoor pool area beyond.
Looking west towards the southwest tower (center) and the coffee and party lounges (left) at the 8th floor amenity deck.
A half acre Private Park will occupy the center of the development at the ground floor. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, landscape architect for the nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park, is leading the design of the tiered park.
View of the Private Park from the podium rooftop terrace.
Looking west inside the Private Park.
Looking up from the Private Park.
Architects: Morris Adjmi Architects; Landscape Architects: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates; Developer: CIM Group and LIVWRK; Program: Residential Rental and Condo; Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY; Completion: 2021.