NoHo III

Owner: J.H. Snyder Co., Los Angeles, CA
North Hollywood, CA

Architect: Abadjis Systems (formerly Jerde Partnership)
Structural Engineer: Cary Kopczynski & Company, Bellevue, WA
General Contractor: Bomel Construction, Anaheim Hills, CA
Reinforcing Bar Fabricator: Pacific Coast Steel, San Diego, CA
Total Project Cost: $45 million
Total Project Size: 215,000 sq ft
Floor System: One-way beams and slabs
Framing System: Cast-in-place (CIP) Reinforced concrete; shear wall core
Award: 2013 CRSI Award Winner – Commercial Facility Category
Photography: J.H. Snyder Co., Los Angeles, CA
Cary Kopczynski & Company, Bellevue, WA
Bomel Construction, Anaheim Hills, CA
Abadjis Systems (formerly Jerde Partnership)

Large urban office buildings are generally constructed of structural steel, especially on the West Coast where seismic requirements can complicate the use of reinforced concrete. The conventional wisdom for office building construction is that structural steel is faster and cheaper to build, and that it facilitates the use of long spans which are critical to the layout of a (Class A) office space.

While most similar developments would have chosen structural steel, it was decided early to build NoHo III in concrete for its design flexibility, construction economy, and local availability.

NoHo III Broke the Mold

NoHo III is a 215,000 square foot, nine story development designed as an extension of the arts and community oriented NoHo Commons district located in North Hollywood, CA. It is a high performance (Class A) office building with floor-to-ceiling glass that both maximizes natural light and reduces heat gain to increase energy efficiency. Accent fins on the exterior provide functional shading which enhanced the district’s overall art theme.

Working closely with both the project’s architect and contractor, the structural engineer developed a long-span framing system in reinforced concrete that proved more economical to build than structural steel. The layout incorporated clear spans of up to 50 feet with only three interior columns, in floor plates of over 20,000 square feet. Further, by standardizing beam sizes, column sizes, and bay spacing; the contractor was able to use a high production forming system. This resulted in not only lower construction cost, but also a shorter schedule for concrete than structural steel.

NoHo III is an excellent example of how the thoughtful use of reinforced concrete, with the design developed to meet needs of the owner, builder, and user, can create a long-span, open and elegant (Class A) office space. The sustainability advantages of cast-in-place concrete also helped NoHo III to achieve LEED® certification. NoHo III was a success for all involved and is a handsome addition to the urban fabric of North Hollywood, California.