Portofino Plaza to Overlook Palisades
The word Portofino, affixed to any new development, automatically conjures unhurried pleasure, images of the seaside and a Mediterranean architectural style.
That’s exactly what Century West Development had in mind with its new Portofino Plaza, an $11-million business complex under construction in Santa Monica.
The three-story, 45,000-square-foot complex, slated for completion in December, is located at 1401 Ocean Ave., overlooking Palisades Park. It is within walking distance of the beach and will have a Mediterranean facade of white and antique-rose marble.
“The Portofino Plaza concept posed some very real challenges in design due to restrictions imposed by the city of Santa Monica land use ordinance and the Coastal Commission,” said Giorgio Dazzan of Giorgio Dazzan & Associates, the Italian-born architect of the project.
“Within these restrictions, we hoped to create a design that would have human scale and be sensitive to the pedestrian environment of Ocean Avenue.
“Pedestrians will enter through the main landscaped granite plaza on the corner to a central elevator lobby with marble-clad walls.”
Second and third levels of Portofino Plaza, Dazzan explained, will be office floors with terraces set back from street level. The Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard sides will have extended garden terraces.
The automobile entrance for tenants and visitors will be through a one-way alley off Santa Monica Boulevard to a 3 1/2-level underground parking structure. The garage will accommodate 190 cars.
Already 96% leased, the structure will house the corporate offices of Century West Development as well as the offices of a law firm on the second and third floors. The first floor will be occupied by a restaurant and retail outlets.
Members of the Portofino Plaza project team also include Century West Development, the contractor; MBM Inc., structural engineer; Helfman/Haloossin & Associates and Dalan Engineering Inc., electrical engineering.
