Gold Winner: H.A.S. Construction, Inc., Culver City, Calif.
Project location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Sq. ft. before: 19,500
Sq. ft. after: 19,500
Project cost: $1,350,000
The purpose of the project was to create much needed square footage of office space for an accountancy firm. The company was doing business in
a three-story, 19,500-sq.-ft. “mid-century modern” building near Museum Row in Los Angeles.
The client occupies the first floor and new garden level and leases out the second and third floors to other professionals. The scope of the project was to create bright new space in a musty basement. By building an exterior staircase to the street level and installing large below-grade windows, the goal was achieved.
Because of the high-profile clientele the firm serves, the front of the building, entry, lobby and waiting areas needed a serious makeover. The design team of D. Crosby Ross and the workmanship of H.A.S. Construction exceeded the client’s expectations.
A major requirement of the project was to keep the professional staff of 25 accountants working without missing a beat — a challenge addressed by project manager Kelly Assiff.
The major challenge was the shoring required to build out the existing basement, now referred to as the garden level, which faced Wilshire Blvd., one of the most heavily traveled streets in Los Angeles. Plans call for expansion of L.A. Metro Rail (subway) along the route, and many conduits, fiber optic cables and drainage pipes have already been installed. Traffic control and pedestrian safety, including street lane and sidewalk closures, had to be orchestrated with surgical precision. One mistake or miscalculation could have shut the project down.
The client was thrilled with the outcome, and H.A.S. subsequently contracted with the second-floor tenant to renovate their space and anticipates renovating the third floor as well.
Silver Winner:
Metropolitan Builders, Charlotte, N.C.
Bronze Winner:
Landis Construction Corp., Washington, D.C.
Honorable mention:
Team Entry: Stan Better Construction, Cincinnati, Ohio and K4 Interiors LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio