Building 209 after rehabilitation (Chattel, 2015)

Chattel consulted on the rehabilitation and seismic retrofit of Building 209 at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center (West LA VA) Campus. Collaborating with a team of architects and engineers, Chattel completed Section 106 review, consulting with the SHPO, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Los Angeles Conservancy. The building was rehabilitated to accommodate a long term therapeutic supportive residential program housing homeless Veterans. Chattel advised the team in developing a project that conformed with the Secretary’s Standards to streamline concurrence from SHPO.

Interior of residential unit after rehabilitation (Chattel, 2015)

Constructed in 1945, Building 209 is Mission Revival in style and was constructed as a hospital and canteen; it is a contributing resource to National Register-listed West LA VA Historic District. Through research, rehabilitation, and evidence-based design, Building 209 has been fully restored and transformed into housing for 65 homeless men and women. Comprising 51,500 square feet of space, the three-level building supports a functional program of specialized accommodations and provides residents with stable housing as well as services necessary to aid in their recovery.

Original steel sash windows in the process of restoration and reglazing (Chattel, 2014)

As part of the project, steel sash double hung windows were stripped of lead-based paint on site, reglazed to increase energy efficiency, and painted their historic color based on paint analysis. The building achieved LEED Gold certification. In November, Building 209 was awarded the Innovation in Design Merit at the Los Angeles Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC-LA) Sustainable Innovation Awards.