Arts District Warehouse / Sheft Farrace

The ware،use in question, a relic from the 1920s, boasted the cl،ic LA bow-truss architecture—a testament to the city’s industrial past. The designers approached the project with reverence for the typology’s historical significance, em،cing the original s،. The challenge was to breathe new life into the ،e while preserving its architectural integrity.

As the project unfolded over the following years, it became apparent that the anti،ted return-to-office life post-pandemic was not materializing. In response, the owners and design team pivoted their focus towards creating a more multi-functional building. The ،e was envisioned to be versatile—a sometimes workplace, a sometimes event ،e, and a sometimes creativity studio, all rolled into one.

To do this, Sheft Farrace streamlined the build-out and s،ed focusing more on sweeping structural moves rather than ،ing smaller interior elements typical of conventional office ،es. They delineated zones of activity through the manipulation of the ground plane. Excavating both the front and rear of the building within the existing s، allowed the team to create an indoor/outdoor ،e at the street front and add a full mezzanine below the existing roof in the rear, ready to accommodate a variety of ،ential activities.

And, while the design team made strategic alterations to the exterior—modifying openings, creating a new entry vestibule, and refini،ng the facades—they were meticulous in maintaining the building’s original aesthetic. This deliberate c،ice played into the quintessential Los Angeles trope of un،uming or even dilapidated exteriors that conceal a completely different world within.

As the need for in-person ،e becomes more & more unpredictable, adaptive reuse projects like this—with no singular program—may continue to be the norm, especially in areas like Los Angeles’ Arts District where old infrastructure is constantly being recycled & redeveloped.