LA's Iconic Bradbury Building Goes to Work with NeueHouse
Best known for its ornate ironwork, sky-lit atrium, and bird-cage elevators, Los Angeles' Bradbury building has been a landmark on the Downtown skyline since it's construction in 1893, having since been featured in blockbuster films like Blade Runner, 500 Days of Summer, and Pay it Forward. Now, professionals and creatives have the opportunity to work in what is considered the city's first commercial structure with the launch of a new private workspace and “cultural home for creators" by New York-based NeueHouse.
“We are thrilled to be opening our third NeueHouse in such an architecturally significant and iconic building as Bradbury," says Josh Wyatt, CEO of NeueHouse, which also has locations in Manhattan and in the CBS Columbia Square building in Hollywood. “Our expansion to Downtown L.A. comes at a time when the area is booming, and the local creative community is in search of a cultural and commercial hub."
To create a space that blended the Bradbury's historic fabric and NeueHouse's decidedly elegant style, Wyatt brought on Toronto- and Los Angeles-based DesignAgency, with partner Anwar Mekhayech at the helm, to create a sophisticated environment for collaboration and innovation.
“The NeueHouse model blends the idea of hospitality, social club and workspace all into one, requiring a refined and sophisticated environment that's conducive to the tastes of creative professionals," Mekhayech explains.
For its design of the 25,000-square-foot space, DesignAgency combined old with new, rehabbing exposed wood ceiling joists and refurbishing 20 original fireplaces with weathered or glazed brick tiles.
The team installed luxe custom curvilinear furnishings in plush neutrals and rich jewel tones by Irish manufacturer, Orior, in various configurations for private, semi-private, and open-concept meeting and working spaces.
To leverage NeueHouse's second floor location overlooking the iconic Bradbury atrium, the team created four multi-purpose mezzanine lounges for anything from lecture series to breakout meetings.
"What Anwar Mekhayech and his team have designed and realized for us at Bradbury is truly incredible and a wonderful testament to the art of repurposing a historic, architectural gem for the future needs of the creative class," Wyatt says.
In the more traditional workspaces, shared desks with copper task lighting look out over views of the city through 11-foot-tall, original oak-framed windows, while a rotating collection of art curated by local galleries adorns the walls.
“It was a real privilege for us to work with such an iconic American building and this gave us a great starting point," Mekhayech says. “In response to its rich visual history and its bold character, we decided to add a new layer that is modern and fresh, with soft and graceful flourishes. The result is a uniquely modern and elegant workspace with a soft palette and ethereal vibe that is ideally suited to the creative professional."
In addition to extensive programming coordinated by NeueHouse, members also have access to various amenities such as a wellness room for meditation where appointments with NeueHouse-vetted specialists like therapists, performance coaches, and happiness coaches also take place.
An on-site marble-topped bar made of curved honey oak and dark walnut architectural millwork with retro globe pendant lighting offers a hospitality-like environment for relaxation, socializing, and informal meetings.
NeueHouse offers membership tiers ranging from $595 per month for access to the Gallery hot desks to $3,600 per month for a private studio office for small teams. Building off of the success of its L.A. and New York locations, NeueHouse will open two new sites later this year in Miami and in the Venice Beach neighborhood of L.A.
