The Levitt Foundation Office that Feels like a Luxury Hotel

SUBU was brought in to add more offices for the staff and to create a stylish space for wellness and community building within the 4500 s.f. expansion.

Starting in 1966, The Levitt Foundation was founded with a mission to create community and human connections through free and live music in existing public spaces. In this post pandemic world, this philosophy is even more crucial. The Foundation wants to reconnect physically within their office through hybrid work and rebuild a sense of community.

Located in the historic Rolf K. McPherson Building, the office has the advantage of being on the 6th floor in the tallest structure in Echo Park at the corner of Sunset and Glendale Boulevard with panoramic vista from Echo Park Lake to Downtown LA and the Hollywood Hills. The storied building was designed in 1967 by the Long Beach architects Francis Husel and Frank Homoka for California Federal Savings & Loan and later purchased by the Four-Square Church. This mid-century modern architecture is clad with prefabricated concrete panels punctuated with oval shaped windows that frame the surrounding view.

SUBU Design Architecture was originally engaged in 2014 with the original footprint of 3,000 s.f. of office Tenant Improvement project on site. However, the Foundation has grown significantly and needs more space for the staff. The brief in 2022 was not just to add more offices for the staff but to also create a stylish space for wellness and community building within the 4500 s.f. expansion.

The CEO wanted the staff to feel like they had arrived at a luxury hotel rather than at an office. 

Project Planning

In lieu of creating more c-suites, the client wanted to dedicate the corners to places of gathering and community for the staff. We created a large functional kitchen where we foresee pot-lucks and collaborative work happen, with view out to the hillside and plenty of natural light. We installed pop up Mockett grommets in the center of the kitchen islands so that staff may work and have a casual coffee meeting at the same time. The opposite corner of the office is dedicated to a second meeting area with plenty of light.

Project Details

Inspired by the vista and the architecture itself, we wanted to maximize the view and celebrate the curvilinear architectural language into the interior space itself. This started with a sense of arrival into a multipurpose area with plenty of daylight and green hillside view through the oval windows that greet the staff every morning. This space is flanked by an oak clad niched-in bench upholstered in cream velvet fabric and a circular seating space that is anchored under an Artemide cloud like Logico fixture punctuated by the soft blue velvet curve sofa.

Though the office is on the 6th floor, one never loses connection to the outdoors.

You are greeted with a view down Sunset Boulevard warmed by the morning and afternoon light upon entering the kitchen. The custom sculptural stone kitchen island has plenty of space around it, so that it can function to be another gathering space for brainstorming or just sharing a meal. Every detail is considered, the Ann Sacks Dimensions backsplash details subtly mimic the curves of the architecture. The natural and tactile finishes are further accentuated by the watercolor blue and cream textured carpet by Tarkett throughout reflecting the Los Angeles sky and the outdoor surroundings. This variation in the LA sky is also reflected by the different shades of blue cascading down the hall at each office to create an ombré effect. The perimeter offices have glass wall partitions so that it allows daylight and view out into the interior cubical space. All spaces flow into each other effortlessly, promoting collaboration and community. Finally, one is allowed a space of refuge to be by oneself. A wellness room is created for nursing mothers, or if one just needs a moment to meditate or walk on a treadmill. 

Key Products 

Sofa – Soho Home

TV – Samsung 

Plants – Rolling Greens 

Carpet and flooring – Tarkett  

Cubicle system: KI  

Furniture: DWR 

Overall Project Results

Today as the staff has returned to work, we are getting fantastic feedback from the staff. We have observed that the staff often stop and chat at the various seating areas. The staff have even dressed to complement the earth tone of the décor. Neighboring office staff have often stopped by to look at the space. It not only has hosted office gatherings, but also cocktail get-togethers with neighboring tenants.

Key Contributors:

Architect – SUBU Design Architecture  

MEP – Simon S Wong & Associates

Lighting Designer – KGM Lighting 

General Contractor – Pinnacle Contracting Corporation

Design Team

Client – Mark Arteaga 

Architect – May Sung 

MEP Engineering – Simon Wong 

Lighting Designer – Kris Sandheinrich  

General Contractor – Mark Tieman  

General Contractor Project Manager – Roxanne Sutter 

Photography

Images courtesy of Manolo Langis