Winners of the 2013 Los Angeles Architectural Awards Announced

At a festive ceremony yesterday afternoon, the Los Angeles Business Council unveiled the winners of its 2013 Los Angeles Architectural Awards. The program recognizes buildings from throughout the region for their excellence in design, commitment to sustainability and impact on the community.

Architectural icon and SCI-Arc founder Ray Kappe was honored with the L.A. Architectural Lifetime Achievement Award. “I am very honored to be given this Lifetime Achievement Award by the Los Angeles Business Council for my 60 years in architectural practice and my contribution to architectural education, as well as my twenty years of involvement with urban design for the City of Los Angeles,” Kappe said.

See below for this year's award winners.

Grand Prize: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Headquarters

Design/Executive Architecture Firm: ZGF Architects LLP
Contracting Company: MATT Construction
Building Owner Company: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Construction Manager Company: Bigelow Development Associates
Location: Agoura Hills, CA

The 22,240-square-foot structure features solar energy panels, water collection systems and a green roof, and is designed to maximize the use of natural daylight.

Community Impact Award: Grand Park

Design/Executive Architect: Mark Rios, Tony Paradowski
Design/Executive Architecture Firm: Rios Clementi Hale Studios
Contracting Company: Pankow
Building Owner Company: The County of Los Angeles
Building Developer Company: Related Companies
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Located in Los Angeles’ urban and civic center, the new Grand Park features 12 acres of vibrant, programmed and active space that celebrates the cultural vitality of the city and its inhabitants.

Community Impact Award: Metro Orange Line Extension

Design Architect: Elaine V. Carbrey, AIA, AICP (Project Manager); Craig Biggi (Senior Designer); Meghna Khanna (Urban Planner/Designer); Dean Howell, ASLA (Landscape Architect)
Design Architecture Firm: Gruen Associates
Contracting Company: Brutoco
Building Owner/Developer: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO)
Location: Chatsworth/Canoga Park, CA

The four-mile extension of the Metro Orange Line features a multi-modal transportation facility within a greenway that includes an exclusive busway, landscaped pedestrian and bicycle paths, four uniquely designed stations, artwork and numerous station amenities.

“Best of L.A. Architects” Award: Sunnylands Center & Gardens at The Annenberg Retreat (Rancho Mirage, CA)

Design Architecture Firm: Frederick Fisher and Partners Architects
Landscape Architect: The Office of James Burnett
Contractor Company: MATT Construction
Building Owner Company: The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
Location: Rancho Mirage, CA

A historic estate that was converted into a cultural and retreat facility now operates as an “oasis in the desert” for public use.

“Best of L.A. Architects” Award: Health Sciences Education Building (Phoenix, AZ)

Design/Executive Architecture Firm: CO Architects
Executive Associate Architecture Firm: Ayers Saint Gross
Contractor Company: DPR Construction & Sundt Construction Inc., Joint Venture
Bldg. Owner/Developer Company: City of Phoenix & Arizona Board of Regents
Location: Phoenix, AZ

The HSEB is an inter-professional, multi-institutional academic medical training facility with a mix of environments supporting 21st century medicine curricula.

Civic Award: Lancaster Museum of Art and History

Design/Executive Architect: Mark Lahmon
Design/Executive Architecture Firm: PSL Architects
Contracting Company: VM General Contractors
Building Owner Company: Lancaster Promenade, LLC
Building Developer Company: InSite Development, LLC
Location: Lancaster, CA

The jewel of a revitalized Lancaster, this museum anchors the city’s main intersection and is the landmark of its cultural community.

Commercial Office Buildings and Headquarters Award: UTA Plaza

Design/Executive Architect: Joey Shimoda and Dan Allen
Design/Executive Architecture Firm: Shimoda Design Group
Contracting Company: Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company
Building Owner/Developer Company: Tishman Speyer
Location: Beverly Hills, CA

The transformed plaza and balcony areas open into inviting, accessible and useable outdoor spaces with new furniture and landscaping.

Design Concept Award: Wilshire Grand

Design Architecture Firm: AC Martin Partners
Contractor Company: Turner Construction Company
Building Developer/Owner Company: Hanjin International Corp./Korean Air
Location: Los Angeles, CA

In a city filled with iconic structures, the new 73-story Wilshire Grand will be the tallest building west of the Mississippi and will transform the skyline of Los Angeles.

Design Concept Award: Sixth Street Viaduct

Design Architecture Firm: Michael Maltzan Architecture, Inc.
Executive Architecture Firm: HNTB Architecture
Building Developer/Owner Company: City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Engineering
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Uniting the Boyle Heights community to the east, the Arts District to the west and downtown, this project will serve as an iconic modern landmark for the city.

Education Award: University of California Los Angeles Court of Sciences Student Center

Design Architect: Taal Safdie, Ricardo Rabines, Susan Richard
Design Architect Firm: Safdie Rabines Architects
Contracting Company: EDGE Development, Inc.
Building Owner Company: University of California, Los Angeles
Location: Westwood, CA

The LEED Gold-certified facility seamlessly integrates a low-profile building with roof gardens and lush courtyard spaces.

Education Award: The Resnick Institute for Sustainability/Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Caltech

Design/Executive Architects & Firm: John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects
Contractor Company: DPR Construction
Building Owner/Developer Company: Caltech
Location: Pasadena, CA

This transformed 1971 campus building creates a LEED Platinum-certified research lab facility, housing collaborations that promote global intellectual advancement.

City of Los Angeles Green Building Award: Playa Vista Elementary School

Design/Executive Architecture Firm: Osborn Architects
Contracting Company: Los Angeles Unified School District
Building Owner/Developer Company: Los Angeles Unified School District
Location: Playa Vista, CA

Playa Vista and Loyola Marymount partnered together to build one of the first LEED-rated schools in the district, which successfully reinterprets standards for design into a strong commitment for sustainability.

Healthcare Award: UCLA Outpatient Surgery and Medical Building

Design/Executive Architect: Michael W. Folonis, FAIA
Design/Executive Architecture Firm: Michael W. Folonis Architects
Contracting/Owner/Developer Company: Nautilus Group
Location: Westwood, CA

Natural light and ventilation, indoor-outdoor connections and transparency contribute to aesthetic ideals, staff productivity and a patient-focused healing environment.

Hospitality Award: Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea – Clubhouse

Design Architecture Firm: Yazdani Studio of Cannon Design
Executive Architecture Firm: Heerim Architects and Planners
Contracting Company: POSCO E&C
Building Owner Company: Songdo International City Development, LLC
Building Developer Company: Gale International  
Location: Incheon, South Korea

Designed by a legendary golfer, Korea’s first golf community sets the standard for private golf clubs throughout Asia.

Housing Award: Nakahouse

Design/Executive Architect: Austin Kelly, AIA and Monika Häfelfinger, SIA
Design/Executive Architecture Firm: XTEN Architecture
Contracting Company: NWGC, Inc.
Location: Hollywood Hills, CA

Nakahouse is an abstract remodel of a 1960's hillside home located on a West-facing ridge in the Hollywood Hills, just below the Hollywood sign.

Multi-Family-Affordable Housing Award: 28th Street Apartments

Design/Executive Architecture Firm: Koning Eizenberg Architecture, Inc.
Contractor Company: Alpha Construction Co. Inc.
Building Owner/Developer Company: Clifford Beers Housing, Inc. and Coalition for Responsible Community Development
Location: Los Angeles, CA

The historic Paul Williams’ 1926 south L.A. YMCA building’s legacy is expanded by providing housing and supportive services directed to youth at risk, the homeless and the mentally ill.

L.A. Architectural Lifetime Achievement Award

Find more winning projects in the image gallery below.

Winner of a Sustainability Award, but unfortunately no photo available, is the project Morphosis Los Angeles in Culver City, CA designed by Morphosis Architects.