Construction is underway on the much-anticipated renovation of the Dunbar Hotel, originally known as the Hotel Somerville, it was the focal point of the Central Avenue African-American community in Los Angeles during the 1930s and 1940s.
Withee Malcolm Architects’ designs for the project include the complete renovation of the Dunbar Hotel and the Somerville Apartments I and II.
All three properties will be joined to create an 83-unit mixed-use project.
Preserving Dunbar Hotel’s historic brick facade, the new design provides 41 residential units of affordable senior housing with amenities that include a community room, communal kitchen, media lounge, billiard table, library and reading area and fitness room.
Plans for the residential floors convert the space from double loaded corridors into a single hallway lined with windows that look onto the atrium. All units now face out enjoying light from the exterior windows as well as extra light through the glass fronted hall doors. Apartments aredesigned to maximize efficiency with out sacrificing comfort and convenience.
The Somerville Apartments will be rehabilitated into 42 units of affordable housing--2,3,and 4 bedroom units--for families of all ages. The common areas will be reconfigured and upgraded to include a new tot lot, built-in barbecue area, basketball half-court and laundry room. 8,000 square feet of retail will be built on the ground floor of the village, along with a new public plaza and restaurant. Museum in Black, a computer center operated by Los Angeles Trade Technical College and a Head Start childcare facility will also be integrated into the project. BD+C
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Nov 20, 2021
Top 100 Design-Build Construction Firms for 2021
Clayco, Hensel Phelps, ARCO Construction Companies, Swinerton, and Ryan Companies US top the rankings of the nation's largest design-build construction firms for buildings construction work, according to BD+C's 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Nov 19, 2021
2021 Cultural Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. cultural facilities sector
Gensler, AECOM, Buro Happold, and Arup top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Nov 19, 2021
2021 Convention Center Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. convention and conference facilities sector
Populous, KPFF, Lendlease, and Turner Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest convention and conference facilities architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Nov 18, 2021
2021 Multifamily Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. multifamily building sector
Clark Group, Humphreys and Partners, and Kimley-Horn head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest multifamily building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Laboratories | Nov 18, 2021
Tapping into the life sciences building boom
Paul Ferro of Form4 Architecture discusses how developers are pivoting to the life sciences sector, and what that means for construction and adaptive reuse.
2021 Building Team Awards | Nov 17, 2021
Caltech's new neuroscience building unites scientists, engineers to master the human brain
The Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena wins a Gold Award in BD+C's 2021 Building Team Awards.
K-12 Schools | Nov 10, 2021
K-12 school design innovation: 'Learning Everywhere' and the mobile classroom
Last September, AIA San Francisco awarded the Professional Category in its 2021 Future Classroom Competition to a five-person team from Culver City, Calif.-based Berliner Architects. The firm was selected for its “Learning Everywhere” idea that features a mobile strategy for education at school, home, on field trips, and in transit. BD+C's John Caulfield discuss that concept with Richard Berliner, AIA, Principal, Berliner Architects.
Architects | Nov 9, 2021
Download BD+C’s 2021 Design Innovation Report
AEC and development firms share where new ideas come from, and what makes them click.
Architects | Nov 9, 2021
Download BD+C’s 10 Predictions for the Construction Industry in 2022
Our prognostications focus on how AEC firms will streamline and modernize their projects and operations.
Architects | Nov 9, 2021
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects announces renaming
Founded by Cesar Pelli with partners Fred Clarke and Diana Balmori in 1977, the firm began its legacy as Cesar Pelli & Associates at its first office in New Haven, Connecticut.