ASCE Los Angeles Section

“2710 W. Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90026”

“The LAPD Metropolitan Division Facility, the former LAPD Rampart Division facility was designed by architect Glenn Arbogast, and possessed reasonable mid-century modern “bones” complete with structural clarity, intact waffle-slabs, proportionate post and beam features, and non-structural infill panels containing custom designed ceramic tile. This facility has been transformed and reimagined as the proud new home for the elite LAPD Metropolitan Division (“Metro”). The 1.74-acre urban site with a 16’-0” onsite grade transition is located in a high-density residential community with some commercial neighbors.
Originally developed in 1966 as a community police station, the site houses an existing 2-story concrete building with attached single level parking deck. This former walled off bunker has been recreated as a 24/7 state-of-the-art specialty police facility, efficiently housing the one administrative platoon and five field platoons that comprise the special operations division that is LAPD Metro. Program elements include collaborative staff office areas, conference rooms, training facilities, armory, equipment storage, kennels, protected parking, armored vehicle parking, a secure perimeter, and display areas placed to reinforce Division pride.”

“The LAPD Metropolitan Division Facility interior planning balances work space efficiency, flexibility and interaction while maintaining essential facility standards. New glazing, lighting, greenery, public art and the reuse of salvaged materials increase perimeter security while softening this facility’s historical image. An inefficient driveway was replaced with a community pocket park, providing much needed neighborhood open space. All new building finishes, systems, and equipment are high efficiency systems and products that are durable, easy to maintain, and contribute to improved indoor environmental quality. Specific sustainable strategies include:
• an efficient insulated building envelope and glazing units that reduce conditioning load
• diffused natural daylight that lowers lighting usage and loads
• an air cooled chiller system and VAV boxes to provide efficient conditioning
• 110kw photovoltaic shade canopy that offset building energy needs, with excess capacity to the grid
• a Building Management System (BMS) allows for post-occupancy calibration
• a sophisticated programmable lighting control system tied into BMS with LED lighting fixtures that balances fixture lighting levels and daylighting levels
• independent third party commissioning
• a 30% reduction in domestic water usage with low-flow plumbing fixtures
• efficient irrigation system that surpasses AB 1881 requirements with drought tolerant plants, grasses and shrubs
• permeable paving, increased softscape, a bioswale that mitigates stormwater runoff reducing it by over 25%
• structural glass walkway to enhance light diffusion to the lower level occupied spaces
• translucent ballistic glazing assemblies that incorporates a custom frit pattern, which was abstracted from the existing façade’s salvaged ceramic tile
The project has successfully maintained the delicate balance of nature, environment, resources, aesthetic, functionality and is on track to receive LEED Platinum certification.”

“The project provides a “pocket park” and for much needed recreational activities in the community where urbanization is rampant and open space is scarce. It is bringing the resident back to the park as the out dated facilities are replaced with new ones. The facility was well received by the Neighborhood Council and the Department of Cultural Affairs of the City of Los Angeles.
The design team prioritized the transformation and illumination of the building that was an existing dark bunker. Daylight from the new east-west rooftop “slot” monitor flows through the slot and glass bridgework into adjacent occupied spaces. Strategic carvings into the 1966 concrete bunker allow diffused sunlight into high priority and frequently occupied spaces. The central “slot” transmits daylight by removing narrow portions of the floor and roof in the east-west direction, thus creating an interconnecting central circulation hub in heart of the building.
In addition, the existing building had been associated with many scandals in the 1990s, which created negative connotations of the building within the city and community. By working with the design team, LAPD, the public artist and the neighborhood a fresh new image for the building was created that both respects the past and creates a positive future for the facility.
The LAPD Metro Division is organized into function-specific platoons currently housed in separate rooms. The new departmental philosophy adapts the collaborative ideas behind community policing at a localized level. Physically, open work spaces were designed where the platoons can cross pollinate while allowing informal break-out areas for specialized smaller group meetings.

Accolades received:
1. 2015 Westside Urban Forum, Westside Prize, Merit Award
2. 2014 AIA American Academy of Justice, Justice Facilities Review, Citation Award
3. 2012 Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC), Design Excellence Award (Unbuilt)
4. 2012 Los Angeles Business Council Architectural Awards, Design Concept Award”

This project goal exceeds the City requirement of LEED Silver certification. To reduce the operating costs and energy consumption the facility features an 110kw photovoltaic array that that offset building energy needs, with excess capacity to the grid and operable windows for natural ventilation in the high load weight room when outdoor air temperatures are acceptable.

The LAPD Metropolitan Division Facility is well designed, reflecting the image transformation from a dark past to a beacon of neighborhood safety, with repurposing of the original exterior terra cotta tile design through its reuse and seamless incorporation into the custom glazing frit façade, and rejuvenated sustainable strategies and a softer site boundary.

“The LAPD Metropolitan Division Facility transforms and reimagines the former LAPD Rampart Area Station as the proud new home for the elite LAPD Metropolitan Division (“Metro”). The 1.74-acre urban site with a 16’-0” onsite grade transition is located in a high-density residential community with some commercial neighbors.
Originally developed in 1966 as a community police station, the site houses an existing 2-story concrete building with attached single level parking deck. This former walled off bunker has been recreated as a 24/7 state-of-the-art specialty police facility, efficiently housing the one administrative platoon and five field platoons that comprise the special operations division that is LAPD Metro. Program elements include collaborative staff office areas, conference rooms, training facilities, armory, equipment storage, kennels, protected parking, armored vehicle parking, a secure perimeter, and display areas placed to reinforce Division pride.
A series of specific targeted interventions were included that pay respect to the original architecture while providing a fresh community image and a modern collaborative workplace flooded with natural daylight. A full height translucent ballistic glazing façade, a light monitor “slot” opening at the roof level and surgical exterior wall and roof skylight openings admit daylight into high priority, frequently occupied spaces. An interior floor opening and integrated structural glass floor allows further diffusion of daylight into interior occupied spaces.
Interior planning balances work space efficiency, flexibility and interaction while maintaining major existing shear walls in accordance with Essential Facility Standards. New glazing, lighting, greenery, public art and the reuse of salvaged materials increase perimeter security while softening this facility’s historical image. An inefficient driveway was replaced with a community pocket park, providing much needed neighborhood open space. All existing building finishes, systems, and equipment (mechanical, electrical, plumbing and site irrigation) were replaced with high efficiency systems and products that are durable, easy to maintain, and contribute to improved indoor environmental quality. A large photovoltaic canopy reinforces the regenerative nature of this transformation.
The project is on track to receive LEED Platinum certification.”