CRL-U.S. Aluminum Products Transform Landmark Elysian Residential Tower Adaptive Reuse in Los Angeles

The storied Metropolitan Water District building in Los Angeles-designed in 1960 by prominent modernist architect William Pereira, whose prolific body of work includes the central theme building at LAX and the Transamerica tower in San Francisco-recently underwent a $30 million adaptive reuse renovation.Standing tall as the only high-rise in L.A.'s Echo Park neighborhood, the landmark building has been transformed into luxury apartments with breathtaking 360-degree views of the city's landscape from downtown to the ocean. Real estate developer Linear City Development hired architect David Lawrence Gray, FAIA to lead the large-scale restoration after the building sat empty for nearly 20 years. Linear City brought their proven experience transforming award-winning projects such as The Toy Factory and Biscuit Company Lofts to the challenging Elysian Tower adaptive reuse project.

Having just recently opened its doors after construction, The Elysian has added a modern aesthetic to the bustling Sunset Boulevard area inside one of the city's well-known architectural gems. The 13 penthouses all feature high ceilings, large balconies, and floor to ceiling windows. The property also features 83 other live/work units, a 24/7 fitness center, 2,000 sq. ft. ground-level restaurant, 1,200 sq. ft. outdoor patio, and a 3,000 sq. ft. outdoor deck complete with cabanas and an outdoor kitchen and barbeque space.

When it came to design and construction, architectural products manufacturer C.R. Laurence was contracted to provide key elements for the new residential tower. The Elysian's 1,700 sq. ft. two-story penthouses feature 20 ft. floor-to-ceiling windows outfitted with CRL-U.S. Aluminum's versatile Series 3250 Curtain Wall System that has been thermally improved and paired with efficient insulating glass to ensure building efficiency and comfort for residents. The proven system satisfied both aesthetic and functional requirements, providing exceptional fenestration performance and spectacular views of the city.

In addition, custom engineered CRL-U.S. Aluminum Series 550 Wide Stile Doors open the penthouse up to spacious patio decks on the first and second levels, while CRL "All-Glass" Doors outfit The Elysian's main lobby entrance. Also, CRL's AWS Aluminum Windscreen System provides privacy and wind protection in the building's first floor common areas, and CRL Frameless Shower Door Hardware was sourced for use in the bathrooms to match the project's contemporary design elements.

"The new penthouses built atop the original roof offer two-story lofts with soaring twenty-foot high glass walls that reveal spectacular views of the city," says Project Architect Alon Averbuch - LEED AP. "U.S. Aluminum's curtain wall system integrated seamlessly with the design intent; complementing the architectural character of the original building, while providing the needed performance to create an efficient, comfortable living space."

"The Series 3250 Curtain Wall System installed quickly and met the project's unique demands," says Jorge Mira, President of Altered Glass and Project Glazing Contactor. "CRL-U.S. Aluminum served as a convenient one stop shop for our project needs and provided valuable sales support from start to finish."

Key Players:

Architect: David Lawrence Gray, FAIA http://www.davidgrayarchitects.com

Developer: Linear City Development http://linear-city.com

Glazing Contractor: Altered Glass http://customglasscontractor.com

Architectural Products Manufacturer: CRL-U.S. Aluminum http://www.crl-arch.com

About C.R. Laurence

C.R. Laurence is an ISO9001:2008 certified premier manufacturer and supplier to the glazing, architectural, railing, construction, industrial, and automotive industries, with service centers located throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. The crlaurence.com web site is a proven resource for the glass and glazing industry; usalum.com is a prized resource for the U.S. Aluminum architectural product lines; crl-arch.com provides architects, designers, and specifiers with design-related information on new products. For more information contact C.R. Laurence at (800) 421-6144 or askus@crlaurence.com.