LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[LAisthePlace]

Originally Posted by craigs

I'll take the concert hall over an empty lot. Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good. Empty lots have a way of sticking around for decades, and that would be a bigger tragedy than a less than perfect expansion of Colburn.

100%. Do you all know how many cities would KILL for a quarter of a billion (!), private investment into the arts to build a world-class sounding set of venues designed by the world's most famous architect??

Even if you don't think its Gehry's "best work" or you don't like his style at the end of the day this I can't imagine wanting this to stay a ratty dirt lot vs. something that can round out what has to be considered now the 2nd most comprehensive arts center/neighborhood after the Lincoln Center once this is done.

There are still tons of surface parking lots, parking garage, underutilized buildings all throughout Downtown where we can have more skyscrapers, more impressive "wow" architecture, etc.

I really hope this one happens asap.

To give a similar example I imagine many of your would hate if you hate this new design for the Ronald Perelman Performing Arts Center in NYC. https://rex-ny.com/project/the-perelman-wtc/



Lower Manhattan (not known for its lack of density...) is currently getting what is a $500M glorified cube. I happen to like it, but what comes first in these types of investment are the venues and acoustic themselves.

We just got extremely lucky with Walt Disney Concert Hall that it is world class both architecturally on the exterior and acoustically on the interior.

[LAisthePlace]

Originally Posted by badrunner

Am I the only one who hated the old Colburn design? Kinda glad they killed it lol, even if the new one is a "downgrade."

I definitely went against the grain in that I disliked the main glass covered building. Seemed to me a bit "cheesy" in a wow look at me sort of way. Not the class and restraint even with whimsy Gehry usually can balance.

I however did like the stainless steel building with the red accent. Seemed almost bauhaus to me.

Still would have been happy to have that built as designed though.

[nmkef]

Personally I like the new design better from a "lives nearby and wants to walk around nice areas" standpoint. It helps better activate the area at the street level with the garden/plaza on the lower side, and the additional wall/frame on the upper side will only help with heat/shade lol. Building design is more minimal sure, but it's also slick in that manner. More interested like others have said in having the tangible benefits like new concert and park space than a pretty thing people take instagram shots of. Both is nice of course, but development isn't free.


Other news: https://commercialobserver.com/2022/03/l...hsqBkLJnPhsGYe3ODqQng3p8Hh4SqD8NMRH9LJPE

8 story, ~200 "micro-unit" property near Staples center around 14th & Flower has secured funding. Great example of what we can probably see more of after DTLA2040. They used transit incentives and other things to eliminate parking requirements in this case but I could see this being a pretty standard "lot-filler" template moving forward.





Article from 1yr ago
https://urbanize.city/la/post/another-micro-unit-apartment-complex-planned-downtown-la

[scania]

The first was cool to look at from afar. But, this one is more welcoming and encourages people to physically engage with the building. Instead of simply driving by in their cars.

[NIMBY Slayer]

Originally Posted by black_crow

I was going to say that too, but was like... "calm down", that would sound too harsh.

But yes, I rather take the dirt hill and wait for something more fitting. The inside looks very good though...

I can eventually get past the bland design but what bothers me the most is the interaction with both Olive and Hill and W 2nd. St.

If this get's build as is, it will be there for generations. It's not a stucco shit box that can/will be torn down and replaced in 10-20 years. It will be there a long long time.

So to have such terrible street interaction with the set back and turning the hill into a giant wall and that odd fencing on the Hill street side, I'd rather wait a few more years and have them build something that checks all the urban marks.

[dax_gray]

Originally Posted by LAisthePlace

To give a similar example I imagine many of your would hate if you hate this new design for the Ronald Perelman Performing Arts Center in NYC. https://rex-ny.com/project/the-perelman-wtc/

This is actually beautiful. Nice angles and cuts at the bottom. Beautiful facade. I would 100% take this over Colburn.

But going back to that... I think if they removed the walls on 2nd street and Angelus Towers, add more trees on the Hill plaza, and perhaps a grand sign "Colburn Performance Center" or something like that I would be more open to it. Maybe a nice wall sculpture or mesh. Something that doesn't scream LA Valley college like someone else mentioned.

[LDVArch]

Originally Posted by LAisthePlace

To give a similar example I imagine many of your would hate if you hate this new design for the Ronald Perelman Performing Arts Center in NYC.

[...] We just got extremely lucky with Walt Disney Concert Hall that it is world class both architecturally on the exterior and acoustically on the interior.

That's not just any cube. It has a translucent stone facade, similar in effect to the facade of the Beinecke Library (Yale) or the "wiindows" at the LA Cathedral.

Shame that Gehry's ability to create facades is limited. If he can't manipulate the forms, he has no facade.

... The other "lucky" part about Walt Disney Hall is that it was named after "Walt Disney."

It's a shame that Ron Perelman's name will be associated with a cultural venue in NY. Read the recent NYT profile on him.

[citywatch]

The colburn still has to raise an additional $80 million to fully fund its proj. Money doesn't grow on trees....moreover, the cost of everything across the board keeps rising higher & higher.

btw, the apt tower long proposed for the NE corner of 4th & Hill, a few blocks south from the planned kohl concert hall, not only still isn't under construction, the site it's supposed to go up on continues to have the small taco house bldg sitting on it. Demo permits were issued for it over a yr ago, but the devlpr....an american company....must have lost interest in the proj?



therealdeal.com


https://therealdeal.com/la/2022/03/18/co...plans-for-350m-expansion-on-bunker-hill/

The $350-million expansion is much smaller than the one announced four years ago for the Grand Avenue Arts corridor, which called for two performance halls with seating for 1,100 and 700 guests.

Likewise, former plans for a shimmering glass facade now call for a stainless steel exterior design. Or if the budget allows, titanium with a pinkish tint.

The updated design adds new open space, including a roof garden above the studio theater and a garden behind a gated entrance at Hill and 2nd Streets. A new plaza would replace a small parking lot at 2nd and Olive Streets.
A two-story stack of four glass-encased dance studios will be capped by a studio theater with 100 seats facing Hill Street, allowing passersby to view training and performances.

The private performing arts school, founded in 1950 as a former affiliate of USC, has raised $270 million toward its $350 million expansion. Major donors include Carol Colburn Grigor, who has led the campaign, and Terri and Jerry Kohl, whose names will adorn the concert hall.

[craigs]

Urbanize Los Angeles has a few additional renderings of Colburn's expansion:



https://urbanize.city/la/sites/urbanize....nter_Gehry%20Partners.jpeg?itok=CLhFbV7W

[craigs]

From LA Reddit; not the best photo but it shows how tall Brookfield is (and skinny from certain angles).

[headcheckjj]

So, the Colburn extension will still leave a surface parking lot here?

[Easy]

^Yes. According to ChelseaFC's map that lot is part of the Grand Avenue project, so it wouldn't be developed by the school.

Downtown LA Development Map

[citywatch]

^ correct.

The head of the Colburn said they may break ground by the end of the yr. He held a forum yesterday for students & parents....this doesn't reveal anything more about their proj but gives a bit more insight into the ppl behind the facade, valley college or not:


• Video Link

[headcheckjj]

So there's hope that additional height and density will come by way of that lot?

[craigs]

Originally Posted by headcheckjj

So there's hope that additional height and density will come by way of that lot?

Hope springs eternal! The empty lot next to the Colburn extension would be a better candidate for a tall building anyway, as it is catty-corner to The Grand but not directly adjacent.

[Illithid Dude]

I'm not sure why they went with Gehry if there budget was too low for any of his extravagant flourishes. There are dozens of architecture firms that could have done way more with the budget, and delivered a far more interesting structure. I would have loved to see what Johntson Marklee, for example, would have designed for the site. The current proposal isn't bad per se, just immensely bland and underwhelming.

[LAisthePlace]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I'm not sure why they went with Gehry if there budget was too low for any of his extravagant flourishes. There are dozens of architecture firms that could have done way more with the budget, and delivered a far more interesting structure. I would have loved to see what Johntson Marklee, for example, would have designed for the site. The current proposal isn't bad per se, just immensely bland and underwhelming.

My guess is his name alone and then his influence helps tremendously with fundraising.

"Complete the Gehry Arts District" by donating to Colburn today, etc.

Therefore it might be a $350M Gehry building or a $150M "less brand name" architect design or no new buildings at all.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

I'm keeping watch for Onni's 1000 S Hill 60 story. With their Long Beach project nearly topped out and their Hollywood Santa Monica bl Wood frame nearly topped out... me think this one's next in line. Based on past experiences, Onni likes to begin construction of fully approved projects at the top of the year.

Not to be overly optimistic, but there are workers there right now installing temporary concrete barriers on Olympic a few feet from the curb into traffic. It could be the start of installing the barriers that provide protection for pedestrians when the sidewalk is closed and foot traffic is moved into the street. Or maybe it's something completely different, but fingers crossed.

[Zapatan]

I'm keeping watch for Onni's 1000 S Hill 60 story. With their Long Beach project nearly topped out and their Hollywood Santa Monica bl Wood frame nearly topped out... me think this one's next in line. Based on past experiences, Onni likes to begin construction of fully approved projects at the top of the year.

That'd be awesome, there are so many proposals 5-800 feet downtown though, it would be nice if some others got off the ground.

I agree that seems the most likely to be next (maybe Crescent Height's tower?)

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I'm not sure why they went with Gehry if there budget was too low for any of his extravagant flourishes. There are dozens of architecture firms that could have done way more with the budget, and delivered a far more interesting structure. I would have loved to see what Johntson Marklee, for example, would have designed for the site. The current proposal isn't bad per se, just immensely bland and underwhelming.

Sure, but visual aesthetics aside, there's another valuable aspect of having Gehry design your concert hall--to quote the Los Angeles Times article:

"Yasuhisa Toyota will be the acoustician, as he has been for all Gehry’s concert halls, beginning with Disney. The slight oval shape, with the audience surrounding the stage, represents Gehry’s and Toyota’s latest thinking about interior concert spaces. Both architect and acoustician are hooked on the concept of modular venues in the round, with that wisp of a suspended balcony they pioneered five years ago with the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin."