The Metro @ Chinatown Senior Lofts

The adaptive reuse project unifies two historic buildings into a cohesive whole.

PROJECT SUMMARY
Client:       Meta Housing Corporation
Location:  808 North Spring St. Los Angeles, CA
Units:       123 Senior Affordable Housing Units
Size:         129,960 GSF (103,230 Residential NSF)
Density:   315 du/ac
Cost:        $25,178,000 ($194 per GSF)
Funding:  4% Tax-Exempt Bond, State of CA - TOD, LAHD
Status:     Completed 2013

The Metro at Chinatown is situated next to the MTA Gold Line within an active neighborhood replete with a variety of retail shops.  The 100% senior affordable project is an adaptive reuse of two concrete buildings that span the block, one nine stories, the other six, both dating to the 1920’s.  The vision was to unify the two historic buildings by synergistically organizing the program elements throughout, while artfully exposing and highlighting historic building features and found objects.  Structural constraints typical of the adaptive reuse of historic commercial concrete buildings, such as, the building envelope, column grid, elevator core and stair wells, posed a challenge.  Additionally, the site presented a grade change of one story from one side of the block to the other.  The program elements are masterfully molded to respond to existing conditions while forming cohesive spatial relationships, ensuring a pleasant flow throughout the building.  For example, the apartments fit within the constraints of the column grid, elevator core and stair wells, necessitating a significant diversity of floor plans.  To accommodate the grade change, a dedicated building entrance and lobby is conveniently accessed from each of the upper and lower streets, with a grand stairway connecting the two.  Community-oriented program, such as manager’s office, art room, laundry room and screening room, are located off the lower lobby, while a game room is positioned off the upper lobby. A seventh-floor community room connects to an extensive roof deck atop the neighboring six-story building, with dramatic views toward Elysian Park.