South Bay Digs covers Warner Music Group Headquarters

In Downtown Los Angeles, the substantial new Warner Music Group headquarters features inspiring, colorful spaces nestled in an old Arts District factory.

It is a new beginning for Warner Music Group: A few months ago, the large record company relocated seven of its groups (Warner Records, Warner/Chappell Music, Atlantic Records, ADA, WEA, Elektra and Rhino)—almost 600 employees—to the historic former Ford Motor Company factory in downtown Los Angeles.

To accommodate the new headquarters, the site—which comprises a five-story tower and an adjoining two-story building, originally designed by architects John Parkinson and George Bergstrom in 1912 as a place to manufacture and show Model Ts—was transformed from an advanced state of disrepair.

In 2014, Rockefeller Kempel Architects led a complete restoration and modernization to preserve and enhance the original character of the building, which has since obtained LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2018. Rockwell Group was in charge of the whole interior design concept based on the record company’s history and catalogue of work, music making and performance. Each one of Warner Music Group’s seven groups has its own space with a distinct look, reflecting the groups’ unique cultures.

Starting on the ground floor, a flexible 150-seat live performance space and adjacent lounge area—that can be used for concerts, presentations or meetings—showcases Warner Music Group’s roster of recording artists and songwriters in an airy atmosphere. Also situated on this floor and the mezzanine, the two-story co-working space features several types of seating and tables, as well as a pool table, a ping pong table and other games. The tones are mostly neutral and combine with the original poured concrete flooring, while pops of blue and purple add freshness and contrast.

The color palette of soft hues with touches of bright tones continues on the first floor, shared by the offices of ADA, WEA and Rhino. The 110-seat commissary, adorned with photos of artists and songwriters, serves Stumptown Coffee and light fare. The lobby features a chandelier installation with the logos of the publishing company and each of the labels while the iconic Warner Music Group “W” button logo is on a wall.

Johnny “KMNDZ” Rodriguez. On the third floor are the offices of Atlantic, which features a custom dyed rope installation in the reception area. On the fourth and fifth levels, Warner Chappell is furnished with pieces referring to Brazilian modernism. Drawing inspiration from the work of iconic Brazilian landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx and located under the L.A. water tower, the rooftop offers fabulous views of the city with lounge seating.

Open and bright, the Warner Music Group’s workspaces merge old and new elements, soft and raw materials, as well as neutral and bold colors in a balanced way that will, for sure, stimulate creativity.

Photographs: Courtesy Of Christopher Payne And Avablu (Walkway)

Article by South Bay Digs

1105 Long Beach in Urbanize LA

More Apartments to Rise Next to Long Beach Blue Line Station

At its meeting on September 20, the Long Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a proposal to construct a mixed-use development near the Blue LIne’s Anaheim Street Station.

Pacific Property Partners, on behalf of owner Leeward Capital of Long Beach, LLC, intends to replace several small commercial buildings at 1101-1157 Long Beach Boulevard with an eight-story structure featuring 120 residential units above 4,997 square feet of ground-floor retail uses and parking for 151 vehicles. Plans call for a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom dwellings, as well as amenities such as a courtyard and a swimming pool. 

Rockefeller Kempel Architects is designing the proposed 87-foot-tall building, which would mask its three levels of at- or above-grade parking with habitable space along its street frontages. Plans call for an exterior of mostly cement and stucco. 

A staff report to the Planning Commission recommends approval of the project, which is called 1105 Long Beach. 

Construction is expected to begin in early 2019, according to website of Plus Development, which is entitling the property. 

The market-rate development is located just south of the Beacon, a 160-unit affordable housing complex that is now under construction. 

-Article written by Steven Sharp Urbanize LA

Citizen News in Urbanize LA

1930s Hollywood Citizen News Building to Become Event Space

An initial study published by the City of Los Angeles has unveiled plans to transform the Hollywood Citizen News Building into event space. 

The Art Deco building, located at 1545 N. Wilcox Avenue, was completed in the early 1930s as the headquarters of a newspaper of the same name. Relevant Group, the owner of several neighboring hotels, is planning to use the upper floor of the three-story edifice as 15,788 square feet of flexible event space while activating the ground floor with two restaurants. 

Rockefeller Kempel Architects is designing the project, which calls for converting alleys that run along the north, south, and west property lines into landscaped paseos and patio seating for the proposed restaurants. 

Construction is anticipated to occur over approximately 12 months. 

The building was recently designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, a distinction granted due to its Art Deco architecture and the influence of the Citizen-News during its 66-year run. The property most recently served as an office building. 

Relevant Group acquired the building in 2017 as part of a joint venture with Miramar Capital. Its prior owner, SE Edinger, had paid $14.5 million for the 49,000-square-foot structure just three years earlier. 

Relevant Group is currently in the midst of construction on a Thompson Hotel and a Tommie Hotel on two properties that abut the Citizen News Building. 

-Article written by Steven Sharp Urbanize LA