The building’s 620 panes of glass were replaced because of tenuous connections and lack of energy efficiency. The single-pane glass, spanning from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, was replaced with dual-pane efficient glass that keeps the original design intent of transparency with increased solar protection in the same modular aesthetic as the original design. All house lighting was replaced with energy-efficient LED lighting to save energy and maintenance costs.
Through structural reinforcement, the Arboretum was also voluntarily retrofitted to meet current seismic standards. “We hope these elective seismic updates will allow the building to be in service for 75 to 100 more years,” notes Fred Helms, chief operating officer of the campus. “The lifespan of this building could be a millennium, so any upgrades need to last and need to make it as safe as possible.”
With a total of nine months from design to completion, improvements were made to ensure compliance with California’s Green Building Standards Code and the American with Disabilities Act, all while retaining the celebrated aesthetics. For example, to bring stair railings to code, LPA added glass behind the existing railings so they could remain in place and still meet code requirements.
“This [is] one of the most important Catholic properties in California, if not the world,” says Father Christopher Smith, Episcopal Rector and Vicar of the Christ Cathedral. “With 1.3 million Catholics in Orange County and 4.3 million Catholics in Los Angeles, we see this campus as a great center for the church in Southern California and these buildings will contribute mightily … and not just here, but across the world.”
Recognition
In 2014, the Arboretum project was awarded a Design Citation of Merit by DOCOMOMO US, the international committee for documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the modern movement. The project achieved one of its inaugural Modernism in America awards given at its annual conference. The DOCOMOMO jury called it “an exceptional restoration example of maintaining the original design and layout while upgrading for seismic and mechanical systems, which resulted in a renovation Neutra himself would be proud of if he were able to see his building today.”
This first installment in what will ultimately be a $55 million renovation project is a premier example for all future projects, according to Neal. “We felt it very important to set the tone. And the tone would be one of excellence and also of buildings that could work with their inhabitance—that did not force their inhabitance to work within them. And I think we’ve succeeded on that.”
Additionally, LPA was charged with seismic retrofit of the Neutra-designed Tower of Hope, located at the Christ Cathedral Campus. The 13-story tower—once the tallest building in Orange County—complements Neutra’s recently restored Arboretum building. Using 21st century technology and an integrated design approach, the tower is being restored to its period of architectural significance and will allow future generations to safely enjoy a truly unique, iconic campus.
PHOTOS: LPA INC./COSTEA PHOTOGRAPHY
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Retrofit Team
ARCHITECT: LPA Inc., Irvine, Calif.
CONTRACTOR: Cannon Building, Placentia, Calif.
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: J.S. Dyer & Associates Inc., Irvine
MECHANICAL/PLUMBING: Syska Hennessy Group Inc., San Diego
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: TK1SC, Irvine
CIVIL ENGINEER: Joseph C. Truxaw & Associates Inc., Orange, Calif.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Land Concern, Santa Ana, Calif.