US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Los Angeles VAMC, B209 Transitional Care Housing

Building 209 was fully renovated to accommodate a program that includes transitional housing for homeless Veterans. The renovated facility serves as a therapeutic and supportive residence for chronically homeless Veterans, providing a variety of on-site therapies and supportive services to help Veterans transition to independent living. During the course of the renovation, seismic corrections, historic rehabilitation, safety improvements, and architectural renovation were performed. Design features of the renovation included, 45 single-bed apartments and 10 double-bed apartments, a large multipurpose room that can be used for a variety of educational programs and gatherings, a dedicated women’s wing, administrative offices, a training kitchen, and a specialized bariatric unit to address the medical issues associated with obesity. Also included are multiple spaces that can be used for group therapy, training sessions, and social gatherings. The project is LEED Gold certified.

AWARDS

• AIA- Specialized Housing Award
• LEED- Los Angeles Chapter Sustainable Innovation Award
• Los Angeles Conservancy – Preservation Award
• Southern California Development Forum – Building Renovation Award
• Society for History in the Federal Government – John Wesley Powell Prize for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Historic Preservation