Morphosis' Emerson College Los Angeles takes Grand Prize at 2014 Los Angeles Architectural Awards

Three dozen of L.A.'s most cutting-edge architecture and design were celebrated today at the 44th annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards in the Beverly Hilton Hotel. A jury of 25 notable design professionals honored entire project teams whose projects exhibit design excellence, commitment to sustainability, and community impact in a multitude of award categories. Sam Lubell, West Coast Editor of The Architect’s Newspaper, acted as moderator.

As a headstart, the Grand Prize went to the Thom Mayne/Morphosis-designed Emerson College LA Campus in Hollywood, while the Los Angeles River won the Community Impact Award. Other notable winners include the Ace Hotel in Downtown L.A., the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, the L.A. City College Student Union, and the Never Built: Los Angeles exhibition.

For the Architectural Awards' 2014 Julius Shulman Emerging Talent Award competition, the three-student team of Woodbury University had the winning vision and design for The REEF, a transit-oriented community hub in downtown Los Angeles.

Take a gander at the full results right below.

Grand Prize: Emerson College Los Angeles

Location: Hollywood 
Design/Executive Architecture Firm: Morphosis  
Contracting Company: Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Company
Bldg. Owner Company: Emerson College 
Structural Engineer: John A. Martin & Associates 
MEP: Buro Happold 
Metal Façade: Zahner

Project Description: Located in the heart of Hollywood, the new Emerson College Los Angeles (ELA) facility establishes a permanent home for the College’s undergraduate internship program, which since 1986 has linked students with professional learning experiences across the entertainment industry.

Community Impact Award: Los Angeles River

Location: Los Angeles 

Project description: The entire Los Angeles River runs 51 miles through urban Los Angeles (both through several  cities and the County of Los Angeles). The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan established four primary goals for the first 32 miles of the River stretching from Canoga Park through downtown Los Angeles.

The project includes 51 stakeholders.

Beyond L.A. Award: Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel

Location: Nesjavellir, Iceland
Designer: Minarc
Structural Engineer: Tov Verkfradistofa ehr
Contractor: Heidar Holt Contractors
Building Owner/Developer: Hengill Fasteingir

Project Description: The vision for the Ion Luxury Adventure Hotel was truly holistic, requiring a design that reflects the natural beauty of the region with clarity and simplicity. It was important to reflect this in a manner that is environmentally considerate, while appealing to the desire for luxury that attracts the upscale adventurer.

City of Los Angeles Green Building Award: Step Up on Vine

Location: Hollywood
Architect: EGAN| SIMON architecture
Contractor:  Shangri-La construction, LP
Building Owner: Step Up on Second, Inc.
Building Developer: Hollywood Community Housing Corporation
M/P Engineer: Hellman & Lobber Consulting Engineers
Structural Engineer: RSA Structural Engineers
Electrical Engineer: OMB Electrical Engineers
Landscape Architect: Landscape Development
LEED Consultant: A Sustainable Production

Project Description: The project seamlessly incorporates passive and active sustainable solutions in the transformation of an existing hotel into permanent supportive housing. Time-tested and innovative architectural elements, along with mechanical systems and recycled content products, provide a healthy and green environment.

Civic Award: Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

Location: Beverly Hills
Architect: Studio Pali Fekete Architects [SPF: a]
Contractor: MATT Construction Corp.
Building Owner/Developer: Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts 

Project Description: The program for the Wallis was to transform the historic post office site into a cultural center for the performing arts, including the 500-seat Goldsmith Theatre, the 120-seat Lovelace Studio Theatre, an education wing, administrative offices, education court and the performing arts support spaces

Commercial Office Building & Headquarters Award: Red Building

Red Building Location: West Hollywood
Design Architect: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Executive Architect: Gruen Associates
Contractor: Jones & Jones
Building Owner/Developer: Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation 

Project Description: The Red Building completes the Pacific Design Center, joining the landmark Blue and Green buildings at the West Hollywood showroom and office complex. The most dynamic of the three, the Red Building has two curved, sloping office towers and a courtyard with palm trees atop seven levels of parking.

Design Concept Award: 9300 Culver Blvd. Mixed Use Development

Location: Culver City
Architect: Ehrlich Architects 
Building Owner/Developer: Combined Properties, Inc. & Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc.  

Project Description: The project includes ground-level retail, a four-story office building, and a dramatic grand stair that leads pedestrians up to a restaurant pavilion and landscaped elevated plaza – all perched above the existing town square.

Education Award: Los Angeles City College Student Union

Location: East Hollywood
Architect: Harley Ellis Devereaux Contractor: S.J. Amoroso Construction Company 
Building Owner/Developer: Los Angeles Community College District 
Construction Manager: Harris & Associates 

Project Description: The new 65,000-sq.-ft. Student Union houses a variety of functions to support students’ daily life and create a strong sense of community. Food services, a bookstore, student offices, computer labs, lounges and banquet spaces are grouped along a terraced plaza extending the network of campus to outdoor spaces.

Hospitality: Ace Hotel

Location: Downtown Los Angeles
Design Architect: GREC Architects 
Executive Architect: Killefer Flammang Architects
Contractor: Benchmark Construction Company, Morley Builders 
Building Owners: Greenfield Partners 
Building Developers: GDS Development & BLVD Hospitality
Operator: ACE Hotel Group
Structural Engineer: Nabih Youssef Associates
MEP Engineer: Donald F. Dickerson Associates
Interior Designers: Commune Design & Atelier ACE 

Project Description: Born as the United Artists office building in 1927, the exquisite Spanish Gothic, 13-story building has been re-imagined into a 180-room hotel to serve the diverse and culturally curious visitors who will be Ace's guests. This adaptive reuse project is located in downtown LA's historic core.

Housing Award: Multi-family (Affordable): 2802 Pico

Location: Santa Monica
Architect: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners 
Contractor: Morley Construction Company | Benchmark Contractors, Inc.
Building Owner/Developer: Community Corporation of Santa Monica
Landscape Architect: Pamela Burton & Company Landscape Architecture
Structural Engineer: C.W. Howe Partners Inc. 
Civil Engineer: VCA Engineers 
Construction Manager: Egan Simon Architecture 

Project Description: This project provides 100% affordable family housing on a previously underutilized site in the heart of Santa Monica's commercial corridor at the intersection of Pico and 28th Streets. The building accommodates 33 units above active retail and community space organized around an engaging courtyard.

Interiors Award: United Talent Agency

Location: Beverly Hills
Architect: Rottet Studio
Contractor: Taslimi Construction Company, Inc. 
Building Owner: Tishman Speyer 
Project Manager: SAW & Associates
Broker: Cushman & Wakefield
Lighting Consultant: Sean O’Connor Lighting
Acoustical Consultant: Newson Brown Acoustics LLC
Information Technology Consultant: SCV Technology Group
Audio Visual Consultant: Cibola Systems
Structural Engineer: Brandow & Johnston
MEP Engineer: ARC Engineering
Furniture Dealer: Western Office Interiors  

Project Description: The design team was commissioned by this firm to design their new headquarters location in Beverly Hills. The project required a great deal of technology to be incorporated into the design with a very small timeframe for construction.

Mixed Use Award: 8500

Location: Beverly Grove
Architect: MVE & Partners, Inc.
Façade Designer: Hetzel Design
Contractor: Bernards 
Building Owner/Company: Caruso Affiliated
Interior Design, Common Areas: BAMO
Interior Design, Penthouse: Waldo’s Designs
Landscape Architecture: Lifescapes 

Project Description: At the gateway to Beverly Hills stands this 252,676-square foot masterpiece, rising eight stories and over 90 feet tall with the sleek lines and finishes of a mega yacht. This iconic mixed-use luxury tower boasts breathtaking 360-degree views, making an urban architectural statement like none other.

Preservation Award: The Forum, presented by Chase

Location: Inglewood
Design Architect: BBB Architects
Executive Architect: House & Robertson Architects 
Contractor: Clark Construction Group 
Building Owner: MSG Forum LLC
Structural Engineer: Severud Associates
MEPT Engineer: M-E Engineers  

Project Description: The Forum is a rehabilitation/restoration and adaptive reuse project. The arena was converted from a neglected and underutilized sports and entertainment venue to a high-end entertainment venue and theater environment. The Forum is poised to be the largest and most important indoor performance venue in the country with a focus on music and entertainment.

Retail/Restaurants Award (Restaurant Bar): Yojisan Sushi

Location: Beverly Hills
Architect: Dan Brunn Architecture
Contractor: Tokyo Construction 
Building Owner/Developer: Giacomino Drago  

Project Description: This project features a surreal, minimalist space for diners to experience this sushi restaurant through a narrative of allusion and light. This subtle surrealism begins with the facade, which beckons guests to enter a threshold subdivided by delicately intersecting planes and creates a transition from city street to refuge.

Click the thumbnails below to see more winning projects.