Lucia Theatre

Situated adjacent the LA River in Atwater, this small commercial lot was the last undeveloped piece of land in the area. This site challenged us to get creative with building placement, and how to allow the public to engage with a building that was sandwiched between a bridge and the LA River path. Using the site constraints, we placed the entry towards the rear, which presents itself to those passing by on the riverwalk, creating a welcoming effect.

The technical aspects of the space required a major study in acoustics and sound engineering that we scoped to specialists in the field. The simple building makes use of its roof to support events, while expanding its usable square footage for such a small lot. By opening itself up to the river, the nature of the building offers a layered, outdoor context despite being situated in a relatively urban environment.