The storied Metropolitan Water District building in Los Angeles-designed in 1960 by prominent modernist architect William Pereira, whose prolific body of work includes the central theme building at LAX and the Transamerica tower in San Francisco-recently underwent a $30 million adaptive reuse renovation.
When it came to design and construction, architectural products manufacturer C.R. Laurence was contracted to provide key elements for the new residential tower. The Elysian's 1,700 sq. ft. two-story penthouses feature 20 ft. floor-to-ceiling windows outfitted with CRL-U.S. Aluminum's versatile Series 3250 Curtain Wall System that has been thermally improved and paired with efficient insulating glass to ensure building efficiency and comfort for residents. The proven system satisfied both aesthetic and functional requirements, providing exceptional fenestration performance and spectacular views of the city.
In addition, custom engineered CRL-U.S. Aluminum Series 550 Wide Stile Doors open the penthouse up to spacious patio decks on the first and second levels, while CRL "All-Glass" Doors outfit The Elysian's main lobby entrance. Also, CRL's AWS Aluminum Windscreen System provides privacy and wind protection in the building's first floor common areas, and CRL Frameless Shower Door Hardware was sourced for use in the bathrooms to match the project's contemporary design elements.
"The new penthouses built atop the original roof offer two-story lofts with soaring twenty-foot high glass walls that reveal spectacular views of the city," says Project Architect Alon Averbuch - LEED AP. "U.S. Aluminum's curtain wall system integrated seamlessly with the design intent; complementing the architectural character of the original building, while providing the needed performance to create an efficient, comfortable living space."
