leong leong and KFA complete the los angeles LGBT center's new campus

leong leong and killefer flammang architects (KFA) have completed the los angeles LGBT center’s new campus, which spans nearly a city block at the heart of hollywood. the new site — located on n. mccadden place and santa monica boulevard — is described as a new typology for community-based urban development that includes diverse social and affordable housing programs. the porous, pedestrian-oriented urban campus features a public plaza and a series of courtyards that unify various social services as well as cultural and institutional programs, all located directly across the street from another center facility — the village at ed gould plaza.

image © iwan baan (also main image)

celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the center currently serves more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, welcoming more than 42,000 client visits each month. the new campus — named after anita may rosenstein — enables the organization to significantly expand its services. 100 beds for homeless youth are included as part of leong leong and KFA’s design, as well as senior and youth centers, a youth academy, administrative areas, and a retail space.

image © iwan baan

the design of the campus emphasizes connectivity with the surrounding neighborhood. by modulating the scale of the building along its edge, the campus is approachable directly from the street, creating an interface to the neighborhood while accommodating larger programs for housing, administration, and the ariadne getty foundation youth academy on upper floors. the new campus aims to synthesize and expand upon a range of services for youth, seniors, and administration that the center previously provided across different locations throughout the city of los angeles, including its cultural arts programs housed within the village.

image © iwan baan

inspired by the scale and gardens of historic hollywood courtyard homes, the campus offers safe and private outdoor spaces for its clients and staff. large sliding doors around the interior courtyard of the youth center can be opened up to a communal kitchen and main activity room, creating a seamless connection between inside and out. along the perimeter of the building, the entrances and windows have been positioned to allow access, views, and light while providing the necessary privacy for clientele and staff. a new public plaza, or urban room, allows for outdoor gatherings and events.

image © iwan baan

as a reference to the spotlights used by film production studios in the neighborhood, as well as a reference to the center’s logo, three anamorphic cut-outs in the frit pattern of the curtain wall create perfect circles when viewed from specific locations from the passing street. at the heart of the campus is pride hall, a 50-foot-tall flexible event space that opens directly onto the plaza with large bi-folding doors. the space can be divided into two smaller-scale rooms for community programs.

image © iwan baan

in the plaza, an elevator tower provides access to the rooftop deck, an urban observatory overlooking the historic hollywood sign. the glass façade of pride hall is angled toward the village across the street. pride hall’s entrance incorporates a heritage wall depicting the history of the center and LGBT community. in addition to these elements, phase II of the campus, scheduled to be completed in early 2020, will include 98 units of affordable housing for seniors and 25 supportive housing apartments for young people.

image © iwan baan

‘the anita may rosenstein campus is an unprecedented intergenerational project for the LGBTQ community and the city of los angeles,’ says dominic leong, founding partner of leong leong. ‘it is a symbol and an intersectional platform for social progress forged by the los angeles LGBT center and comes at a moment when this progress must be relentlessly supported and sustained. we hope this project serves as a new model for alternative ways of community-based living. we must continue to be ambitious about the equitable future of our cities and serving those in need.’

‘the center’s leaders gave KFA and leong leong a clear vision: that the design of the new anita may rosenstein campus must reflect the boldness, optimism, and absolute certainty of the center’s mission to care for, champion, and celebrate LGBT individuals and families,’ adds KFA partner barbara flammang. ‘KFA is immensely proud to have participated in the creation of this historic new campus. we hope that the design and formal expression of these buildings and open, landscaped spaces contribute to the flourishing of the people who live in, work at, and visit this wonderful place.’

project info:

location: los angeles LGBT center, anita may rosenstein campus 1118 N. mccadden place, los angeles, CA 90038
category: institutional
size: phase I buildings – 72,000 square feet; phase II buildings – 185,560 square feet (total built area)
stories: phase I – three stories; phase II – four stories
key features: seven outdoor spaces: four internal courtyards; two rooftop decks; one plaza
design architects: leong leong and KFA
executive architect: KFA
photography: iwan baan