October 27, 2017
Submitted By: HansonLA a California Corporation 724 South Spring St. Suite 1002 Los Angeles, CA 90014 213.880.8515
BASE 5901 W. Century Boulevard Suite 822 Los Angeles, CA 90045 310.988.1080
The homeless crisis in Los Angeles, California offers a unique juxtaposition of challenges in one of the wealthiest cities in the world. We also recognize many opportunities for creativity in working within the limitations set by a variety of factors, which influence the architecture of affordable housing developments. We look to local history and current growth patterns to inform our work and ensure that any new addition to the Los Angeles built form is both sensible to the community and serves to enhance the architectural aesthetic of the neighborhood.
Our architectural team consists of HansonLA, a Los Angeles based architecture firm that is recognized for its expertise in design of large multi-family projects, and BASE, an urban design, architecture, planning, and civil engineering firm with a long history of successful project delivery. Both firms share a commitment to design exellence. Together we are committed to an integrated team approach, and our strategic alliance will bring the benefit of resources from both firms for the duration of the project.
HansonLA is determined to effect change now in downtown Los Angeles. This is evidenced by our collaboration with the Skid Row Denim Academy, and participation with AIA|LA’s Design for Dignity event and task force. We have resolved to contribute to the solution using our experience and skill to start to build a community where everyone has a place to call home.
BASE believes solutions can be created by leveraging public funds with private sector investments. Our goal is to assist our clients in creating self-sustaining communities of balanced income groups that are culturally diverse and offer greater social and economic opportunities. We are committed to using our experience of transforming low-income impacted areas into beautiful places for all people to live.
October 27, 2017
On behalf of HansonLA and BASE, we thank you for the opportunity to present ourselves for consideration to collaborate with you on an affordable housing project. Our ambition is to develop a project that not only meets your objectives but exceeds your expectations for this remarkable opportunity to create solutions for the infamous homeless population and housing crisis in Los Angeles, California.
We have carefully reviewed your website and background and developed the attached portfolio. We will work thoughtfully and intentionally to shape the design so that it is unique yet appropriate to your requirements and limitations, and to the dynamic urban context it aims to enhance. We have summarized our Project Management approach including how our integrated architectural team will work together, and our approach to delivering projects on time and within budget.
We look forward to the opportunity to further present our qualifications and thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Douglas Hanson, AIA, ASID Michael Anderson, AIA, NOMAHansonLA | HansonLA creates solution-driven architecture based on our understanding of culture, politics, business, and technology. Our process includes multiple studies in order to deliver the appropriate design based on informed decisions. We are dedicated to respecting and improving the community with deference to our clients’ agenda through construction. We are committed to executing our craft with beautiful and intentional design.
Douglas Hanson, AIA, has over three decades of experience collaborating with some of the world’s leading architects to produce major projects in Asia, Europe, and North America. The initial inspiration for all of Hanson’s designs comes in the form of a sketch. These sketches act as a map that guide the HansonLA team through the design process.
HansonLA’s increasingly diverse team brings unique interests and backgrounds to the office, which often serve as inspiration to activate, enhance, and execute Hanson’s vision.
BASE Architecture, Planning & Engineering, Inc. | BASE is a fully integrated architectural and urban design firm that provides the complete spectrum of design, planning, and construction management services in both the public and private sectors for housing, education, transportation, and aviation industries.
BASE, established in 2003, has grown to a staff of more than 20 professionals on both coasts with offices in California and Pennsylvania. The company has built a strong reputation for providing high quality work to its clients through delivering cost effective architectural and engineering services utilizing the latest technology, 3D modeling, and sustainable design solutions.
BASE is a minority owned and operated company. BASE is a certified DBE, MBE and SBE firm within multiple federal agencies, state and local jurisdictions.
TEN50 | HansonLA This residential development in the South Park area eschews the simple rectangle often seen in tower design and pushes and pulls the corners to showcase spectacular views to the neighborhood. The 22-story, 151 unit tower creates activity at the parking levels with a rippling patterned skirt veiling the movement behind. This street-level will be activated with retail and restaurants that wrap the entire building. On the 6th floor resident amenities will include a pool, barbecues, and gathering/event spaces. Balconies at select locations provide openings into the building forming a physical and visual connection to the rapidly developing neighborhood.
Mail Order District | HansonLA HansonLA is developing the masterplan for this mixed-use project. Multiple buildings throughout the site will revitalize the Boyle Heights neighborhood. The Mail Order District is located adjacent to the historic Sears Distribution Center, built in 1927, and will include 120 hotel rooms, 1,500 residential units, 100,000 square feet of space dedicated to retail, and parking for over 3,500
Panorama City | HansonLA This 7-story mixeduse building in Panorama City will activate the street with 13,600 square feet of ground floor commercial space and offer 388 residential units in part of Los Angeles in critical need of more housing. Panorama will offer public space in the form of a plaza with benches and landscaping, and elevated private space for residents. The 5-level amenity piece on the corner is visible from the plaza below and will feature a doublehigh space with a yoga room, lounge, and fitness center for residents of the building. Panorama will offer parking for over 630 cars and 440 bicycles.
Martin Luther King Jr. Transit Center | BASE BASE provided Master Planning, A&E Services, as well as CA services for the 10,000 square foot transit center in the city of Compton. The project includes new offices, retail spaces, bus bays, a station entrance, a parking structure, and an urban park.
Douglas Dollarhide Community Center | BASE BASE provided the feasibility study and architectural design for this 20,000 square foot, $9M senior activiy center located in the city of Compton. The design for this two-story structure includes an outdoor swimming pool and courtyard, technology center, media room, gymnasium, library, lounge, and activity rooms.
Metro Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station | BASE BASE partnered with RNL Design to provide design services for the $65M renovation of the existing metro station and its surrounding areas in the city of Willowbrook. In addition to design work, the team provided community outreach and urban design services. The project is scheduled for completion in Jauary 2020.
AIA, ASID, NCARB
Douglas Hanson has three decades of experience working with some of the world’s leading architects and architectural firms. He has gained a broad depth and range of experience designing major projects in Asia, Europe and North America. Mr. Hanson is equally accomplished in all aspects of project development, from predesign and design work to construction and project management. His experience includes cultural, multidisciplinary collaborations, large-scale residential and mixed-use projects, as well as more modestly scaled commercial and retail projects. Mr. Hanson is a Director on the AIA|LA Board, and serves on several other national boards.
Concerto Residential Development, Los Angeles, CA*
TEN50 Condominium, Los Angeles, CA
CIRCA, Los Angeles, CA
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
The City Market of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Broadway @ 4th, Residential High-rise, Los Angeles, CA
City Market South, Los Angeles, CA
1800 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
3075 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Mail Order District, Los Angeles, CA
1100 E 5th, Los Angeles, CA
676 Mateo, Los Angeles, CA
1024 Mateo, Los Angeles, CA
Broadgate 6, 7 and 8, London, England*
Hotel de las Artes, Barcelona, Spain*
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain*
Samsung Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, Korea*
Cielo Mixed-use Development, Phoenix, AZ*
Central & Camelback Mixed-use Development Phoenix, AZ*
University of Colorado, Master of Architecture
North Dakota State University, Bachelor of Architecture
*Experience prior to joining HansonLA
AIA, NOMA
Mr. Anderson, a founding Partner of BASE Architecture, has over 30 years of experience in architecture, urban planning, construction and real estate development. Since starting BASE in 2003, he has advocated for projects that benefit the greater public needs including economic redevelopment strategies in the market segments of transit and transportation, education, civic, healthcare, and residential. Mr. Anderson endeavors to use the design of buildings, streets and neighborhoods to create communities of balanced incomes, improving quality of life.
Leimert Park Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
Lynwood Walking Park Conceptual Plan, Lynwood, CA
Martin Luther King Transit Facility, Compton, CA
100 Palm Trees for Crenshaw, Los Angeles, CA
Crenshaw Economic Development, Los Angeles, CA
Crenshaw / LAX Light Rail Transit, Transit Oriented District Studies, Los Angeles, CA
Air National Guard Building, Point Mogu, CA
Air National Guard Chapel, Point Mogu, CA
Civilian Housing, San Nicholas Island, CA
Leimert Park Homes, Los Angeles, CA
Manchester Mixed-Use 36 Condo, Inglewood, CA
Southern California Institute of Architecture
Linda Dervishaj brings nearly 10 years of professional experience working on both architecture and urban design projects in North America, including cultural buildings, residential, commercial, and office spaces. Several of Ms. Dervishaj’s projects have won local and international awards and she has been influential in shaping not only buildings but neighborhoods as well.
Panorama One, Los Angeles, CA
The City Market of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA Mail Order District, Los Angeles, CA 4501 Glencoe, Marina Del Rey, CA
13160 Mindanao Way, Marina Del Rey, CA
Downsview Park Master Plan, Toronto, Ontario*
NoLa Condominium, 6-10 Ann Street, Toronto, Ontario*
Stanley Greene District Plan & Urban Design Guidelines, Toronto, Ontario*
Allenbury Gardens Revitalization, Toronto, Ontario*
720-720 Yonge Street, New build and heritage restoration, Toronto, Ontario*
Prince Arthur’s Landing Master Plan, Thunder Bay, Ontario* Water Garden Pavilion, Thunder Bay, Ontario*
Baggage Building Arts Centre, Thunder Bay, Ontario*
Pond Pavilion, Thunder Bay, Ontario*
Children’s Boating Pavilion, Thunder Bay, Ontario*
North Bay Waterfront and Downtown Master Plan, North Bay, Ontario* White Mountain Building Improvements, Elliot Lake, Ontario* Elliot Lake Public Library, Elliot Lake, Ontario*
Carleton University, Master of Architecture
Carleton University, Bachelor of Architecture
*Experience prior to joining HansonLA
RA, LEED AP
Yishan has worked on a variety of projects within Southern California, from high-rise mixed use developments to aviation architecture to interior design. Her aviation experience includes the LAX Modernization and Enabling Projects. Yishan has extensive experience with Revitâ„¢ BIM.
Market Street Urban Planning and Revitalization, Inglewood, CA Master Planning & Site Analysis for LAUSD, Los Angeles, CA Concerto, Los Angeles, CA The Glass Tower, Los Angeles, CA Marengo Residential Townhouse, Pasadena, CA
University of Southern California, Bachelor of Architecture
HansonLA and BASE are committed to working closely with your development team to ensure your aspirations are carried out in creating solutions for the housing crisis in Los Angeles. Our vision will incorporate strategy and focus on a sensible integration of the architecture, private amenities and public realm elements of both the building and the surrounding context. Our hope is that together we can create buildings that embody attributes that enhance the quality of life for homeless or low-income residents of Los Angeles, as well as the overall quality of the city.
Our design approach always begins with gaining a thorough understanding of the existing conditions of a site and its surroundings. We will carefully consider all the aspects of the site that will inform our design, including the history of the buildings that have occupied the lots, neighboring projects, public realm requirements, and the changing nature of urban life within Los Angeles. Once a preferred design direction is selected, our team will ensure that the vision is clearly articulated through all phases of design and construction documents to ensure the successful completion of the project. This process includes rigorous coordination and communication to make sure projects meet the required timelines and budgets.
COMMUNICATION | Our team understands the importance of clear and frequent lines of communication with you, our client, and the consultant team. A strong communication protocol for all team members is one of the keys to success. To achieve this, we rely on rigorous scheduling and online software as well as frequent in-person meetings that bring the team together. Our team utilizes web-based meeting tools such as GoToMeeting, WebEx, Skype, and conference calls, through which we can cover a wide range of project topics and review drawings. We will also establish regular meeting times at key junctures in the design process, for in-person meetings either on-site or at the client’s office, as the project demands. Our proximity to Skid Row and our knowledge and experience in downtown Los Angeles provide us with the ability to deal with any issues immediately and with minor delay, if any.
For all our projects we manage complexity through a simple, proven technique: weekly, pre-scheduled Project Management meetings conducted either in-person or via teleconference or video-conference for all team members. The dates and times will be set up at the inception of the project. These set times stay the same and the same core individuals always attend. Additional team members and participants join as required and the meeting frequency is adjusted to suit the stages of the project. This organized approach is a priority for this project as on-time delivery is critical to its success.
Our team also utilizes online cloud based software such as G-Team and Trimble to maintain seamless communication and data exchange with our clients, sub-consultants and contractors. The software allows the entire team to have instant access to current project status, document exchange, and communication – all within a secure, highly customizable access platform. This information is consistent for everyone and is controlled by granting access as required.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
| We employ a number of techniques to ensure all our projects are completed on schedule and on budget. The primary strategy is maintenance of a flat organizational structure, where each team member, including sub-consultants has a designated back up. Additionally, the principal in charge plus an internal project manager are continually aware of project requirements and status. Both the main project principal and project manager are identified at the outset of an assignment, and are continuously ‘on call’ to answer questions, direct internal staff and make decisions. We are confident that we have assembled the best team suited to execute this project to a high level of success.
Our expertise in forecasting work, time requirements, and costs have been developed over time, and contribute to the accuracy of project timelines and fee proposals. Critical milestone dates are specified in project timelines, and used for project management and review. Deviations, bottlenecks and other unforeseen circumstances are reported immediately to the client upon being identified. Work that is not explicitly agreed to by the client is not performed.
Agendas, meeting minutes, and background materials are carefully prepared and distributed in a timely fashion to avoid surprises. Draft reports, presentations, display boards and web content are treated in the same manner. Ongoing project management is scheduled with the client to proactively guide a project through to completion. Periodic reviews of remaining tasks are also scheduled to identify activities which may have become superfluous, and opportunities to substitute more productive activities.
QUALITY ASSURANCE + QUALITY CONTROL | Our communication strategies play a large role in quality assurance and control. Regularly scheduled coordination meetings will ensure the status of all drawings and documents is current and reflects the ongoing discussion and project requirements. Both communication and drawing software provide central and live tracking ensuring all relevant parties are up to date. This ongoing monitoring of the design process provides a method through which to recommend corrective action on items emerging during design.
During construction we take a proactive response to potential issues before they arise. This both mitigates and resolves issues to keep from deviating from the intended goals of the project. Continuity of key team members brings the combined knowledge to all phases of the project and allows project objectives to be maintained from the outset of the project to its realization.
