Ford Factory

The automobile industry had a significant impact on urban and architectural design in the early to mid-20th century. Without any doubt, most stories of the automobile industry begin with Henry Ford and the production of his model T cars. The Ford Factory located at 777 Santa Fe Avenue in Los Angeles, CA was built to be one of many manufacturing plants for Ford. Built in an area now known as the Arts District, the building was one of six factories designed by Parkinson and Bergstrom and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The entire structure consists of two parts. The five-story Tower building along 7th street was the first building constructed on the property and dates back to 1913. The two-story assembly building was added in 1924 to meet the needs of a modern factory. Ford Factory building is a tangible reminder of America’s transition into an industrious economy driven by automobile production.

This adaptive re-use project team was inspired to restore the original historic architectural design of the building while employing sustainable strategies to reach LEED Gold Certification. Restored and re-envisioned as creative office spaces, this core and shell renovation covered 257,000 sf. Character defining features included the expansive floor plates, mushroom cap columns, brick façade with factory-style windows and skylights, and a rooftop water tower. The Spectra team was brought to restore the façade, restoring and replicating original steel windows, restoring the original brick and numerous concrete elements.

Scope of Work

Adaptive Reuse • Brick • Facade Rehabilitation • Materials Restoration • Metal Windows

Awards

2018 Sustainable Innovation Award • Los Angeles Conservancy 2020



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