Olympic

Olympic-

2008 This was our 2nd project in partnership red car . The previous tenant sold watercraft, so the whole slab was sloped. Two concerns for this building were flooding and a car coming into the building. (image 12) The sidewalk was brought flush after the slab was leveled then am upturned beam was installed. This was remedied by an upturned grade beam. 

On day one the in-filled stucco paneling was removed to create the windows. 

In the early renditions of the front signage there was even a notion created in Rick’s studio that would allow the 3d E (photo in LR Rick liked version on left, but the version on the right was placed horizontal to the wall). 

There were three buildings at this location.The photos of transitions (image 34) are a symbol of Rick’s love for obscure/odd transitions both comfortable and uncomfortable. Wood was existing on the building to the left and the one to the right was sandblasted.(image 34) 1903,1905,1907 are all RAC.

 Original windows. Header was failing. Originally, there was going to be a Lightbox to add colors at night (Image 56). 

Helms

The two front doors were installed even before tenants arrived to provide an interesting hook into the building. Pushing the doors in also created space between existing parking and the structure. 

The tower structure is non-occupiable space, so we decided to open it up and provide tenants with an opportunity see the view

The interior of Helms is a great example of our Southern California modernest traditions that are at the core of RAC dna. 

The windows and door hardware throughout the building were some of the first RAC designed and installed. 

The pivot door was used to allow air in around the corner. Wood was mixed with the concrete to warm things up. 

The light cord was 15 feet, so there were several meetings that I attended while stringing the light for Helms. -Rick Cortez

759 spring st

-listed on compstak.com as Built in 1880, this 3 story retail property spans 26,000 SQFT

Directly north of Downtown' s Civic Center, Historic Core and Little Tokyo. Located in the Historic Upper Main District of Chinatown and DTLA

FABIAN was my contact at contend. Evon is woman we met at scout. RED CAR did interviews here. “People from Microsoft to Verizon all enjoy the story” according to male owner we ran into.

 It was half Chinese fish market and half beauty supply factory. By opening up the space it allowed for circulation. It was covered with odors on the inside, materials on the outside. The interior was filled with paths that felt like beruit where you are trying to lose someone as they tailed you. It was clear that it wasn’t just a mess or somewhere that had collected things over time. You could see that people had lived their lives inside of these horrible spaces filled with fumes and cigarette butts. 

The original idea was to keep the old facade and in fill a few windows. Demolition is always are biggest friend because as you strip away opportunities present themselves.  What we thought was brick was really 7/8 inch stucco. It had been repaired and a their savings on materials became our greatest opportunity. No one wanted the facade that was, so this essential move created what it is today. We had excepted that there were not going to be funds to make the changes the building needed, so when the hole was revealed it was the opportunity that made the project. This is always something we wish we could do to every building, but typically there is too much heavy lifting. 

Cal forge near 759 causes this structure to shake. Rick noticed via laser level on initial visit. RAC was brought on to this project in the 3rd quarter. 

We began with the existing steel brace frame to create a deck. The entire facade was originally brick , but it was discovered that a large portion had been replaced during an earthquake or something… Once the stucco was revealed there was an opportunity to embrace that and replace all of that brick with windows to open up the facade from 8 windows to what it is now.There was a grade change that allowed the conference room to be positioned where it is. 

There is a large moment frame that goes from the door in Giphy to the foundation. 

Originally, there was no way to see through the building. In the design Rick had notion for the lights to change levels as you peer through the building (contend). Row of lights is there in order to tie two very different spaces together.

The walls were lit really brightly to create a sense of more space. 

The power station inside the confrenence room . When you unpack it you realize that all the gear was there, but all the “brain damage” it took to achieve what it became should be elaborated on more. We had to find a way to maintain the ifastructure while creating service for a second user. 

Rick likes to create spaces that make people want to look around the corner to see what is there….downstairs conference room has this notion. 

Windows in the downstairs suites were pushed out so that in each room there is a view of outside. The front gates were created out of necessity. 

The railings are pushed up above the 42” code requirements to extra safety. 

The top floor was completely opened up to reveal the Lomello roof. The transitions (Chris pictures) are the greatest feat of this project. 

Near the kitchen Rick was on site to make the windows because they were too hard to draw. Why were bathrooms on the roof in old days? 

The original goal of the canopy lighting was deigned to make it look like the roof was floating. 

The sheer walls were designed to tie the front and back together. 

The operator on floor two was created as a sort of a ceremony, so Rick hit the drawing table and came up with the one that is used to date. 

There were several urination incidents…discuss further.   The front fail safe gate was a way of creating a safe space the occupants could enter via swipe card that offers safe space between them and the public. The drawing only took minutes, but the bends took a substantial amount of time to create and line up.

The deck was a product of egress…there was a simple need to just get people out of this unpermittable space.