Arts District Warehouse

Arts District Warehouse

Sheft Farrace

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley

ARCHITECTS
Sheft Farrace

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Western Built Construction

MANUFACTURERS
Autodesk, Miele, Bold Lighting, Corian, Elkay, Forms + Surfaces, Kohler, Lumenwerx, Mcnichols, Schalge, Sloan Valve Company, Summit Appliances

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Alexander Sheft; John Farrace

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Polon & Lewis Structural Engineering

MEP ENGINEERING
Aj Design

PROGRAM / USE / BUILDING FUNCTION
Event Space / Mixed Use

WATERPROOFING CONSULTING
Hendrix Consulting Llc

PHOTOGRAPHS
Mike Kelley

AREA
6600 Ft²

YEAR
2024

LOCATION
Los Angeles, United States

CATEGORY
Mixed Use Architecture, Cultural Architecture, Renovation

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley

In the evolving landscape of Los Angeles' Arts District, where industrial relics are being reimagined into vibrant new spaces, many have had to navigate the changes the COVID-19 pandemic brought on.

Architecture & design studio, Sheft Farrace, began this journey in 2021 when they were enlisted to convert an aging, neglected warehouse in the area into a new office space.

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley

The warehouse in question, a relic from the 1920s, boasted the classic LA bow-truss architecture—a testament to the city's industrial past.

The designers approached the project with reverence for the typology’s historical significance, embracing the original shell. The challenge was to breathe new life into the space while preserving its architectural integrity.

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley

As the project unfolded over the following years, it became apparent that the anticipated return-to-office life post-pandemic was not materializing.

In response, the owners and design team pivoted their focus towards creating a more multi-functional building. The space was envisioned to be versatile—a sometimes workplace, a sometimes event space, and a sometimes creativity studio, all rolled into one.

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley

To do this, Sheft Farrace streamlined the build-out and started focusing more on sweeping structural moves rather than erecting smaller interior elements typical of conventional office spaces. They delineated zones of activity through the manipulation of the ground plane.

Excavating both the front and rear of the building within the existing shell allowed the team to create an indoor/outdoor space at the street front and add a full mezzanine below the existing roof in the rear, ready to accommodate a variety of potential activities.

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley

And, while the design team made strategic alterations to the exterior—modifying openings, creating a new entry vestibule, and refinishing the facades—they were meticulous in maintaining the building's original aesthetic.

This deliberate choice played into the quintessential Los Angeles trope of unassuming or even dilapidated exteriors that conceal a completely different world within.

As the need for in-person space becomes more & more unpredictable, adaptive reuse projects like this—with no singular program—may continue to be the norm, especially in areas like Los Angeles’ Arts District where old infrastructure is constantly being recycled & redeveloped.

Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley


Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley


Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley
Arts District Warehouse
© Mike Kelley


Arts District Warehouse
Plan
Arts District Warehouse
Gif


Arts District Warehouse
Diagram