Adding Some 'Wow' to Westwood

A High-End High-Rise Takes Shape on Wilshire

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a marble exterior are some of the dramatic signatures of the Californian, a $200 million, 23-story condominium project being developed by Fifield Cos. of Chicago. The architect is Los Angeles-based Nadel Architects Inc. The general contractor, San Mateo-based Webcor Builders, is scheduled to complete the project in late September.

By Greg Aragon

Just when it looked like residential real estate couldn't get more luxurious on the Wilshire corridor in Westwood, along comes the $200 million Californian.

Situated on a 46,662-sq.-ft. site, and visible from both the 405 and 10 freeways, the Californian will offer panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles International Airport, Pacific Ocean, Century City and Beverly Hills. Photo by Greg Aragon.

"It is clearly the best building that has ever been built on Wilshire Boulevard," said Herb Nadel, president of Los Angeles-based Nadel Architects Inc., the project's architect. "It is the highest-end building, with the greatest quality and best finishes. It's just awesome."

Developed by Chicago-based Fifield Cos., the 23-story condominium project is being built by San Mateo-based Webcor Builders.

Prices for the units will range between $2 million and $6 million, he added.

When complete in late September, the Californian will feature 80 units above a three-level subterranean parking garage. The 290-ft. tall structure will have 327,034 sq.-ft. of residential space and 114,695 sq.-ft. of parking in a 225-space garage.

Nadel said the Californian was designed specifically for such people as "empty nesters" and affluent seniors, who might move from single-family homes in the adjacent and affluent communities of Holmby Hills, Brentwood and Beverly Hills.

"It has a certain snob appeal," said Nadel, who formed his company in 1973.

K.C. Soll, an associate broker with Sotheby's International Realty of West Los Angeles, said the median price for a condo in Westwood is about $600,000.

The Californian broke ground in December 2003 and is currently about 60 percent complete.

David J. Elliott, Webcor's project director, said that to meet Los Angeles' stringent earthquake codes, a concrete down-turned beam interior moment frame system, using 6,000-psi concrete, is required. The building's columns use a 12,000-psi concrete mix. It's the first project in Los Angeles to use such a high psi, Elliot said.

"We have a seismic capacity of 33 percent beyond any other building on Wilshire Boulevard," said architect Dale Yonkin, Nadel's project manager.

The structural engineering firm is Englekirk Partners of Los Angeles.

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One reason for the higher standard is because all other buildings in the area were built under previous iterations of the L.A. building codes, Yonkin added. "[Our design] is the most recent edition of the building code."

What really separates the Californian from its neighbors are its luxurious amenities and large-size units.

Units will range from 2,700 sq.-ft for a standard condo to about 8,000 sq.-ft. for a penthouse unit. All will boast 10-ft. ceilings, and the two penthouses on the top three floors will have 12-ft. ceilings.

Each unit will also feature floor-to-ceiling glass on all windows.

The building's base will be clad in elegant travertine marble and the upper portion will be wrapped in light ivory-colored pre-cast concrete with lots of detail. There will also be a swimming pool and a 3,000-sq.-ft. corner pocket park open to the public.

Los Angeles-based Nadel Architects Inc. the project's architect. Rendering courtesy of Nadel.

Situated on a 46,662-sq.-ft. site, and visible from both the 405 and 10 freeways, the Californian will offer panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles International Airport, Pacific Ocean, Century City and Beverly Hills.

And for the residents who can afford the most views for their money, Fifield has broken one of the cardinal rules of development. It's allowing buyers who purchase two units to make changes to floor plans during construction.

"Most developers won't do that on a high-rise residential project," said Richard Fragapane, vice president of construction in Fifield's Irvine office. "It's enormously challenging to try to move bathrooms into places where there is no plumbing and change things like wall locations."

He said that the Californian is 100-percent pre-sold. There are currently seven buyers who have purchased two units each and want changes made, which requires a complete custom floor plan.

"To the best of our knowledge, there is no other developer in Southern California who has even attempted this kind of customization," Fragapane said.

"What [other developers] typically do is tell people 'close out your unit, hire your own designer and contractor, deal with the homeowners association and building department and figure it out yourself.'"