The goal of the $6.5 million project was to remodel a 55-year-old Hollywood landmark , changing its uses while preserving its architectural character.

True to its post World War II design, the 118,000-sq.-ft. building is still very functional in layout, minimalist in adornment and a revival of the great Hollywood film production heritage.

The building was originally home to the Mutual Don Lee Broadcasting Co. Several game shows were produced on its soundstages. The building was home for the American Broadcasting Co.'s production of the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It has also housed a community food bank, a dental suite and Aids Project Los Angeles.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences purchased it to revive its significance in the fabric of Hollywood and hired Offenhauser/Mekeel Architects, Turner Construction Co. and Gerald McKenna Construction Management to turn the building into specialized film archive vaults, film restoration labs, offices and a 299-seat, world-class screening theatre.

The project demanded full partnering of the project team members because design developed as construction proceeded. Every building system, including structural, mechanical, electrical and architectural features was complicated and compromised by several prior weak remodels. For example, two or more ceilings and their mechanical systems were hung below the original plaster ceilings. Structural elements were hidden behind several layers of finish. HVAC systems were spider webs of abandoned or poor quality ducts. Electrical and plumbing lines were past their life spans. Shrewd analysis and discovery became critical.

The analysis and construction work had to be performed in an occupied building. The Turner team worked hard to preclude or mitigate noise, vibration, dust, fumes, interruptions of MEP services and blockages to owner's staff access to the building areas. Services included interior demolition with heavy equipment and air scrubbers and the cleaning of duct systems. Hard demolition and crane work were scheduled for early morning hours as much as possible before the owner's staff arrived to work. Construction travel paths were carefully laid out to avoid client staff as well. Structural steel beams and long gauge-metal studs entered through existing doorways and were erected in tight conditions inside the building.

Unforeseen challenges faced by the construction team included water and sewer lines spontaneously bursting in building areas untouched by current construction, old light fixture ballasts that melted and original wood-bowstring trusses spanning 65 ft. that needed to be inspected and repaired.

The construction team also carefully color matched and patched classic, multi-colored terrazzo floors. Completely mahogany-wood paneled offices that had been abandoned years earlier were given new life. A half-century-old stage floor was preserved and restored while everything around and above it was gutted out and replaced.

Poor existing soil conditions inside the building were retrofitted or bridged. Openings were cut into structural walls, and floor diaphragms were exposed and retrofitted. Articulated walls and dropped ceilings were built from three-dimensional models not from architectural drawings. A decrepit and abandoned dental suite was gutted and transformed into a lovely theatre reception area.

Acoustically, the weak link in the envelope of the theatre was the wooden roof that allowed aircraft noise to penetrate. The existing bowstring trusses were outfitted with steel saddles. Tuned vibration isolators and a rigid wide-flange frame were hung from the trusses. The frame supports ceiling joists. All mechanical and electrical hardware is isolated and dampened.

Film archives make up another major use of the building. Three soundstages were gutted and rebuilt into four low-humidity, low-temperature film storage vaults for thousands of rolls of original or significant works of film art. Two of these vaults feature wet, pre-action fire protection systems and the other two sport Inergen dry- fire suppression systems. Special dessicant dehumidifiers supplied by de-rated chillers monitor and feed the vaults. Storage shelving, in some cases three-floors tall, fills the vaults.

The project, the third one by Turner for the Academy, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and provided innumerable opportunities to be proactive, creative, gutsy, strategic and efficient leaders.

Existing heat pumps, air handlers and chiller compressors were repaired, relocated and given new uses. Turner sought to have two building areas under reconstruction at all times. This was to preserve efficient continuity of labor and material in cases where unforeseen conditions or required design decisions halted work in one area. No tradesperson would be out of work and progress could always be made. Many times, design and construction were simultaneous.

One thrilling element of this revitalized building is a state-of-the-art screening room that is used year-round for film seminars. In the fall, the room is used to judge films for the Academy Awards.

Owner: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills
Architect: Offenhauser/Mekeel Architects
Construction manager: GMCM
Program manager: Dolby Laboratories Inc.
General contractor: Turner Construction Co.
Engineers: Acoustics of Architecture and Environment
Studio Technico (electrical)
Ideas for the Built Environment (mechanical)
Key subcontractors:
Martin Brothers/Marcowall (drywall, plaster)
Diversified Protection Systems Inc. (fire protection)
ACC0 Engineered Systems (HVAC)
Tyco Construction (acoustic wall treatments)

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