By Michael J. Tittinger
Daily Press Staff Writer

CITYWIDE — No longer the cozy little beach town of yesteryear, characterized by blocks of bungalows and garden apartment buildings, the city of Santa Monica is remaking its image in a decidedly forward-thinking arena — contemporary architecture.

Six projects, all located within the city’s eight square miles, were recently honored by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) as being “the best of the breed” of the region’s architectural projects.

“Santa Monica is a big winner this year,” said the Council’s Christy Moody, alluding to the city’s grip of honors at the 36th Annual Los Angeles Architectural Awards. All told, Santa Monica claimed six of the total 19 awards, as chosen by a nine-member jury of architects, contractors and developers.

The project teams for The Santa Monica Public Library, the RAND Corp. headquarters, Ashes and Snow, LLC, The Dimensional Forum, Haworth’s LA Showroom and the Herb Alpert Educational Village — all in various steps of development — were each recognized by the LABC for improving the quality of architecture and enhancing the urban fabric of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Business Council is a nonprofit association consisting of more than 300 businesses, agencies and individuals with the stated goals of working to address critical issues and concerns that impact the commercial climate of Los Angeles. The program is unique in a sense, in that it recognizes entire project teams, rather than just the designers, for structures viewed as “architecturally remarkable and yet sustainable and affordable,” according to Wallis Annenberg, vice president of the Annenberg Foundation.

While some architects dismiss the awards as being somewhat political, most concede that such notoriety can raise the city’s cache, and in turn, attract more high-profile architects and high-profile projects to Santa Monica.

“I think these, along with AIA design awards, mean to the city in general that they care about good architecture,” said Michael W. Folonis, an architect who has lived and worked in the city for more than 25 years, and is also a member of the city’s Architectural Review Board (ARB). “All these are contemporary and, sort of, stretch the idea of architecture. This speaks well of the City Council, the review board and the community’s position on architecture.”

According to its members, the Architectural Review Board promotes projects within the city that are embodied by an ideal or solid concept, rather than just a fanciful design, opening a dialogue with applicants and critiquing throughout the design process.

“We’re really pleased to have these buildings in the city,” remarked Joan Charles, chair of the ARB. “Each enhances the architecture and aesthetic reputation of Santa Monica, and encourages other architects to strive for creativity and originality.”

SANTA MONICA LIBRARY

The most visible, and controversial, of the award-winning projects was the Santa Monica Public Library, which has had its fair share of dissenters among city residents who contend the structure was too big, too gray or too pricey. Still, the modernist structure has garnered its fair share of praise.

“It’s very nice being recognized for work we believed in so much, work we felt so strongly about,” said Haekwan Park, who worked as an assistant manager on the library project for the Santa Monica-based firm Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners. “Projects like this set an example for the public in how we (as a city) want to show others to build better with renewable systems that save water and energy.

“It was just one of those magical experiences for us.”

Santa Monica Public Library — which includes features such as air filters, a sunlight reflecting roof and low-flow restroom facilities — was cited for its “sustainability” by the LABC. The 104,000-square-foot structure occupies half a city block downtown, and was recognized for its flexible environment with the latest in information technology.

RAND CORP.

The RAND Corporation headquarters was honored in the “New Buildings” category, with the LABC alluding to the elliptical structure’s innovative approach to design. The building, which was given a U.S. Green Building gold level rating, was constructed with the expectations of using the new building on a 24/7 schedule for the next 50 years.

NOMADIC MUSEUM

The Nomadic Museum that housed “Ashes and Snow” just north of the Santa Monica Pier up until this month took honors from the LABC for “Public Use: Community Impact” building. The 56,000-square foot temporary structure housed a large-scale photographic exhibit in a building comprised of 152 steel cargo containers, many of which will be utilized in shipping the museum from venue to venue around the world.

DIMENSIONAL FORUM

The Dimensional Forum is a 7,000-square-foot conference facility on the ground floor of an Ocean Avenue office building that was recognized for its unique approach to “Interiors.” Sculptural exuberance in the reception area sits in stark contrast to a calm, functional auditorium partitioned with sound-proof glass, according to the LABC.

LA SHOWROOM

The Haworth-LA Showroom, which opened in April of 2005, also took honors for its approach to “Interiors.” The materials and messages used in the 18,000-square-foot showroom — which included the renovation of staff office spaces, conference rooms, presentation space and product showroom spaces — were carefully selected to create an environment that will enrich and uplift the human spirit, according to the LABC. It contains renewable materials such as cork and wheatboard, floor-to-ceiling windows and an under-floor air system.

EDUCATIONAL VILLAGE

The Herb Alpert Educational Village — a single campus consisting of a preschool, elementary school, middle school and high school over a total area of 100,000 square feet — was tapped for honors in the “Unbuilt” category. The vision for the campus begins with the concept of a village, while maximizing the opportunities for the use of passive energy systems to reduce energy use, said the LABC.

To receive an award, projects had to be located within Los Angeles County and completed during 2004 or 2005, except for the Unbuilt category.

Folonis, a modernist by training, is elated with the city’s embracing of ambitious and contemporary projects, such as those that garnered honors this past week.

“Santa Monica is becoming more embracing of modern architecture than, maybe, 20 years ago,” said Folonis. “Why? It’s hard to know. Maybe people have seen more modern architecture and find it has a real particular quality, that it embraces new ideas.

“As architects, we try and leave with bigger and better ideas than when we got here.”