Westside Urban Forum has awarded a 2021 WUF Design Award to Millennium East Village in what is the latest honor garnered by the 362-unit Santa Monica apartment project’s design.
Designed by Michael W. Folonis Architects, the five-story mixed-use complex began to welcome residents within the last year at its 2930 Colorado Avenue location, which had held the city’s Village Trailer Park. It was developed by The Dinerstein Companies, which was also joined by executive architect Cuningham Group Architecture, interior design firm Ariel Fox Design, landscape architect AHBE | MIG, and lighting design firm The Ruzika Company.
The design for Millennium East Village has “taken a high-density, fairly conventional typology and made something a lot more interesting out of it,” the WUF jury noted. “There’s a lightness to it that’s really wonderful. It’s reminiscent of Europe with its wonderful little internal alley spaces. That is placemaking.”
The award from WUF, which is a land-use organization focused on Los Angeles’ Westside, follows others bestowed upon the design of Millennium East Village. It was also honored in the 50-plus unit Multi-Residential category at the 2021 AIA Los Angeles Residential Design Awards and in the 2021 AIA San Fernando Valley Design Awards.
The 280,136-square-foot community contains 38 units reserved for lower income households, as well as residential amenities including outdoor play areas for children, a clubhouse, an indoor and outdoor gym, and a pool. The development also offers ground-floor retail.
Michael W. Folonis Architects said it sought to create a complex that is both open and welcoming to the neighborhood and offering natural light and ventilation in every living space for residents. Design features include shifting floor plates that create an array of outdoor spaces and facade indentations across the community.
“With Millennium East Village, we created a residential and retail complex that opens itself up to fostering a sense of community through design,” Michael W. Folonis, the firm’s founding principal and design director, said in a statement. “Being recognized by professionals in design and urbanism reaffirms our mission of continuing the Modernist legacy here in Southern California.”
On the construction and engineering side of Millennium East Village, The Dinerstein Companies was joined by general contractor DMC Raven Construction, electrical engineer Candela Engineering, structural engineer VCA Structural, MEP engineer TAD Consulting, and civil engineer KPFF Consulting Engineers.
Beck & Graboski Design Office led environmental graphics for the project.
