Rosecrans is a large adaptive reuse project that tried to revitalize a run-down 85,000sf two-story concrete structure in El Segundo from the 1960s. The original structure lacked an entrance, natural light, and common spaces. Our goal was simple: to turn Rosecrans into a beacon of happiness and connection. 

Previously, the building was mostly accessible via an adjoining parking garage, isolating pedestrians from their surroundings. To address this, we introduced a vibrant central courtyard to mediate the parking entry, as well as a public space strategy that includes a front patio, a serene rooftop retreat, balconies, an exterior staircase, a landscaped alley on the east, and a vibrant central courtyard. 

The new courtyard, with wooden screens and double-height windows, reimagines the interior-exterior dynamic by serving as an access point from the parking lot as well as a sanctuary for tenants. To balance permanence and comfort, materials such as concrete, glass, and steel were combined with wood ceilings, screens, and biophilia. 

During the transition, structural issues arose, with steel reinforcements installed to bolster the roof’s diaphragm, a non-fireproof steel brace frame for the curtain wall, and shotcrete placed to the walls for increased strength. 

Rosecrans is now a symbol of health and vigor in the center of El Segundo, a tribute to the power of careful design.