Rooftops in Los Angeles are generally unrealized real estate and underutilized space with the potential to be gardens, semi-public space, or community areas for building occupants. The precedents for rooftop habitation are broad and worldwide. To claim the potential of existing rooftop acreage in downtown Los Angeles requires evaluating entire building systems and ultimately provides a rich experience in solving complex problems.

At the intersection of 7th St and Grand Ave is the project site – the rooftop of an abandoned office building built in the 1920s. Located near the convergence of the new central business district, the historic core, and South Park, the site is a physical representation of past, present, and future. The program calls for an educational facility in the heart of downtown, one that invigorates the area with activity and provides a necessity required by a growing population. The rooftop addition provides open and flexible space for students and the community.

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