Chapter Four: A Space to Shine

The New Center for Architecture and Design Los Angeles (CALA), Sixth Street Bridge, Los Angeles

Proposed as an augmentation of the existing 1st Street bridge, I designed a habitable bridge structure to centralize the fields of architecture and urban design in Downtown Los Angeles. My design process began as an analysis of the surrounding site and the necessary programmatic responses. As a connection between the Arts District and Boyle Heights, two very different neighborhoods, my bridge responds to each location's unique demands. I chose to curate the program by placing the retail and office space adjacent to the Arts District and placing the library and classrooms adjacent to the Boyle Heights side due to its proximity to an existing school. This allowed for the centralization of the suspended gallery space, capitalizing on the views towards Downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains. 

An extraction of the circulation along the southern side allows for northern apertures towards the views with addition thermal control. The separation of public and private access allows for feasible financial profits while still giving visitors free twenty-four-hour access to the rooftop bar, sundeck and viewport, framing the iconic Hollywood sign.

The form and structure respond to the restraints from the exisiting site, using the pier as support and a diagrid, informing both the steel frame system and suspended glass facade. Experimenting with transparency, the design includes a combination of frosted, fritted, and spandrel glass to enhance the patron's experience in each space.

Light quality and color have such a strong effect on outcome of a space. I knew that with the such vast programmatic conditions, the quality of spaces should differ and the facade would need to be treated accordingly. Experimenting with fritting compositions I played with density, opacity, and layering to let light dance through entire building.