The Los Angeles’ Arts District is experiencing a rapid renaissance, drawing creatives from all fields from fine arts to engineering. The Vella Group has embarked on a high-profile development project, Arts Matrix, designed by renowned architecture firm BIG that encompasses a campus of live-work space, public parks and entertainment located along the Los Angeles River.
The complex consists of two connected 30-story buildings with plans that call for a 2.6 million square foot, mixed-use, complex comprising of 800,000 square feet of office space, 250 residential units and a 236-room hotel. Half of the development, 944,050 square feet, is designated for creative office space that invokes flexibility and collaboration.
The Vella Group’s Arts Matrix development is in the Los Angeles’ Arts District, a transformative area of the city that is experiencing a shift form heavy industrial uses to a mixed-use community; with several new technology and entertainment companies moving in. The project is directly abutting the new Michael Maltzan-designed, 6th Street Bridge, the proposed Arts District Light Rail Station, and the Los Angeles River. Indeed, Arts Matrix is one of the largest proposed developments in the Arts District and, the district itself, is one of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Los Angeles with dozens of food and beverage openings this year alone.
Vella Group’s mixed-use development is a connection between two iconic bridges, a future metro stop, the new Arts Park viaduct, the currently inaccessible LA River, and integral to the burgeoning community forming in the Arts District.
In conjunction with the Gallo Family who owns the property, and the project’s world-recognized architects, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the Vella Group is focused on delivering a new life-experience to the Arts District, by:
Re-engaging rail for quality of life accessibility with the proposed creation of the 6th Street Rail Stop connection.
Providing viewing corridors up to 50-feet wide with views of the new Michael Maltzan 6th Street bridge.
Providing accessibility and real pedestrian connections to downtown.
Incorporating affordable housing in accordance with Measure JJJ compliance for the local workforce.
Lessening downtown congestion by removing approximately 150 trucks from the area.
Delivering rail, park and retail accessibility to other corporate campuses that are proposed and existing in the Arts District.
Providing the largest proposed surrounding open space in downtown Los Angeles.
Specific highlights of Vella Group’s Arts Matrix development are:
Mixed-use development, comprising of live-and-work campus totaling 1,792,100 sq. ft., on a 5.45-acre property.
Half of the development, 944,050 sq. ft., is designated for creative office space that invokes creativity, flexibility, and collaboration.
A 236-room hotel as part of the development.
Multi-family residential units numbering 308.
Approximately 16% of the residential units (50), are designated for affordable housing consistent with Measure JJJ. The measure requires support of affordable housing and the project provides such housing on site, as extremely low income and very low-income units.
Inclusion of an Arts District central market, grocery store, and general retail uses totaling approximately 89,575 sq. ft.
Projected studio, gallery, museum space of approximately 93,625 sq. ft.
Gym space of approximatly 62,150 sq. ft.
Project height: 30 floors at 360 feet; steps down to 90 feet on the south side of building.
Open space amounts to 83,775 sq. ft., approximately 29,000 sq. ft. greater than required by Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC).
The project proposal includes a pedestrian deck of up to 139,000 sq. ft. for which the Vella Group is close to securing air rights over Amtrak property of approximately 85,000 sq. ft.
Inclusion of the deck will potentially double the open space square footage.
Parking: 2000 automobile and 930 bicycle spaces. Majority is located underground with some limited wrapped above ground parking.
Over 1,000,000 sq. ft. of mixed-use and residential space in Los Angeles.
