THE VINEYARDS AT PORTER RANCH Location: 20065 Rinaldi Street, Porter Ranch Developer: Shapell Properties Contractor: Moorefield Construction Architect: AO
Perched on a scenic hillside at the center of one of LA’s most desirable suburbs, this highly anticipated community gathering place features a pedestrian-friendly, sustainable design providing family entertainment, dining, and neighborhood. The open-air lifestyle center features an architectural character reminiscent of a contemporary vineyard. Raising the bar on sustainable retail, the developer carefully designed and implemented a range of features and construction methods to ensure a lower ecological footprint and to create a thriving community as a focal point for the surrounding neighborhoods. LEED Silver certified, the retail center features storm water capture systems for increased water efficiency, eco-friendly fixtures, car charging stations, photovoltaic systems, native and drought tolerant landscaping. All features integrate with some of the best and latest technologies for a sustainable operation.
FREEDOM PLAZA Location: 9901 S. Alameda Street, Los Angeles Developer: Primestor Development Inc. Contractor: VCC, LLC Architect: Nadel Architects Inc.
Freedom Plaza is the retail component of the Jordan Downs redevelopment mixed-use community. The project boasts 440,652 square feet of space for stores, restaurants and community gathering spaces. Some of the tenants include Blink Fitness, Nike, Ross Dress for Less and Starbucks. While the project is important in that it brought much needed retail to the area, it also boasts public art and an architectural fountain at the heart of the project. The 105-acre, high-density community was recently transformed into a sustainable mixed-use master-planned village.
JEWELL BUILDING Location: 6259 W. 87th Street, Los Angeles Developer: Drollinger Contractor: Parker Brown Inc. Architect: Robert Ward & Associated
If you have driven Sepulveda Boulevard on the way to LAX, you have passed the Jewel Building, a 1940s-era two-story building on West 87th Street. The Book Jewel, a special dream of Drollinger Properties owner Karen Dial. The Jewel Bookstore will host author events, creative writing readings led by local students, open mic nights, book club meetings and small intimate musical performances. The store will even have a piano to encourage spontaneous playing. It is a 10,400 square foot restoration of the two-story building. There will be a restaurant and rooftop terrace and an elevator added to the building.