El Centro Del Pueblo is a community-based nonprofit social service agency in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, serving at-risk youth, gang-involved youth, and court-referred offenders and their families. The project involved adapting a run-down office building for use as a 10,000-square-foot youth recreation center. Program elements include boxing and weights studio, studios for dance and martial arts, a youth drop-in center and lounge, a library/classroom/computer lab offices, and locker, shower, and bathroom facilities.

Using simple means and a small budget, the architects transformed a nondescript building with no sense of space or community into a facility for a wide range of users and a variety of activities. The original building had a largely solid façade on the street prohibiting natural light to any portion of the interior space. Thus, the existing façade was stripped to the structure (much of the existing wood siding and decorative structure was rotten) and windows were added at the upper level (it was important to not have too much visibility into the structure from the street to protect the youth from any potential gang activity). An opening between the first and second stories creates a two-story reception/entry space connecting the two levels visually and allowing light to penetrate into the hallways of both levels.

The materials throughout—gyp-board walls and ceilings, linoleum floors, and exposed insulation in the studios—were chosen for economy and durability. Different families of colors abound throughout the project. Cool colors grace the upper levels, where as warm colors are found on the lower levels. They reflect the vibrancy of the Latino community and the murals in the surrounding community.


People

Owner:
El Centro Del Pueblo
1157 Lemoyne Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Architect(s):
Ena Dubnoff, AIA
ONE Company Architecture
2506 Fourth Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
ph (310) 396-8627
fax (310)581-6610

Fernando Vazquez/Studio
76 Market Street
Venice, CA 90291
ph (310) 396-8099
fax (310) 396-8599
www.studiofv.com

Sarah Hays, Project Architect
Joel Kopitz

Architect of Record
Ena Dubnoff, AIA
ONE Company Architecture

Associate architect(s)
Fernando Vazquez /Studio

Engineer(s)
Structural Design:
Structural Engineering Design
Daniel J. Echeto

Mechanical Engineer:
Comeau Engineers, Inc.

Electrical Engineer:
Llanes Engineering
www.llanesengineering.com

Civil Engineer:
John B. Abell, Inc.

Consultant(s)
Architectural Consultant:
Gary Sherquist

Landscape:
Katherine Spitz Associates, Inc. www.katherinespitzassociates.com

Lighting:
California Lighting Sales www.californialightingsales.com
Rich Molinero

Acoustical Consultant:
Davy & Associates (for playground)

Specifications Writer:
Phil Easton

Graphic Designer:
Maureen Nishikawa, Graphic Designer

Special Consultant:
Deborah Sussman

Development Consultant:
Mary-Jane Wagle
O.N.E. Company
1139 West Sixth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 202-3930
www.onecompany.org

General Contractor
Brenda Curry
Curtom Building and Development, Inc.
1128 N. LaBrea
Inglewood, CA 90302
(310) 674-5696

Photographer
Benny Chan - Fotoworks
(310) 842-9446

Tim Street-Porter

CAD system, project management, or other software used
PowerCADD www.engsw.com

 

 

Products

Structural System
Existing concrete block and wood frame

Exterior cladding
Masonry:
Existing concrete block

EIFS, ACM, or other:
La Habra Stucco

Roofing
Built-up roofing:
GAF Materials Corp.

Windows
Aluminum:
United States Aluminum www.usalum.com

Glazing
Skylights:
Solatube www.solatube.com

Doors
Entrances:
United States Aluminum

Hardware
Locksets:
Yale www.yalesecurity.com

Hinges:
Hager Hinges www.hager.com

Closers:
Norton

Interior finishes
Acoustical ceilings:
USG Corporation www.usg.com

Suspension grid:
Donn

Cabinetwork and custom woodwork:
Elite Custom Cabinets, Inc.
Santa Fe Springs, CA

Paints and stains:
Benjamin Moore www.benjaminmoore.com

Plastic laminate:
Wilsonart www.wilsonart.com, Formica www.formica.com

Floor and wall tile:
Locker rooms & toilets - Dal Tile www.daltile.com

Resilient flooring:
Armstrong "Marmorette" www.armstrong.com

Carpet:
Philadelphia Carpet "Winchester"

Lighting
Interior ambient lighting:
Lithonia Lighting www.lithonia.com, Sea gull Lighting www.seagulllighting.com

Downlights:
Lithonia www.lithonia.com

Exterior:
Ruud Lighting www.ruudlighting.com

Controls:
Leviton www.leviton.com

Conveyance
Elevators/Escalators:
GMS Elevator Services

Plumbing
Water fountains:
Sunroc

Kohler www.kohler.com , Elkay www.elkay.com, Delta faucets www.deltafaucet.com