The Howard and Irene Levine Senior Community, designed by KFA Architecture for Mercy Housing of California, provides badly needed housing for Los Angeles veterans and low-income seniors. The six-story, 69,300 sf building in West Los Angeles was constructed on a city-owned, former LADOT parking lot—a large area of underutilized space. It was designed to replace public parking for neighborhood merchants and a synagogue, as well as for tenants within a 73-car underground garage.
Above the parking levels, the structure provides 48 units of housing for homeless senior veterans and low-income seniors earning at or below 30 percent and 60 percent of the area median income. Rents range between $456 and $976 per month.
The building sports open corridors, allowing for natural ventilation and light into the interior. A large courtyard at the third-floor level provides a central gathering space with views of the Hollywood Hills. The courtyard is surrounded by a community room, an exercise room, and on-site support and service offices led by New Directions for Veterans.
Smaller terraces throughout the building offer quieter seating nooks. The roof deck is adorned with community garden planters and informal seating. Recessed entry doors in alcoves provide a sense of identity for each unit. The Community is walkable and close to transit, markets, cafes, clinics, and other community services. The project compliments the surrounding neighborhood’s fabric.
Strategically Designed for Seniors and Vets
“Our design team viewed this project as an opportunity to provide a healthy and social environment for seniors, with varied spaces that foster different levels of privacy and community interaction,” said KFA Senior Associate, Kristyn Cosgrove, AIA.
All units are designed for accessibility and mobility. All residents have access to a laundry room on their floor. The series of smaller outdoor spaces allow opportunities for people to gather outside in intimate groups. Rooftop solar panels and gray water harvesting for irrigation contribute to a projected LEED Gold rating.
Owner and/or developer: Mercy Housing California
Design architect: KFA Architecture
Architect of record: KFA Architecture
Mechanical & Plumbing engineer: Hellman & Lober
Electrical Engineer: OMB Electrical Engineers
Structural engineer: Englekirk
General contractor: Dreyfuss Construction
Construction Manager: AMJ Construction Management
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022
Top 110 Multifamily Sector Contractors + CM Firms for 2022
Suffolk Construction, Clark Group, AECOM, and Whiting-Turner top the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes all multifamily sector work, including apartments, condos, student housing, and senior living facilities.
Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022
Top 75 Multifamily Sector Engineering + EA Firms for 2022
Kimley-Horn, WSP, Langan, and Olsson head the ranking of the nation's largest multifamily housing sector engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes all multifamily sector work, including apartments, condos, student housing, and senior living facilities.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 90 Construction Management Firms for 2022
CBRE, Alfa Tech, Jacobs, and Hill International head the rankings of the nation's largest construction management (as agent) and program/project management firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 200 Contractors for 2022
Turner Construction, STO Building Group, Whiting-Turner, and DPR Construction top the ranking of the nation's largest general contractors, CM at risk firms, and design-builders for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 22, 2022
Top 45 Engineering Architecture Firms for 2022
Jacobs, AECOM, WSP, and Burns & McDonnell top the rankings of the nation's largest engineering architecture (EA) firms for nonresidential buildings and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 21, 2022
Top 110 Architecture/Engineering Firms for 2022
Stantec, HDR, HOK, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 19, 2022
2022 Giants 400 Report: Tracking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
Now 46 years running, Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report rankings the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. This year a record 519 AEC firms participated in BD+C's Giants 400 report. The final report includes more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 3, 2022
NEW DEADLINE for Senior Living and Student Housing projects for "MULTIFAMILY Design+Construction" Fall issue
Fall 2022 issue of MULTIFAMILY Design+Construction will have reports on Senior Living and Student Housing.
Senior Living Design | Feb 11, 2022
Design for senior living: A chat with Rocky Berg, AIA
Rob Cassidy, Editor of MULTIFAMILY Design + Construction, chats with Rocky Berg, AIA, Principal with Dallas architecture firm three, about how to design senior living communities to meet the needs of the owner, seniors, their families, and staff.
Coronavirus | Jan 20, 2022
Advances and challenges in improving indoor air quality in commercial buildings
Michael Dreidger, CEO of IAQ tech startup Airsset speaks with BD+C's John Caulfield about how building owners and property managers can improve their buildings' air quality.
