This simple warehouse building lies at the primary intersection and entry to the commercial zone of Santa Monica and had been in complete disrepair for many years. KDA was commissioned to renovate the 16,000SF facility and create a new identity to suit the needs of the client, a film/production company.

The owners requested a transformation of the facade that would modernize the building and attract technology clients. KDA’s solution was to strip away decades of cosmetic improvements to reveal the original brick warehouse. Welded steel trusses initially designed to support a stucco soffit were extended to become the framing system for the glazed canopy that now surrounds the building. This light membrane of glass both exposes the existing construction and creates an illuminated gateway to Santa Monica’s Main Street commercial district. An array of galvanized steel tread plates protects the interior from scrutiny and acts as a scrim to allow light into the work zones without compromising privacy or security.