Potrero Community Center

The Project is designed to be a civic park pavilion that enhances its community–neighbors, the Park, the City,

Location: Montebello, California
Architect: Lehrer Architects LA, Inc, Project Architect, Nerin Kadribegovic
Structural Engineer: John Labib and Associates
Photography: Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA
Awards: Award for ‘exceptional contribution’ in Civic category, Los Angeles Business Council, 2014
Best of Year Honoree, Interior Design Magazine, 2013
Westside Prize Honor Award, Westside Urban Forum, 2013
Honor Award, Southern California Development Forum, 2012

The Project is designed to be a civic park pavilion that enhances its community–neighbors, the Park, the City, and the School District. The building responds to the landscape with large openings and transparencies seamlessly connecting the shaped topography to the interior. This frames significant views of the landscape too, through, and from the building and maximizes visual security for the building and the Park as well. 7 large glass garage doors convert the interior assembly room into a covered indoor/outdoor space.  2 long, red and white curtains add major flexibility, acoustical attenuation, and visual drama to the indoor and outdoor space. 

The building is sited towards the parking lot and street for easy accessibility, equalized cut and fill, and to retain as much park landscape as possible.  The building is the front door to the Park. On the westerly side pedestrian and maintenance vehicle passage is through the covered patio and ramp.  Easterly, the existing stairs were integrated into the new design by breaking the long new garden wall.  The large roof, mimicking the existing topography, provides ample shade for interior and exterior spaces, minimizes its visual impact from the street and is perfectly sloped for future photovoltaic installation. 

 

Contact: STUDIO@KADRE.ORG