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
Green | Apr 22, 2015
GSA's Federal Center South Building honored with AIA Top Ten Plus Award for 'verified' sustainable performance
The annual award recognizes green building projects that have quantifiable metrics demonstrating the performance and positive impact of the sustainable design.
Architects | Apr 21, 2015
Megatrends shaping commercial building design
Gensler’s 2015 Design Forecast focuses on how changes in demographics, workplace preferences, and technology are affecting how and why structures get built.
Office Buildings | Apr 21, 2015
Stop the endless debate over open vs. closed work environments
Rather than be confused by the constant stream of opinions, leadership teams contemplating workplace investments should start with powerful employee engagement strategies that drive results.
BIM and Information Technology | Apr 21, 2015
Software tools shouldn't dictate the AEC process
With over 200 solutions on the market, construction software is one of the most complex and fragmented markets, writes Gensler's Mark Thole.
Cultural Facilities | Apr 20, 2015
Jean Nouvel loses court battle against Philharmonie de Paris over alleged design ‘sabotage’
Nouvel boycotted the January opening of the facility and asked for his name to be removed from all references to the work.
Contractors | Apr 20, 2015
Too many construction projects don’t meet owners’ expectations: KPMG report
Causes for delays, overruns, and underperformance include project management talent shortages, distrust between owners and contractors, and the lack of fully integrated project management systems.
High-rise Construction | Apr 17, 2015
Construction begins on Goettsch Partners-designed Nanning China Resources Center Tower
The tower's design is derived from its multiple uses, which include 170,000 sm of Class A office space, 5,000 sm of boutique retail, and a 45,000-sm luxury Shangri-La hotel.
Museums | Apr 16, 2015
SANAA and Snøhetta tie at first place for Budapest museum bid
The two firms submitted designs for the New National Gallery and Ludwig Museum, one of five planned museums to be constructed in a park just outside the urban center of Hungary’s capital.
High-rise Construction | Apr 16, 2015
Construction begins on Seattle's Tibet-inspired Potala Tower
Construction on the 41-story Potala Tower in Seattle finally kicked off following a ground-breaking ceremony seven months ago.
Architects | Apr 14, 2015
Jeanne Gang, Bjarke Ingels among participants for inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial
Some big names include Bjarke Ingels Group and Studio Gang Architects