Check out this LA Times article to read about Hotel Figueroa and what DTLA was like when it originally opened!
Rockefeller Kempel Architects Earns Highest Honors for
Residential and Commercial Architectural Excellence
Willamette Valley Residence takes coveted Grand Gold Nugget Award;
Hotel Figueroa, Dream Hotel Hollywood Receive Los Angeles Business Council’s
Architectural Award of Excellence
EL SEGUNDO, CA (July 30, 2018) — Rockefeller Kempel Architects has been presented with several prestigious design awards underscoring the firm’s expertise in both residential and commercial architecture.
Residential Prowess
Rockefeller Kempel Architects (RKA) beat an elite pool of candidates to earn highest honors in the 55th annual Gold Nugget Awards, receiving the Grand Award, Custom Home Over 8,000 Square Feet for their Willamette Valley Residence.
Presented by PCBC®, the nation’s largest regional conference and trade show for the real estate development field, the Gold Nugget Awards honor design and planning achievements in community and home design, green-built housing, site planning, commercial, retail, mixed-use development, and specialty housing categories. Winners this year were chosen from over 600 entries from around the world.
“We are thrilled to receive a Grand Gold Nugget Award for our Willamette Valley Residence,” commented Chris Kempel, AIA, Rockefeller Kempel Architects Partner. “We pride ourselves on our innovative thinking and ability to turn our client’s dream into a reality. Our expertise really shines here; the house is a real work of art.”
The Willamette Valley Residence, located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon on 83 acres, is a balance between modern and traditional architecture, bringing contemporary elements and amenities to a rustic farmhouse style. It combines the three key elements of a farmhouse (a rural location, a functional porch and a combination of formal and informal spaces) and captures the LA lifestyle of indoor / outdoor living.
This year's Gold Nugget jury was made up of the industry's top designers, planners, and builders: Cindy Harvey, principal at RNL; Pierrette Tierney-Magleby, vice president of business development at Magleby Construction; Phil Hove, principal at HOVE Design Alliance; Eric C. Brown, principal at Artisan Homes Realty; Greg G. Bucilla, president at Bucilla Group Architecture; and Builder's senior associate editor of design, Leah Demirjian.
Commercial Excellence
In early June, the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) presented its 48th annual Architectural Awards, honoring projects that embrace innovative design standards to significantly enhance Los Angeles’ urban environment. From a competitive pool of more than 275 submissions, 54 projects took home honors, two of which belong to Rockefeller Kempel – Hotel Figueroa in Los Angeles and the Dream Hotel in Hollywood.
“We are honored to receive two Awards of Excellence from the Los Angeles Business Council,” said Rocky Rockefeller, AIA, Rockefeller Kempel Architects Partner. “Investing in Los Angeles improves life for all – residents, business owners, and visitors – today and for our future.”
The historic Hotel Figueroa near the Staples Center has undergone extensive renovations over the last two years to restore its original Spanish Mediterranean flair while adding state-of-the-art kitchens, bars, and amenities. The once quirky 13-story, boutique hotel has been revived; its 268 guest rooms, circulation spaces, bars, restaurant, kitchens, pool, offices, façade, and roof top have a modern, fresh feel.
Rockefeller Kempel Architects was brought onboard to assist Rockwell Group with the Dream Hotel Hollywood, a new construction hotel tucked among the Hollywood Hills. RKA’s expertise can be seen in the lobby, bar, meeting spaces, fitness center and in a reconfigured rooftop, which is home to The Highlight Room: a 1,300 square foot night club, a 1,000 square foot restaurant and a 4,500 square foot luxury pool deck. LABC award winners were selected by a jury panel of industry experts co‐chaired by Robert Jernigan, Regional Managing Principal of Gensler, and Nadine Watt, LABC Chair and President of Watt Companies.
For more on Rockefeller Kempel’s award-winning architecture, please visit www.rockefellerkempel.com.
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Established in 2002, Rockefeller Kempel Architects (RKA) is a highly skilled and talented team of architects and designers who specialize in modern residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects. RKA provides comprehensive architectural services to transform space from conceptual design and strategic planning to construction administration and post-occupancy evaluation. The team is known for their expertise in modern design, attention to site context, and focus on details. With over 75 years of experience between the partners Rocky Rockefeller, AIA and Christopher Kempel, AIA and a distinguished list of clients and design accolades, few architecture firms compare. To learn more about the talented team and their exceptional commercial and residential work, please visit www.rockefellerkempel.com.