Built in 1938, Columbia Square was the most modern technology facility of its time. Designed by renowned architect William Lescaze in the vanguard International Modernist style, its state-of-the-art recording studios and theaters cemented Hollywood as the entertainment center of the universe. At Columbia Square, stars such as Jack Benny and Orson Welles recorded their best-known work; A young comedienne named Lucille Ball filmed her TV pilot; James Dean was an usher; Bob Dylan and Carlos Santana recorded legendary hits. Beyond its stars’ performances, Columbia Square gave birth to an industry of innovative engineering, sound effects, editing and film. This is the place where science and art met, fell in love and said, “I do.”
A decade after CBS abandoned its 4.7-acre site, Columbia Square is leading Hollywood’s revitalization. Where Hollywood first planted its roots, a new creative center is growing. Having earned its first LEED Gold certification and working to obtain another LEED Gold certification as well as the West Coast’s first residential WELL certification,Columbia Square makes a promise to the community—to honor the companies at the forefront of entertainment and technology, and to construct a space where they can incubate exceptional ideas, sustainably.
This tour will take you through the revitalized Columbia Square campus including the beautiful master site, Fender Guitar’s new studio, and the residential tower Hollywood Proper.
Date: Thursday August 18, 2016
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Partnership: cosponsored with USGBC LA
Cost: $15 member of USGBC LA or YPE/$25 nonmember
Agenda:
6:30-7:00 Registration, networking, small group visits to Neuehouse lobby.
7:00-8:00 Tour, including Fender Guitar, Hollywood Proper (the residential tower), Paley (restaurant), and potential visit to Viacom lobby (under construction but there may be parts we can see), and master site.
Tour Guides:
Lauren Phillips is Senior Construction Manager at Kilroy Realty Corporation, where she has overseen construction projects for the last ten years. She is involved in all aspects of managing construction jobs from choosing the design and construction team, overseeing budgets, and creating and managing the schedule. Many of her projects have achieved LEED Gold, and she is overseeing all tenant improvements at Columbia Square including those for Neuehouse, Fender Guitar and Viacom. Lauren holds a BA from Rutgers University.
Sara Neff is the Senior Vice President of Sustainability at Kilroy Realty Corporation. In her first four years, she took Kilroy from having no sustainability program to being named the #1 real estate company across all asset classes on sustainability in North America by GRESB, and in 2015 they won that honor for the second year in a row. At Kilroy, she oversees all sustainability initiatives such as the implementation of energy and water efficiency projects throughout the portfolio, the recycling and green cleaning program, all LEED certifications, electric vehicle charging station installations, and the greening of building and construction standards. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of USGBC Los Angeles, a member of the USGBC National Advisory Council, Vice Chair of the BOMA Energy & Environment Government Affairs Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of Young Professionals in Energy Los Angeles.
