海角视频

The Park (500 Broadway)

Santa Monica, California, USA

A multidisciplinary team of experts from 海角视频 supported the realization of a vibrant new residential community in the heart of Santa Monica, California.

Many multi-unit mixed-use buildings in Los Angeles follow a predictable 鈥渟treet wall鈥� massing design. However, this 249-unit transit-oriented development challenges that norm by disrupting the street wall, aiming to create a more sustainable, informal, and community-friendly environment.

The Park at 500 Broadway, comprises a seven-floor development with 240,000ft虏 of multifamily residences and 60,000ft虏 of commercial space.

The MEP strategy used VRF fan coils to share simultaneous heating and cooling loads, which provided efficient and effective climate control.

The amount of internal air conditioning was minimized by reducing circulatory areas likes corridors and lobbies.

The project obtained LEED for Homes Platinum certification.

Challenge

The Park at 500 Broadway, Santa Monica, comprises a seven-floor development with 240,000ft虏 of multifamily residences, 60,000ft虏 of commercial space, and 230,00ft虏 of below grade parking. The project created pedestrian-friendly routes, which are two blocks away from the new expo rail station in Santa Monica.

A key goal for this project was to create green public spaces and encourage pedestrian-centric design. One of the central challenges would be creating a balance between providing comfortable living spaces in the Santa Monica heat, alongside developing genuinely sustainable systems in terms of operational carbon intensity.

海角视频 delivered building services engineering (MEP) and some early-stage facade engineering advisory input, in addition to energy modelling. We also helped the client to work towards LEED for Homes Platinum certification.

Solution

The four separate residential buildings alternate with landscaped courtyards in between, and hangout spaces located adjacent to the public realm below. The residences are unified by open bridges that allow breezes, sunlight, and views and have terraces. The courtyards in The Park create a strong visual and social link between the housing above and the street life below. Additionally, a series of public open spaces energize the connection between the light rail station and the neighborhood.

By placing public spaces outside, the design minimizes the amount of communal and circulatory areas inside, which in turn has a significant impact on lowering the carbon intensity of the site by minimizing the volume of air-conditioned areas.

The MEP strategy used VRF (variable refrigerant flow) fan coils to share simultaneous heating and cooling loads, which provided efficient and effective climate control, supporting both occupant comfort in the peak heating and cooling seasons and helping to further minimize the operational carbon intensity of the development. Given Santa Monica pleasant climate, natural ventilation with window contact switches were utilized to maximize the shoulder seasons.

We developed detailed energy models to support a balance between enabling natural daylighting within residential spaces and minimizing thermal gain. The building envelope’s faceting enhances unit views and serves as one of the two primary facade treatments in the design. On the south-facing sides, it was substituted with a layered assembly that offers shade and increases the perceived distance between buildings.

The distinctive rooftop area provides residents with a tranquil retreat featuring ocean views, greenery, and photovoltaic shade canopies. The plants serve a dual purpose by mitigating the urban heat island effect and insulating the building.

Low-flow plumbing fixtures were integrated into the design throughout to mitigate against water wastage, supporting the client to meet Santa Monica鈥檚 progressive water consumption codes, while further driving the project鈥檚 sustainability aspirations. This included installing systems to catch condensate from fan coil units. This water could then be harvested for use in flushing. The plumbing design also fully separates out greywater systems from fresh water supplies, as well as separating drainage systems, making it ready for the municipality鈥檚 longer-term plans to deliver recycled water via a dedicated greywater city-wide system. Solar thermal heating was instrumental to reducing the project domestic hot water demands and overall Energy Use Intensity (EUI).

Value

海角视频鈥檚 multidisciplinary team played a key role in supporting the client and architect to realize their vision for a sustainable and comfortable complex, providing a range of new homes and commercial spaces for the district.

The project is now used as an example in pedestrian and people centric design and has even played a role in updated local planning guidelines. The project obtained LEED for Homes Platinum certification.