Category: Announcements

Johnson Fain is pleased to announce the publication of Essays on the Tall Building and the City, authored by Scott Johnson, Founder and Design Partner at the firm. This book represents the third installment in a series of three and examines tall building design in seven diverse cities around the world. The initial book in the series, Tall Building: Imagining the Skyscraper (2008) explored the history and culture of the skyscraper and the second book, Performative Skyscraper: Tall Building Design Now (2014) investigated the trend toward high performance and the application of digital technologies. Today, with more than half of the world’s population residing in urban areas, the city is believed by many to represent our civilization’s greatest locus for creativity, economic productivity and potential sustainability.

Johnson Fain is pleased to announce the completion of the design for the transformation of the iconic Crystal Cathedral to CHRIST CATHEDRAL in Garden Grove, California for the ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ORANGE. Originally designed by Philip Johnson for Reverend Robert Schuller, the building will now undergo extensive improvements to the all-glass 2,000 seat interior, transitioning this important architectural landmark into a Roman Catholic place of worship. The design will also address sunlight control, acoustics and environmental comfort. This historic opportunity restores and respects the original building while creating a unique sacramental space within the framework of the original classic modern structure. Landscape design will be completed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios. The Diocese’s goal is to dedicate the Cathedral by 2019.

Johnson Fain is pleased to announce the completion of BLOSSOM PLAZA in Chinatown. Designed by Johnson Fain for FOREST CITY REALTY TRUST, the new transit-oriented, mixed-use development links a highly accessible and pedestrian-friendly network of public open spaces to the Metro Gold Line Chinatown station. The plaza ignites a vibrant and culturally rich urban experience with 237 apartments, 20,000 square feet of ground level retail and restaurant space, and 19,000 square feet of public space which accommodates neighborhood events. Associate Architect: Togawa Smith Martin.

Scott Johnson discusses factors, trends and design elements that are driving the rise and success of Los Angeles’ ubiquitous dense urban projects in this Urban Land Magazine article.

LA PLAZA VILLAGE, the new transit-oriented, mixed-use development, designed by Johnson Fain and developed by HIGH STREET RESIDENTIAL and THE CESAR CHAVEZ FOUNDATION for the Smithsonian-affiliated LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES MUSEUM, has broken ground. Fortifying the historic center of Los Angeles, the development will be a contemporary urban village combining over 40,000 square feet of ground-level retail, restaurants, cultural programming and 355 multi-family residences. A vibrant pedestrian paseo will thread communal areas throughout the two block development, connecting Union Station, the Pueblo, Olvera Street, and the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Museum to the Fort Moore Memorial, the Civic Center, and the Performing Arts District. The project is scheduled for completion in 2018.

Johnson Fain’s office has been featured in Los Angeles Downtown News’ Downtown’s Coolest Offices” story. Johnson Fain is located in a converted 1920’s auto dealership near Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles. The studio offers an intellectual and creative work environment with state of the art computer software integration, a large model shop with both laser and 3D print modeling, and a spacious open studio.

Johnson Fain congratulates LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY on the success of RUNWAY AT PLAYA VISTA. This Los Angeles Times Article features the mixed-use project, designed by Johnson Fain, and discusses its contribution to the Westside’s burgeoning tech community.

Johnson Fain’s Mission Bay Master Plan, in final stages of implementation, continues to be front page news as a prime address in the City of San Francisco.

Johnson Fain is pleased to have designed the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus master plan for Veterans Advocacy, Inc. The plan is based on Veterans’ input from numerous meetings and over 1,000 responses in the Federal Register. Planned on principles of community design, the master plan will guide VA in reactivating the campus as a home for Veterans. The plan is composed of diverse and well-defined mixed-use neighborhoods to form a therapeutic setting, where Veterans live and reintegrate into civilian society. The site will serve all levels of Veterans’ needs, particularly homeless Veterans, female Veterans, aging Veterans, and those who are severely physically or mentally disabled.

Los Angeles Business Journal ‘People on the Move’ feature including Steve Chung, AIA, LEED AP appointed as Associate Principal.