Granville1500

This striking structure uses setbacks, sloped walls and other uncommon building forms to break down the bulk that is typical of most large housing projects, giving this 153-unit complex a contemporary edge. Instead of designing one large structure with a single façade, architects took advantage of the versatility of light-frame wood construction to incorporate non-stacking, non-traditional conditions into the project. The irregular geometry was framed primarily in wood, with bridges connecting three separate wedge-shaped portions of the complex. Structural wood walls are sloped and curved, utilizing curved sill and top plates; some are even kinked or bent at mid-height. 1500 Granville features ground floor retail and restaurant spaces along with a mix of studios and one- to three-bedroom units. It also has a clubhouse, gym, pool and outdoor courtyard areas. The distinctive structure, built along a busy stretch of Los Angeles roadway, changes expectations of what can be achieved beyond the norm with light-frame wood construction. 312,200 sf / Type V-A construction