The Arts District in Los Angeles is experiencing a rapid renaissance, drawing creatives to the city from the fine arts, to engineering. When hired to design Los Angeles Arts District (LAAD), or Mesquit &#; a mixed-use development incorporating housing, offices, and public spaces &#; BIG asked: how can the Arts District be renewed by embracing rather than replacing the qualities that have spawned this unique urban culture

The food labs and offices are designed to offer maximum flexibility, with open classrooms, laboratories, and kitchens that can be rearranged for different purposes due to the generous height and width of the spaces. All kitchens and laboratories feature industrial materials for hygiene and maintenance, while public programs use natural materials such as wood and stone to create a welcoming atmosphere.

A technical study has been undertaken to determine and address the nature of any conflicts with existing infrastructure and landowners. In February of , owing to this pro-bono BQP effort, the NYC Department of Transportation officially shelved previous plans, and an official New York City Council study endorsed the BQP approach, with City Council Speaker Corey Johnson stating “This is something we’re going to live with for the next years. Let’s make sure we do it right”. Work is now set to begin on establishing a governance structure to take the project forward.

At ground level, the lifted mass provides nearly % of the site devoted to public realm including two new, generous publicly accessible spaces linked together by the building&#;s lobby. At the north a new Bankside Square is created adjacent to the Grade II listed Anchor Pub, enhancing its setting. At the west, in conjunction with the neighboring Former Financial Times Building, a centralized, tranquil Pocket Park is created in association with a new north-south route through the Site.

As a projection of a geometrically perfect circle on to the steep slope, the new gallery is conceived as a courtyard building that combines a pure geometrical layout with a sensitive adaption to the landscape. The three‐dimensional imprint of the landscape creates a protective ring around the museum’s focal point, the sculpture garden where visitors, personnel, exhibition merge with culture and nature, inside and outside.