GREEN = Society/Culture + Economy + Environment
New construction “urban lofts” apply sustainable and green building techniques and methods.
Element, a 50-unit, urban in-fill, housing development, is a part of an emerging new Marina Loft District of Los Angeles. It exemplifies many principles of green building from its development concept as part of a dense urban neighborhood to its site planning and orientation, to its extensive use of sustainable materials both inside and out.
The mere selection of precast as the building material sets Element apart from a green building perspective. It is one of very few residential buildings in California constructed with a precast concrete moment frame. The precast concrete structure minimized waste and site construction pollution and provides building mass to stabilize temperatures, minimizing cooling costs in the temperate climate. Additionally, precast concrete – a 100-year lifespan material – is easy to maintain and minimizes environmental hazards. All units have a north/south orientation with exposure on both sides. This building’s orientation along with high volume space maximizes daylighting and natural ventilation throughout the lofts.
Element is a 50-unit condominium loft project located on a tight, land-locked urban site. Seven different unit types ranging from 900 to 1,600 square feet are offered on four stories of residential space above two parking levels.
Cuningham Group’s design is inspired by the original loft conversions of warehouses and factories. Simple straight lines and solid walls with large openings are complemented by delicate steel hanging balconies and shading devices.
The selection of pre-cast concrete for this project eliminated the need for interior supports, allowing for a flexible, open floor plan, huge living spaces, and floor-to-ceiling windows. As the building material of choice, concrete provides the solidity and finishes consistent with an urban loft. Units will feature polished concrete floors, large aluminum windows, exposed concrete ceilings and exposed services, as well as large private balconies, urban-hip bathrooms and kitchens, garage door openings and track sliding partition walls.