AVA Arts District in Los Angeles has been named a finalist in the 8th annual GRAY Awards for the Mixed‑Use Development breakout category.
Design that echoes the neighborhood
Located on the eastern edge of downtown, the project sits along Alameda Street, a main north‑south corridor that links Union Station to the Port of Los Angeles. Its placement across from a future Metro underground station ties the development to the ongoing revitalization of the Los Angeles River corridor.
The design concept is described as “Buildings on a Building,” borrowing from a long‑standing practice of stacking new structures atop the large warehouse footprints that dominate the area.
The base uses board‑formed concrete and fiber‑cement panels, creating a sturdy platform for lighter metal‑clad upper volumes. From the street, the assemblage reads less like a single block and more like a collection of interlocking forms, a look that feels oddly like a collage of warehouses.
Industrial finishes such as precast fluted concrete, perforated metal accents, and reclaimed timber echo the materiality of the surrounding factories. Full‑height commissioned artwork on the façades serves as a visual marker for pedestrians traveling between the Arts District and downtown.
Live‑work units and community spaces
The development offers 475 live‑work units, each with at least 150 sq ft of open work area. Twenty percent of the units are built to Type I standards, allowing light industrial activities on the same floor.
Residential interiors follow a minimalist approach, providing open layouts that frame city views.
Shared amenities include co‑working zones, study rooms, lounges, and private phone booths, all designed to support a range of creative workflows.
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Large‑scale murals by local artists decorate the lobby, gym, and clubhouse, paying tribute to the district’s artistic heritage.
The project’s ground floor hosts retail spaces that engage directly with street traffic.
Compared with earlier mixed‑use conversions in the Arts District, AVA’s emphasis on flexible live‑work space mirrors the shift that began when artists first occupied former factories in the 1980s. Those early studios turned abandoned warehouses into lively studios, and today the new building extends that legacy by formally integrating workspaces into residential units.
Outdoor areas, sustainability and mobility
Multiple courtyards invite pedestrians to linger among planting that follows the Los Angeles River Master Plan guidelines. Indigenous, water‑wise species create a green corridor through the Spur Paseo, attracting native pollinators.
It connects to the Metro.
Project team and collaborators
The design was led by OFFICEUNTITLED, with a team that included Shawn Gehle, Lindsay Green, Christianne Jordan and others.
Setting work was performed by RIOS, while structural engineering was provided by VCA Structural.
Additional consultants covered mechanical, electrical, plumbing services, lighting, and waterproofing.
