Hollywood project evokes the golden age of music

Cherokee Studios is in the process of becoming one of the most distinctive buildings in its class. Rethink Development, a real estate development and consulting company based in Los Angeles, has developed a LEED Platinum certified mixed-use space, the first of its kind in California.

“The building was designed to fit the environmental and cultural context in which it is built,” said Greg Reitz, principal architect at Rethink Development Corp. The space is 40 percent more efficient than California’s energy code for newly constructed buildings, uses water-conserving appliances such as dual flush toilets, uses hot water circulators, and is solar-powered in all common areas.

“The windows and shading are oriented to the wind and sun to enable maximum natural ventilation and daylighting while minimizing heat gain from the sun, and there is cross ventilation from the internal courtyard,” said Reitz.

Cherokee Studios isn’t just on the map for being a green building; it’s also a historical rock-and-roll landmark, as the old hub of Cherokee Recording Studios and MGM Studios prior to that, with the likes of David Bowie and Dave Matthews strolling through its doors. “We’ve kept this cultural context by enabling home recording studios in some of the units and installing gold and platinum albums in the lobby,” said Reitz.

The five-story building will consist of 12 condominium lofts and 2,800 square feet of retail space, with a rooftop deck and green roof.

“The living green roof is an amazing space with 360-degree views of the Hollywood sign and downtown LA. Having the roof planted with native California plants creates a uniquely inviting space,” said Reitz.

The upscale lofts range from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet, and tenants will have access to underground parking. Several of the lofts will be two-story townhomes, with state-of-the-art kitchens, bathrooms, and a home recording studio or office above street level, emphasizing views of the city skyline.

Other lofts feature high ceilings with mezzanines and access to a landscaped courtyard, with interiors including kitchens, baths and finishes all planned to be “eco-luxury.” According to Reitz, “As a building designed to achieve LEED Platinum, the list of green features is endless, from a perforated aluminum screen that keeps the heat of the sun off the building, to the building’s variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heating and cooling system.”