Villa Vanowen

The design evokes a sense of engagement, beauty, joy, dignity and security.

PROJECT SUMMARY
Client:              CADI
Landscape:  City Fabrik
Location:         14154 W Vanowen Street Los Angeles, CA 91405
Units:               64 units: 63 permanent supportive homes for homeless individuals, & 1 manager
Size:                 39,307 GSF (25,236 Residential NSF)
Status:             Completed 2025

TAC was tasked with taking over a project that had existing entitlements, and a timeline imposed by a public funding source, that could only be met by working within the entitled conditions. TAC mimicked the massing concept design by Gensler while redesigning it to meet the requirements for public funded housing. The challenge was to include the stipulated number of housing units while not exceeding the entitled maximum area. The result is an efficient building composed of five pavilions in a U-shaped configuration forming a private courtyard. An exterior circulation path provides access between pavilions at floor levels 2-4. The center pavilion ground floor includes the lobby, management & social services offices and community room. The community room, which opens to the courtyard, is the heart of the community. It projects into the courtyard providing a roof deck on the second floor overlooking the central garden. The courtyard includes a BBQ area, small and large group gathering areas, a community garden and paths for strolling. Villa Vanowen is 100% permanent supportive housing for homeless/chronically homeless individuals with robust on-site supportive services. The design evokes a sense of engagement, beauty, joy, dignity and security. It was funded by Measure HHH through the City of Los Angeles and No Place Like Home through the County of Los Angeles. Villa Vanowen is certified LEED Multifamily Midrise Gold.