The worst housing recession in US history, a difficult design review process, and an existing historical structure couldn’t stop The Residences at Westgate in downtown Pasadena from finally being realized thanks to a very patient development team and the architectural collaboration of Danielian Associates Architecture + Planning and COE Architecture. “We started working on this project in our office in 2007,” said Mojgan Momenan, Senior Project Manager for Westgate and Associate at Danielian. “It could easily have been a different outcome, but patience and the team’s ability to overcome design challenges paid off. To have this particular project win at the SoCal Awards is exceptionally rewarding.”
One of the defining challenges of this project was having to account for an existing, historical structure situated within its infill location. The Werk Brothers Garage was ultimately incorporated as a focal element in the retail street scene along Green Street while the residences were built out around it. The garage provided inspiration for authentic material and color choices throughout the project, making for a seamless integration of the existing historical building into the new retail street scene and residential units above. The recession also meant changes in the project’s builder team, starting out with Sares-Regis and ultimately completing construction directly with the project owner Equity Residential.
The Residences at Westgate includes 88 units, including studios, one and two bedroom dwellings, and lofts with mezzanines and approximately 16,500 SF of ground floor retail and restaurant space.
“We are extremely proud of the entire project team and ecstatic to have this project recognized by the building community. This year’s finalists in the Multifamily Architecture category represented a literal who’s who of our industry’s best and we are honored to be included among them,” said John Danielian, AIA, Principal at Danielian Associates. “Our firm takes great pride in working collaboratively to develop design solutions that support successful projects and enable our clients to achieve and exceed their goals. The Residences at Westgate is a great story and a true testament to our firm’s guiding principles and core values.”
The SoCal Awards were held on Saturday, September 10th, at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA. The Residences at Westgate was announced the winner out of six finalists in its category, including Alterra at La Floresta by Van Daele Homes and Bassenian Lagoni; Avanti by The New Home Company and Robert Hidey Architects; Mason at Playa Vista by Brookfield Residential and KTGY Architecture; Modera Glendale by Mill Creek Residential Trust and KTGY Architecture; and Vireo at Esencia by William Lyon Homes and Mark Scheurer Architect.
