600 San Pedro

600 San Pedro delivered 298 units of permanent supportive housing in the heart of Los Angeles’ Skid Row, addressing one of the city’s most urgent humanitarian challenges. Developed by Weingart Center Association in partnership with Related California, the 17-story, 1.2-million-sq.-ft. project pursued a dual mandate: provide supportive housing and services for people experiencing chronic homelessness while creating a building with the quality and character of a market-rate apartment community. On-site case management, career development resources and shared community spaces were incorporated into the program from the outset.

Connection Over Contract Boundaries

Jurors noted that by prioritizing connection over contract boundaries, the team created an environment where challenges became opportunities for better solutions. When the original ground-floor storefront concept proved incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood, the design team reworked the first floor with a glass-block façade to balance street activity and presence with safety. Site restrictions from nearby power lines also required the building’s footprint to change substantially, prompting the team to reimagine its size, shape and façade without restarting the entitlement process. Progressive Design-Build allowed these revisions to proceed alongside active construction, supported by continuous Owner engagement and VDC coordination, rather than forcing a redesign and repermitting cycle that would have jeopardized time-sensitive public funding. The team shared budget data, constructability insights and lifecycle cost implications across the project, favoring collective decision-making instead of siloed recommendations. 

Despite the complexity of the site and the scope of the mid-construction redesigns, the project was delivered within its original budget while exceeding local-hire and MWBE workforce participation goals. Environmentally, 600 San Pedro exceeded California Title 24 standards and achieved GreenPoint Certification through high-performance glazing, next-generation heat pump systems and photovoltaic panels.

600 San Pedro shows how an integrated design-build team can respond to complex constraints without losing sight of the people and community the project is intended to serve. By maintaining that connection throughout design and construction, the team delivered housing that addresses an urgent need while contributing to the safety, quality and long-term vitality of the surrounding neighborhood.

Design-Build Team

Photos

Photo Credits: Pankow Builders