2011 PRESERVATION AWARDS

Downtown Women’s Center
442 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, 90013

Photo by Randall Michelson, courtesy of Pica+Sullivan Architects.

Owner & Project Lead: Downtown Women’s Center
Architect: Pica + Sullivan Architects, Ltd.
Landscape Architect: Carter, Romanek Landscape Architects, Inc.
Contractor: W.E. O’Neil Construction Company of California
Construction Manager: Gafcon, Inc.
Historic Preservation Consultant: Historic Resources Group
Structural Engineer: Johnson-Leifield Structural Engineers
Metal Artist: David Shelton Design
Historic Restoration Contractor: Spectra Company

Before restoration. Photo courtesy Pica + Sullivan Architects, Ltd.

The Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) found itself at a crossroads in 2005. After twenty years, the renowned nonprofit serving women in need had outgrown its facility on Los Angeles Street, and a private development was slated for the entire block.

The DWC had built a national reputation for its unique and effective programs serving homeless and very-low-income women, including permanent supportive housing and day services. To accommodate both the DWC and the new development, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) offered the Center a “dilapidated” industrial building on San Pedro Street for one dollar.

As it happens, the 1927 building was developed by a woman, Florence C. Casler, working with architect William Douglas Lee. The 67,000 square-foot, six-story structure with Gothic Revival details originally housed the Elias Katz Shoe Company and was once known as the Renaissance Building. In 1983, CRA/LA found it eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Typical floor before restoration. Photo courtesy Pica + Sullivan Architects, Ltd.

Adapting the historic structure for residential use was a major feat in and of itself, from major plumbing and seismic work to state-of-the-art accessibility, fire and life safety, and other systems. The project also meets high standards of sustainability and is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification.

Moreover, the project team, including members of the American Society of Interior Designers, treated its clients—women most at risk from homelessness, mental illness, and poverty—like queens. They listened to their needs and desires, designing for them as they would for any client.

Typical residential unit. Photo courtesy Pica + Sullivan Architects, Ltd.

The result is an inspiring blend of old and new that’s twice the size of the previous facility. Seventy-one residential units feature private baths and kitchenettes, high ceilings, large windows, and elegant design. The day center provides an equally nurturing environment for meals, personalized case management, health services, job counseling, support groups, art workshops, and more.

This warm, inviting environment directly serves the DWC’s mission of fostering dignity, respect, and personal stability. It’s hard to imagine a more fitting way to revitalize an important part of the city’s past.

Learn More

Downtown Women's Center website

2011 Preservation Award Recipients
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