9720 Wilshire Blvd.

This project was selected as a Merit winner in ARCHITECT's 2024 Architecture & Interiors Awards, Architecture: Adaptive Reuse/Historic Restoration category.

“Very LA that a great supporting actor like this oculus creates its own dramatic focus without upstaging the main attraction, Ed Stone’s iconic façade.” –Juror Ben Crawford

The renovation of 9720 Wilshire Blvd. is a significant transformation of the iconic 1962 Edward Durell Stone Building, featuring the addition of a new garden atrium and sculpture that defines the plaza along Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Beverly Hills.

Originally designed by renowned architect Edward Durell Stone and completed in 1962, this New Formalist structure has been a landmark on the West Coast. Despite its historical significance, much of the building had remained untouched since its last renovation several decades ago. Montalba Architects was commissioned to restore and modernize the building while enhancing its community engagement. This project revitalizes the outdated plaza and underused spaces, encouraging interaction among visitors.

At the plaza level, the decommissioned central fountain was replaced with a light well and sunken garden, introducing natural light to the previously underutilized basement. This transformation significantly enhances the usability and experience of the space. The new focal point at the plaza's center includes a custom sculpture created in the Montalba Architects studio, featuring bronze prongs that arc upward, echoing the building's arches and creating a sense of movement. The addition of white concrete benches, new landscaping, and updated lighting breathes new life into the public plaza, while the original terrazzo pattern was meticulously restored.

A new frameless glass and steel trellis provides security and enclosure around the lower level tenant entrance, blending seamlessly into the landscape. The ground floor lobby has been redesigned with a warm and restrained palette, featuring walnut panels, terrazzo flooring, bronze trim, and fluted stone, all of which pay homage to the building's midcentury origins. The simple yet elegant materials and a ceiling light cove enhance the small space, maintaining a sense of formality with a feature wall niche at the reception desk.

Overall, the renovation not only restores the building to its former glory but also creates a vibrant, community-oriented space that honors its historical roots while meeting contemporary needs.