The Beacon

As a beacon provides guidance to safe harbor, the building enables residents to set personal anchors, restore wellness and strengthen hope.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Client:              Century Affordable Development
Landscape:      Studio-MLA
Location:        1235 Long Beach Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90813
Units:               160 Units (38 Units for homeless veterans with special needs, 61 Units for homeless
seniors, 59 Units for low-income seniors)
Size:               238,509 GSF (112,917 Residential NSF)
Awards:           2021 AIA LBSB Design Award - Merit . 2020 AIA LA Residential Architecture Award, Affordable Housing - Citation
2020 SCANPH Homes Within Reach Award, Multi-Family Development of the Year
2020 Gold Nugget, Grand Prize, Best Affordable Senior Housing Community Sustainability: LEED Mid Rise Homes Gold Certified
Status: Completed Summer 2020

The design of The Beacon embodies the City’s vision for the project as a gateway to downtown Long Beach, calling for a prominent architectural landmark and program for housing veterans and seniors.  As a beacon provides guidance to safe harbor, the building is conceived as a refuge, enabling residents to set personal anchors, restore wellness and strengthen hope.  Located on Long Beach Boulevard adjacent to public transit, the project provides furnished units for homeless veterans, furnished units for homeless seniors and units for low-income seniors.  Two building volumes rest on a two-story base containing a diversity of common areas and retail space.  A public plaza within the corner tower connects to the senior lobby while a mid-block plaza leads to the veterans lobby.  Additional program includes community room, fitness room and social services offices.   At the courtyard, a clubhouse opens to an outdoor lounge, BBQ area and spa.  The building’s facade responds to the busy thoroughfare.  As the daily tide of commuters flows to and from the city, the balconies echo the direction of travel:  they are open on one side and closed on the other.  Inspired by the beacon concept, the street-level planting design evokes a grounding shoreline, as curvy planters mimic watermarks left by waves rolling upon a beach.  The courtyard landscape design recalls the form and flow of water droplets, with undulating pathways, ovoid rooms and tear-shaped planters offering a counterpoint to the rectilinear architectural form.