UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios

UCLA needed to expand studio space for their Master of Fine Arts program, housed in a former wallpaper factory, but they wanted to retain the open, industrial spirit of the existing building. So, they renovated the original warehouse and built a new L-shaped addition surrounding it, adding artist studios, lab spaces, a gallery, classrooms and covered outdoor space. They restored the wood bowstring trusses in the original warehouse and then used pillowed concrete tilt-up walls and a curved wood vault roof for the new structure. Glulam was chosen to extend the character of the original wood trusses into the new addition; the unique vaulted configuration was adapted to reduce double curvature while maintaining large clear spans. The vaulted glulam roof structure is left exposed to space below; they even left the wood wall framing visible at the tops of the individual artist studio walls to provide visual tie-in. High ceilings, expansive spaces and natural light support the creative endeavors within, which include ceramics, painting and drawing, photography, sculpture and more. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.