Broadway Block Mixed-Use Development

Broadway Block

Long Beach, California

The Broadway Block Development is located in the heart of Long Beach and will be a transformational project for the area. It is envisioned as a place that connects people to purpose and transforms space into place. It combines residential, creative offices, artist galleries, restaurants, food and retail uses with a performing arts venue, artists studios and residential lofts for students and professors of Cal State University of Long Beach’s School of Fine Arts.

The historic one-story Acres of Books Building is repurposed and surrounded by a mix of low and high-rise structures.

To promote a walkable downtown, the heart of the Broadway Block is an engaging choreographic pedestrian experience open to the public. An inviting system of Paseos link four diverse and vibrant inner-block courtyards to all three streets as well as to the alley.

All three street frontages and four major entrances are carefully orchestrated with lively ground level uses to encourage walkability and create inviting pedestrian connections between the commercial core of Downtown and the East Village Arts District. Transparent facades stimulate interaction between shops, creative offices, the CSULB facilities, streetside artists lofts and pedestrians.

The Broadway Block consists of two very different structures intended to be iconic and memorable. Both are eroded at the edges to provide human-scaled transitions that “embrace” the historic Acres of Books Building and stepdown to the adjacent structures across the alley.

Energy efficiency and sustainability are integral to the Broadway Block concept. The tower is located on the north and lower-scaled buildings are on the south to allow abundant winter sunlight and natural warmth to penetrate the Paseo and courtyards.

Embracing History
We believe in repurposing and celebrating our heritage. The iconic Acres of Books building, with new restaurants and shops, is the emotional and geographic heart of the Broadway Block.
In the project, the Acres of Books historic facade becomes an entrance to the building's public market and restaurants.
The facade as it appeared in the 1930's.
The Acres of Books incarnation of the building, since the 1950's.

Design Principles
Architectural Personalities

While “super blocks” have huge advantages in efficiencies and density, they also can create bad cities. The more architectural personality per block the better. Although there is no attempt at creating artificial architectural styles, the various construction types and materials create five different personalities. The historic Acres of Books building is the heart.
Embracing History

We believe in repurposing and celebrating our heritage. The iconic Acres of Books building, with new restaurants and shops, is the emotional and geographic heart of the Broadway Block.
Big-boned to Small-boned

The Broadway Block project has an important urban responsibility. It must help shape and respect Long Beach Blvd, and then transition to the four story structures on Elm Street.
Anticipation and Exploration

Good pedestrian experiences are choreographic in nature. Seeing an intriguing courtyard or activity just beyond your view invites you to explore and engage. The five courtyards, accessible from all four sides of the project, each have a story to tell.
Memorable Entrances

Each major entrance to the Paseo has a different personality ranging from “grand” at the tower, to “provocative' at East 3rd, to small scale “retail” at Acres of Books, and to “intimate” at the alley.
Anticipation and Exploration

The Paseo Story begins at any of the four sides of the project or from the parking garage behind the red stair. Each of the five courtyards has its own distinct personality and is animated by restaurant, retail or academic activities beyond the surrounding 20’ high windows.
Social Synergy

Apart from the Courtyards, social amenities exist on various upper levels. They are also carefully choreographed and triangulated so that active people can see and be seen on the second level pool and gym deck and the fifth level terrace.
Active Edges

All three streets and the alley are activated by retail or academic uses. A two-story open facade of glass is interrupted only by the occasional exit stair and service door. The fenestration and personality of the glass facade varies depending on the sun orientation and architecture of the building. At key moments, shops and restaurants will open directly to the sidewalk.