Gramercy Senior Housing
Architect: Kevin Daly Architects
Owner: Hollywood Community Housing Corporation
Location: Los Angeles
Category: Excellence in Affordable Housing
Project site: Not Previously developed
Building program type: Residential – multi-family, 5 or more units
Built on a block-length lot that was once owned by the city of Los Angeles and served as a towing yard, Gramercy Senior Housing is one of the first developments in the city to capitalize on supportive housing funds. The project, guided by extensive public outreach, delivers 64 sorely needed apartments to low-income and homeless seniors in one of the country’s most expensive housing markets.
Across 70,000 square feet, Gramercy Senior Housing accommodates residents who make less than 50% of the area’s median income and includes a commercial cafe, ample community spaces, and a public plaza on the entry level. The team’s design emerged as six discrete buildings that reflect the scale of the single-family homes that surround it. With bustling Washington Boulevard to the north and a swath of Craftsman homes to the north, the complex is an array of structures connected by an exterior walkway system finished with an organic trellis that contrasts with mirror steel hoods that protect windows from southern exposure.
Along the boulevard, the buildings’ massing is taller to shield those on the other side, granting residents an extra measure of privacy and maximizing the light available to the surrounding parcels. The project was optimized for modular construction, and its highly efficient floor plans draw in natural light and ventilation from either end. Courtyard spaces just outside the apartments function as shared living rooms, while an edible garden on the roof provides additional community space.
“This project features interesting massing, and the spine creates a compelling social space for its residents.” – Jury comment
The project offers residents a sense of place that is particular to the site, differentiating it from typical affordable housing projects in Southern California. The team’s focus on establishing connections to the outdoors across multiple levels ensures residents can engage with their surroundings and neighbors without feeling crowded. Instead of relegating outdoor space to an unused corner of the roof, only accessible by elevator or interior stairs, the team has woven connections through all levels to reach users regardless of their age or mobility.
In addition to adding affordable housing in a city facing increasing homelessness, the project also activates Washington Boulevard, originally built to serve as Los Angeles’ first avenue to the sea. It was once a thriving commercial corridor but has more recently been marked by a mix of small businesses and shuttered storefronts. Prior to construction, the brownfield site was leased to a towing company, which stored its fleet there. The complex’s plaza has helped inject life into the once-abandoned block.
Project attributes
Year of substantial project completion: 2021
Gross conditioned floor area: 37200 sq. ft.
Project team
Structural Engineering + Shoring Design: John Labib & Associates MEP/Sustainability: PAE Engineers
Engineer- Civil: KPFF Consulting Engineers
Landscape Architect: place
Code / Fire: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Acoustic: Newson Brown Acoustic Engineers
Specifications: CGA Associates, LLC
Trash & Loading: American Trash Management, Inc.
Lighting: HLB
Waterproofing: James West
Soils/Geotech: Geocon West
CASP: RJC Group Inc
Methane Mitigation: Methane Specialists
Land use Attorney: Rosenheim & Associates, Inc.
Photography: Paul Vu; Joshua White
Jury
Catherine Baker, FAIA, Chair, Nowhere Collaborative, Chicago
John DeForest, AIA, DeForest Architects, Seattle
Brian Lane, FAIA, Koning Eizenberg, Santa Monica, Calif.
Amit Price Patel, AIA, DIALOG, Vancouver, British Columbia
Michael D. Robinson, AIA, Robi4 Architecture & Planning, San Diego
AIA Framework for Design Excellence
The AIA Framework for Design Excellence represents the defining principles of good design in the 21st century. Comprised of 10 principles and accompanied by searching questions, the Framework seeks to inform progress toward a zero-carbon, equitable, resilient, and healthy built environment.
Framework for Design Excellence / Gramercy Senior Housing
Design for Integration
Was there a design charrette? Yes
Design for Ecosystems
Site area that supports vegetation post-development: 35%
Site area covered by native plants supporting native or migratory species and pollinators: 35%
Strategies used to promote Design for Ecosystems: Biodiversity, Abatement of specific regional environmental concerns
Design for Water
Is potable water used for irrigation? Yes
Is potable water used for cooling? Yes
Is grey/blackwater reused on-site? No
Is rainwater collected on-site? Yes
Stormwater managed on-site: 100%
Design for Energy
2030 Commitment baseline EUI: 90 kBtu/sf/yr
Predicted net EUI including on-site renewables: 40 kBtu/sf/yr
Reduction from the benchmark: 55%
Is the project all-electric? No
Design for Well-being
Level of air filters installed: MERV 12-14
Was a “chemicals of concern” list used to inform material selection? Yes
Do greater than 90% of occupied spaces have a direct view to the outdoors? Yes
Design for Resources
Were embodied carbon emissions estimated for this project? No
Design for Change
Estimated service life: 50 years
Floor area, if any, representing adapting existing buildings: 0%
Ability to survive without utility power: Not habitable without power
Which of the following risk assessment and resilience services were provided? Unknown
Design for Discovery
Has a post-occupancy evaluation been conducted? Yes
Building performance transparency steps taken:
- Present the design, outcomes, and/or lessons learned to the office
Disclaimer
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