Fuller Lofts Lincoln Heights, CA
A prime example of smart urban development, the Fuller Lofts project is a 127,500 sq. ft. adaptive reuse and nearly 30,500 sq. ft. vertical expansion of a 1920s concrete industrial building in a depressed neighborhood of east Los Angeles. Located convenient to a station on a recently constructed light-rail line, the Fuller Lofts was the first transit-oriented development begun in the area and has spurred the revitalization of Lincoln Heights. Consisting of 102 units of affordable, workforce, and market-rate lofts along with 15,500 sq. ft. of commercial space, the program adds two stories of penthouse lofts above the original four-story structure. The design solution for Fuller Lofts creates a juxtaposition between new and old. The original neoclassical façade is preserved—along with the elegant, formal lobby—and crowned by a steel-clad façade wrapping the addition on the upper floors. Inside, an atrium courtyard was cut into the structure, bringing light and air into the center of the building and thereby reducing the mechanical systems needed. The courtyard was designed with an exterior stair and walkway system to build community through informal interaction. Two roof-top gardens—one open to all occupants—further enhance residents’ quality of life along with operable windows in every unit, many of which also have private balconies.