BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District

BIG has revealed plans for a 2.6 million square foot (242,000 square meter) mixed-use complex in LA’s burgeoning Arts District. Called 670 Mesquit, the project will take the form of a series of stepped boxes containing 800,000 square feet of office space, 250 residential units and two hotels. The development will mark BIG’s first project in Los Angeles.

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - FacadeBIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Cityscape, FacadeBIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - FacadeBIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade, ArcadeBIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - More Images+ 28

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Cityscape, Facade
Courtesy of BIG

Located along the Los Angeles River, the proposed complex consists of two connected 30-story buildings inside of an L-shaped building footprint, organized around a grid of concrete cubes measuring 45 feet on each side. The large size of these modules will allow interiors to be subdivided based on program types and the needs of the incoming tenants with varying ceiling heights and mezzanine levels.

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade
Courtesy of BIG
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BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade
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As the two building masses rise, the concrete cubes pull back to create accessible terraces on each level. In the riverside building, the volume steps back three full cube lengths for each rise, while in the western buildings, the cubes shift slightly as they are stacked.

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade, Cityscape
Courtesy of BIG
BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade, Arcade
Courtesy of BIG

To open up view corridors and circulation, three bays of the concrete armature have been left unfilled, essentially creating several unique buildings within one larger superstructure. The passageways will connect the public to both retail areas within the complex and the proposed outdoor areas above the existing railyard and along the river.

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade
Courtesy of BIG

"The Arts District is experiencing a rapid renaissance, drawing creatives from all fields from fine arts to engineering. We have asked ourselves if we can renew the arts district by embracing rather than replacing the qualities that have spawned this unique urban culture,” said Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner of BIG.

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Table
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BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Table
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“We have imagined a hybrid of two unique local typologies—the downtown warehouse and the case-study house. Like a flexible framework the project operates on two scales: the big bare bones of the buildings and the human-scale completion for its individual inhabitants. The freedom of the warehouse loft meets the individual customization of the stick-built case study house.”

“As a gateway to the Arts District and the LA river, it will constitute a major step toward reclaiming and transforming the river bank into a vital new urban landscape that can be enjoyed and appreciated by residents and visitors to this vibrant part of Los Angeles.”

BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Image 8 of 33
Courtesy of BIG
BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District - Facade
Courtesy of BIG

Developed by Vella Group, the project is currently being presented to the city and neighborhood groups. Its construction would require significants variances from LA's planning department and likely affect the masterplan for the LA River, conceived by Frank Gehry last year.

You can learn more about the project here.

News via BIG, LA Times.

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  • Architects

  • Location

    670 Mesquit St, Los Angeles, CA 90021, United States
  • Partners in Charge

    Bjarke Ingels, Thomas Christoffersen
  • Project Leaders

    Jakob Henke, Sanam Salek
  • Team

    Juan David Ramirez, Wells Barber, Sijia Zhou, Derek Landon Wong, Mateusz Wieckowski-Gawron, Ella den Elzen, Yixin Li, Lasse Kristensen, Ovidiu Munteanu, Terry Chew
  • Client

    RCS-VE LLC
  • Collaborators

    PLUS Development, Gruen Associates, Mia Lehrer + Associates, TK1SC, Thornton Tomasetti, Fehr & Peers, Arup & Partners
  • Status

    In Progress
  • Area

    241548.0 m2
  • Photographs

    Courtesy of BIG
  • Architects

Project gallery

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Project location

Address:670 Mesquit St, Los Angeles, CA 90021, United States

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: Patrick Lynch. "BIG Unveils Mixed-Use Concrete Superstructure for Los Angeles' Arts District" 12 Dec 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/801339/big-unveils-mixed-use-concrete-superstructure-for-los-angeles-arts-district> ISSN 0719-8884

Courtesy of BIG

BIG 公布了洛杉矶艺术区的多功能混凝土上层建筑

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