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What are KFA founding partners Barbara Flammang, AIA and Wade Killefer, FAIA doing these days?

In 2014, Barbara Flammang, AIA and KFA were selected to be the executive architect for the new Los Angeles LGBT Center located at the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and McCadden Place. The Los Angeles LGBT Center campus will serve as the new administrative headquarters for the Center, and include new senior and youth centers, 98 units of affordable housing for seniors, 100 beds for homeless youth, 26 units of permanent supportive housing for young people, ground floor retail space, and two levels of subterranean parking.

The Center has been part of the Los Angeles community since 1969, caring for, championing, and celebrating individuals and families in Southern California and beyond. Today, the Center serves more people in the LGBT community than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services and global advocacy in health, social services and housing, culture and education, leadership and advocacy.

Barbara is the partner-in-charge for the design and construction of the Center’s new Anita May Rosenstein Campus  which is slated for completion in spring of 2019.

KFA has been active in designing permanent supportive housing projects in the Greater Los Angeles area since the late 1980s and is currently in design and construction phases for 18 such projects with a projected total of 1,235 residential units. While these efforts represent a significant contribution to housing the homeless in LA, the homeless population continues to grow, and LA City and County officials are looking for further alternatives and solutions.

Wade Killefer, FAIA  is currently working on a number of homeless housing initiatives with the County of Los Angeles Department of Health Services. KFA is exploring modular and container-built structures for Recuperative Housing on the County/USC campus. Also on that campus, KFA is looking at repurposing the old General Hospital to provide 726 units of affordable housing. Additionally, empty LA County land could be sites for Wellness Villages, built of prefabricated buildings where homeless individuals could stay in service-rich environments until they can move into Permanent Supportive Housing.

With the housing crisis at hand, KFA continues to reshape L.A., building great places where people flourish.

(Santa Monica, CA – June 4, 2018) – KFA, a leading architecture firm based in Santa Monica, CA, is pleased to announce that two KFA hospitality projects, the Freehand LA Hotel and the Dream Hollywood Hotel, were honored at the 48^th Annual Los Angeles Architectural awards, hosted by the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC), held on June 1 at the Beverly Hilton.

“The Freehand Hotel in downtown Los Angeles represents an evolution in the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance,” said KFA Senior Associate Tarrah Beebe, AIA. “We are delighted that the LABC has chosen to recognize this project that enhances the already thriving downtown area by bringing visitors and locals alike to the live/work/play atmosphere,” she added.

This year boasted an especially competitive pool of applicants, with 54 winning projects awarded by the LABC. From brick and mortar retail transformed into creative office environments, to mixed use developments and the tallest new building west of the Mississippi, the project winners reflect a city in transition demanding new, innovative ideas from the architectural community.

The Architectural Awards luncheon brought together more than 600 leading architects, designers, building owners, developers and city officials, and featured international delegations from Mexico City; Auckland, New Zealand; and Guangzhou, China.  Joshua Ramus, Founding Principal of REX and one of the industry’s most promising young architects, delivered the keynote.

To download the press release:  KFA LABC 2018 Arch Awards