THE BEST OF ’92 : Southland Prevails in Design Awards
Southland builders, architects and developments once again dominated the design competition at this year’s Pacific Coast Builders Conference, winning two-thirds of the top awards in a contest that drew 500 entries from 14 western states and several Pacific Rim nations.
Twenty-four of the prizes in the competition’s 36 “Gold Nugget” categories went to projects located in the Southland or to developers or designers headquartered here.
The annual conference and trade show in San Francisco is the second-largest builders’ convention in the country, outranked only by the yearly gathering of the National Assn. of Home Builders.
The Gold Nugget competition, which honors the West’s best projects and emerging design trends, is one of PCBC’s highlights. The awards were announced last Thursday, during closing ceremonies for the Western builders’ 34th annual meeting.
Local firms won many of the contest’s top awards, including two of the three “home of the year” prizes, best commercial project, and the two top awards for building affordable housing.
Irvine-based Bramalea California Inc. was one of the biggest winners, capturing three Gold Nuggets. And the stately Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena was named the best rehabilitated commercial or industrial project in the West.
The prestigious “best of show” award for a detached home on a conventional-sized lot--a parcel that’s at least 4,500 square feet--went to the “22 Morning View Drive” plan at Bramalea Homes at Newport Coast, a 58-unit development near Corona del Mar.
The classic Italianesque home has four bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths and 5,570 square feet of living space, and a base price of $1.75 million. The house was also judged the best detached home over 3,000 square feet in the $500,000-plus competition.
The project--by Bramalea California and designed by McLarand, Vasquez & Partners of Costa Mesa--also won a Gold Nugget as the best detached, over-$500,000 residential development.
The best-of-show award for a detached home on a small lot went to Los Angeles-based Kaufman & Broad Home Corp. for its “Tulip” plan in California Maison de Fleur, a 146-unit development in San Jose.
The two-story, Mediterranean style home has three bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths and about 1,500 square feet of living space. Kaufman & Broad’s staff architects designed the house, which quickly sold out at $264,950.
Another best-of-show award went to the new administration building at the Yusen Terminal on Terminal Island, which was also named the best industrial project of any size.
Judges said that the building’s dark glass, rose-colored siding and extensive landscaping is a pleasant change from the many boxy, drab office buildings and warehouses that dot the harbor area.
Vickerman-Zachary-Miller of Oakland designed the project, which was developed by the Port of Los Angeles. It was built by Morrison Knudsen Corp. of Boise, Idaho.
Southland builders also claimed the two top awards for building affordable housing--”affordable,” at least, by Southern California’s pricey standards.
Encino-based West Venture Development Co.’s Avalon tract in the high desert town of Rosamond was named best affordable detached housing development. The four floor plans at the 108-unit project have two to four bedrooms, two baths and 928 to 1,524 square feet.
Judges praised homes in the tract for their flexibility.
Dalton Designs planned the houses at Avalon so they can “grow with the families” who buy them: A carport bonus room can be easily converted into an extra bedroom when one is eventually required, while the den can be made into a formal dining room.
Sales at the project continue, with prices ranging from $88,990 to $109,990.
The Strathern Park Apartments, a 241-unit apartment complex in Sun Valley, shared the top prize for the best affordable attached housing development with another rental project in Hong Kong.
Strathern Park is an 18-building, low-rise complex that boasts several amenities, including a recreation center and three play areas for children. Rent for a one-bedroom unit starts at $340, which may explain why the “waiting list” for prospective tenants is more than 5,000 names long.
The project was built by Strathern Park Builders, a partnership of Campbell Construction Co. and Southern Sun Builders Co. It was developed by Los Angeles-based Thomas Safran & Associates and designed by The Withee Malcolm Partnership in Torrance.
The award for the best seniors housing project went to Victoria Manor, a 112-unit apartment complex in Riverside.
It was built and developed by Beverly Hills-based Ronald Levine Construction & Investment Corp. in conjunction with the City of Riverside Community Development Department. The land was donated by the nearby St. James Church of God in Christ.
The complex has a community center, several greenbelts and courts, and even an on-site beauty and barber shop. John Oliver Cotton of Santa Monica is the architect.
Rents at Victoria Manor range from $282 to $397 a month and the project is fully leased.
The award for best apartment project of three or more stories went to 679 Gayley, a 30-unit building in Westwood. The three-story, Mediterranean-style complex is built around a courtyard and houses many professionals as well as students who attend nearby UCLA.
Los Angeles-based Fassberg Construction built the project and Wilshire West Inc. of Los Angeles is the developer. The architect is Johannes Van Tilburg & Partners, Santa Monica.
The complex is fully leased, with a waiting list of about 30 people. Monthly rents for the 24 two-bedroom units average $1,750, while rents for the six three-bedroom apartments average $2,500.
The Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena was named the best rehabitated commercial or industrial project.
The original hotel was built in 1906, but was closed in 1985 after it was determined that it couldn’t survive an earthquake.
Although contest judges noted that much of the building had to be razed, they praised the $100-million rehab and new construction project for maintaining the building’s “sense of place and character.”
Two architectural firms--Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo and McClellan, Cruz & Gaylord--handled the design duties. Huntington Hotel Partners is the developer of the project; Swinerton and Walberg is the builder.
1992 Gold Nugget Winners
BEST OF SHOW
Commercial Project of the Year
Yusen Terminal--Los Angeles
Builder: Morrison Knudsen
Developer: Port of Los Angeles
Architect: Vickerman-Zachary-Miller
Site Plan of the Year
Pantai Indah Kapuk--Jakarta, Indonesia
Developer: P.T. Mandara Permai
Land Planner: D.I. Design & Dev. Consultants Inc.
Attached Home of the Year
The Harvard Condominiums, Plan A--Seattle, Wash.
Builder: Chambers-Keesling & Associates
Architect: Mithun Partners Inc.
Detached (Small Lot) Home of the Year
California Maison de Fleur, Plan 1--San Jose, Calif.
Builder/Architect: Kaufman & Broad Home Corp.
Detached (Conventional Lot)
Home of the Year
Bramalea Homes at Newport Coast--Newport Coast, Calif.
Builder: Bramalea California Inc.
Architect: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.
Special Award Finalists
Biosphere 2--Oracle, Ariz.
Builder/Developer: Space Biospheres Ventures
Architect: Sarbid Inc.
Habitat--Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Builder/Developer: Partners in Progress:
Habitat for Humanity/Fieldstone Co.
Architect: Berkus Group Architects
Pine Street Cottages--Seattle, Wash.
Builder: Kucher/Rutherford Inc.
Architect: Marcia Gamble Guthrie
GRAND AWARD WINNERS COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL CATEGORIES
1--Best Public or Private Special Use Facility
The Samuel Goldwyn Childrens Center--Los Angeles
Builder: Cal Pac Construction Inc.
Developer: The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation
Architect: Solberg + Lowe Architects AIA Inc.
Pleasant Hill City Hall--Pleasant Hill, Calif.
Builder: Roebbelen Construction Inc.
Developer: Pleasant Hill City Hall
Architect: Charles W. Moore/Urban Innovations/Fisher-Friedman Associates
2A--Best Office/Professional Building
(100,000 square feet or less)
Saint Francis Medical Office Building--San Francisco
Builder: Cahill Contractors
Developer: Saint Francis Memorial Hospital
Architect: Heller & Leake Architects
2B--Best Office/Professional Building
(over 100,000 square feet)
The Water Garden--Santa Monica
Builder: Water Garden Associates
Developer: J.H. Snyder Co./Miller-Davis
Architect: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.
3--Best Commercial Project-Retail
U.C. Irvine Satellite Food Facility--Irvine
Builder: Linkletter Construction Inc.
Developer: UCI-Design & Construction Services
Architect: Fisher-Friedman Associates
4--Best Rehabilitated Commercial or Industrial Project
The Ritz-Carlton, Huntington Hotel--Pasadena
Builder: Swinerton & Walberg Co.
Developer: Huntington Hotel Partners
Architect: Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo Architects and Planners; and McClellan, Cruz & Gaylord
5--Best Hotel or Hotel Resort
The Manhattan--Makuhari, Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Builder/Developer: Kajima Corp.
Architect: RTKL Associates Inc.
6--Best Industrial Project
Yusen Terminal--Los Angeles
Builder: Morrison Knudsen
Developer: Port of Los Angeles
Architect: Vickerman-Zachary-Miller
SPECIAL HOUSING
7--Best Custom Home (under 4,500 square feet)
Bulkin Residence--Scottsdale, Ariz.
Builder: SWD Inc.
Architect: Allen & Philp Architects
8--Best Custom Home (4,500 square feet and over)
Lake Tahoe Residence--Zephyr Cove, Nev.
Builder: Q & D Construction
Architect: Jerry Loving Architects Inc.
9--Best Renovated, Restored or Remodeled Residential (Project or Single Home)
1201 Harvard Ave. East--Seattle, Wash.
Builder: Edifice Construction Co. Inc.
Architect: Jalbert-Rasnack-Odell/Architecture & Interior Design
10--Best Affordable Housing Development (Detached)
Avalon--Rosamond
Builder/Developer: West Venture Development Co.
Architect: Dalton Designs
11--Best Affordable Housing Development (Attached)
Fairview Park Residential Development--Hong Kong
Developer: Canadian Overseas Development Co. Ltd.
Architect: Nelson Chen, Architect/Wong Chen
Associates Ltd.
Strathern Park Apartments--Los Angeles
Builder: Strathern Park Builders
Developer: Thomas Safran & Associates
Architect: The Withee Malcolm Partnership, Architects
12--Best Apartment Project (1 to 2 Stories)
The Frank Estate--Portland, Ore.
Builder: GSL Construction Inc.
Developer: GSL Properties Inc.
Architect: OTAK Architects, PC
13--Best Apartment Project (3 Stories or more)
679 Gayley Apartments--Los Angeles
Builder: Fassberg Construction
Developer: Wilshire West Inc.
Architect: Johannes Van Tilburg & Partners
14--Best Mixed Use (Business/Residential) Project
The Academy--North Hollywood
Builder/Developer: KG Land California Corp.
Architect: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.
15--Best Seniors Housing Project
Victoria Manor--Riverside
Builder/Developer: Ronald Levine Construction & Investment Corp.
Developer: City of Riverside Community Development Dept.
Architect/Land Planner: John Oliver Cotton FAIA, Associated Architects
SITE/LAND PLANNING-PLANNING FOR TOMORROW’S PRODUCTS
16--Best Residential Product Site Plan-Under 25 Acres
Playa Pacific--Culver City
Developer: Mission-Dominion Partners I
Land Planner: David Jay Flood Architect
17--Best Community Site Plan-100 Acres or Less
The Cloisters--Morro Bay, Calif.
Developer: Keyoto Morro Bay Inc. & Morro Bay Natalie Inc.
Land Planner: RRM Design Group
18--Best Community Site Plan--Over 100 Acres
Pacific Place--Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Developer: Concord Pacific Developments Ltd.
Land Planner: Pacific Place Design Consortium
19--Best Redevelopment, Rehab or Infill Site Plan--Residential and/or Commercial
Fulton Grove--San Francisco
Developer: Urban Frontier Development
Land Planner: Solomon Inc. and Robert Heckel, AIA
20--Best New Town Land Plan
Pantai Indah Kapuk--Jakarta, Indonesia
Developer: P.T. Mandara Permai
Land Planner: D.I. Design & Development
Consultants Inc.
PRODUCTION HOUSING
21--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (under 1,200 square feet)
Del Webb’s Sun City West, The Mesa--Sun City West, Ariz.
Builder: Del Webb Corp.
Architect: Iverson-Wilkinson Architects
22--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (1,200 to 1,600 square feet)
California Maison de Fleur, Plan 1--San Jose
Builder/Architect: Kaufman & Broad Home Corp.
23--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (1,601 to 2,000 square feet)
Heartland, Reflections--Green Valley, Nev.
Builder: Heartland Homes
Architect: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects
24--Best Single Family (small lot) Detached Home (over 2,000 square feet)
Westwind Mall, 122 Westwind Mall
Marina del Rey
Builder: Clifford D. Rome & Associates Inc.
Architect: Ade Collie
Valle Vista, Plan 4
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Builder: Fieldstone Co.
Architect: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects
25--Best Single Family Detached Home (under 1,500 square feet)
Summerlake, Plan 1--Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Builder: Centex Real Estate Corp.
Architect: Shleppey Hezmalhalch Associates Inc.
26--Best Single Family Detached Home
(1,500 to 2,000 square feet)
Vintage Collection, The Classic Home--Foothill Ranch, Calif.
Builder: Vintage Communities Inc.
Architect: Architectural Services Group
27--Best Single Family Detached Home
(2,001 to 2,500 square feet)
Vintage Collection, The Gathering Home--Foothill Ranch, Calif.
Builder: Vintage Communities Inc.
Architect: Architectural Services Group
28--Best Single Family Detached Home
(2,501 to 3,000 square feet)
Hillcrest Meadows, Plan 3--Rolling Hills Estate, Calif.
Builder: Cal-Coast Development Group
Architect: Randy Washington Co.
29A--Best Single Family Detached Home
(over 3,000 square feet, $600,000 or less)
New Territory, Villa de Vaca--Sugar Land, Tex.
Builder: Mastermark Homebuilders
Architect: Quincy Johnson Associates
29B--Best Single Family Detached Home
(over 3,000 square feet, over $600,000)
Bramalea Homes at Newport Coast--Newport Coast, Calif.
Builder: Bramalea California Inc.
Architect: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.
30--Best Condo or Attached Home (under 1,200 square feet)
Montana del Lago, The Infinity Home--Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
Builder: RGC (RecreActions Group of Companies)
Architect: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.
31--Best Condo or Attached Home (1,200 to 1,600 square feet)
Encore, Plan 4--Laguna Niguel
Builder: Taylor Woodrow Homes
Architect: Danielian Associates
32--Best Condo or Attached Home (1,601 to 2,000 square feet)
The Harvard Condominiums, Plan A--Seattle, Wash.
Builder: Chambers-Keesling & Associates
Architect: Mithun Partners Inc.
33--Best Condo or Attached Home (over 2,000 square feet)
Montaire, PentHouse Excelsum 901--San Francisco
Builder: ZCON Builders
Architect: Heller & Leake Architects
34--Best Residential Project--Attached
The Wilshire--Los Angeles
Builder: HCB Contractor
Developer: Cal Fed Enterprises
Architect: Richard Magee & Associates and Kaplan McLaughlin Diaz
35A--Best Residential Project--Detached ($500,000 or less)
New Territory--Sugar Land, Tex.
Builder: Ashton Woods Homes, Mastermark Homebuilders, Newmark Home Corp., Trendmaker Inc. and David Weekley Homes
Developer: Markborough Texas Inc.
Architect: Thompson, Hancock, Witte
Land Planner: Kerry Gilbert & Associates, Lifescapes Inc. and Thompson, Hancock, Witte
35B--Best Residential Project--Detached (over $500,000)
Bramalea Homes at Newport Coast--Newport Coast, Calif.
Builder: Bramalea California Inc.
Developer: The Irvine Co.
Architect/Land Planner: McLarand, Vasquez & Partners Inc.
36--Best Specialty Housing Project--Resorts, Second Homes, Mixed Product Types, Etc.
Fishing Cabin--Hamilton, Mont.
Developer: Il Fornaio (America) Corp.
Architect: Backen Arrigoni & Ross Inc.
