Long Beach (2015)
The Hot Cha Building is a beloved example of programmatic architecture in Southern California. The building was unintentionally purchased in 2015 as part of a larger development site, and the owner had no clue what to do with it! Through a City Commissioner we were connected, and they brought me on to manage a respectful and exciting renovation.
Over the course of the project I represented the property owner when presenting to City commissions, met with commissioners as part of a designated ad-hoc committee facilitated by Planning staff, created a design strategy that complied with design guidelines, and managed renovation work.
Over the course of the project I represented the property owner when presenting to City commissions, met with commissioners as part of a designated ad-hoc committee facilitated by Planning staff, created a design strategy that complied with design guidelines, and managed renovation work.
Design Strategy and Project Management
Drawings emphasize the leaded glass and original roof shingle pattern, which we brought back as a result of the project.
I enlisted Beveldine, Inc. to work with me in recreating lost leaded windows and other stained glass elements of the building.
We referenced historic photographs to calculate the approximate size of the original stained glass orb, which disappeared in the early 2000s. Our recreation was so heavy!
Not only does the new orb look beautiful atop the renovated building... it lights up at night!
Prior to this project, the building had been deemed a public nuisance by the City of Long Beach. Through research, I discovered a number of charming features that we brought back to life! I worked with a stained glass studio to recreate some stunning elements - leaded glass windows and a lit glass orb atop the roof. Today these features shine in the building's use as a salon.
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City Commissions and Ad-Hoc Committee
I organized a fun happy hour at the end of the project to celebrate our accomplishments with community members, city staff, and commissioners!