Banc of California Stadium, Google’s Spruce Goose take home top honors; 23 nonprofits recognized for work to end L.A.’s homeless crisis

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — June 21, 2019 — The Los Angeles Business Council today celebrated the winners of its 49th Annual Architectural Awards, honoring projects that bring people together and foster collaborative, memorable experiences among Angelenos. From a competitive pool of hundreds of submissions in 23 design categories, winning projects ran the gamut, from urban micro-living units to beachfront hotels.

“The 2019 Architectural Awards was our most exceptional yet with world-class entries and designs that push boundaries and create spaces that foster connection and community,” said Mary Leslie, President of LABC. “This year’s award winners exemplify how architecture can elicit joy, enhance social interaction, promote meaningful experiences and provide essential housing.”

More than 650 leading architects, designers, building owners, developers and city officials gathered at the awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton. Winners were selected by a jury panel of industry experts co-chaired by Leo Marmol, Marmol Radziner, Jan Karl, Morley Builders, Saundra Price, W.E. O’Neil and Joe Detuno, Detuno Consulting. The keynote was delivered by OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu, who is making his mark on Los Angeles with the new Audrey Irmas Pavilion and the The Plaza at Santa Monica.

This year’s grand prize winner, the groundbreaking LAFC Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park, was built entirely around the fan experience, with team executives soliciting ideas directly from soccer fans as part of the design process.

“We wanted to facilitate a design that was inclusive of the community, to build something that was not just for Los Angeles, but of Los Angeles,” said Jonathan Emmett, Principal and Design Director at Gensler. “Our collaboration with the Los Angeles Football Club, fans, and community throughout resulted in a best-in-class stadium that provides tailored experiences for Angelenos on and off game day and is reflective of the City.”

Google’s Spruce Goose project took home the esteemed LABC Chairman’s award for its dynamic, utterly unique adaptive reuse of the old airplane hangar in Playa Vista. Many other winning projects reimagined public spaces, both old and new, to nurture community and engender civic pride.

In recognition of the current housing crisis, the LABC’s Community Impact Award went to a collective of 23 nonprofit groups who have been leading the way in providing housing for low-income or homeless individuals in Los Angeles County. These groups are on the front lines of the crisis, providing shelter to those most vulnerable in our community.

“These groups have taken innovative steps in building and financing new housing while also providing related services,” said Nadine Watt, LABC Chair and President of Watt Companies. “We honor them today because their core mission isn’t just to create housing, it’s to find people a home.”

Addressing the region’s housing shortage was also the focus of this year’s esteemed Julius Shulman Emerging Talent Award. Students were asked to design permanent supportive housing “prototypes” for two existing sites under consideration for permanent supportive housing developments. This year’s winner, Cal Poly Pomona, received a $6,000 scholarship sponsored by W.E. O’Neil Construction. The Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), last year’s winner, received an honorable mention.

"It’s inspiring to see the meaningful ways that students tackle real problems facing our City. Our City's youth offer a largely untapped wealth of talent and innovative spirit that provide fresh perspectives that can help better combat the mounting housing problem and enhance the lives of those who call Los Angeles home,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz. “One of the sites used in the Shulman competition is located in my district and will soon be home to an actual permanent supportive housing development making it particularly exciting for me to see what the students came up with.”

The Architectural Awards also honored international delegations from Mexico City, Mexico, Auckland, New Zealand, and Guangzhou, China for architectural achievements within their home countries. This year’s Los Angeles & Mexico Sustainable Real Estate Award winner was the Montage Los Cabos, in recognition of the growing alliance in international trade, education and business between the sister cities of Los Angeles and Mexico City.

For pictures of the winning projects, visit the Los Angeles Business Council website at www.labusinesscouncil.org.

About the Los Angeles Business Council

The Los Angeles Business Council is one of the most effective and influential advocacy and educational organizations in California. For over 70 years, the LABC has had a major impact on public policy by harnessing the power of business and government to promote environmental and economic sustainability in the Los Angeles region. To learn more, please visit www.labusinesscouncil.org.

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