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Alan Pullman: What Does It Take to Make a More Livable LA?
Alan Pullman founded Studio One Eleven 25 years ago with a theory that ran against how most architecture firms operated: that the most important work in urban environments was not designing the next signature building, but the space in-between. His firm embraces the messiness of cities and finds opportunities in spaces large and small.
At the core of every Studio One Eleven project is a dedication to enhancing city life and a curiosity about its messiness. In our conversation, Alan shares how his team has been leading urban design on West Harbor — nearly a mile of waterfront now under construction — and working with LA Metro on strategies to transform Union Station from a pass-through into a destination.
In addition to walking us through large-scale projects, Alan also gets into the nuances of what it means to build a more liveable, equitable city. Plus, we talk about Long Beach versus Los Angeles as a place to build, Union Station's potential as a World Cup fan zone, and how Alan thinks the city's "hardware" (i.e. its physical spaces) can improve through better "software" like activation and programming.
Episode Outline
(01:50) Reflecting on LA’s evolution over the past two decades
(09:00) Tactical urbanism in practice: parklets, closing a street to traffic, and using downtown Long Beach as an urban lab
(11:26) The core problem with how LA builds housing
(21:16) Adaptive reuse and the Santa Ana Arts Collective
(22:01) What makes an office-to-residential conversion work
(25:21) The current status of West Harbor and the vision for the final build
(31:06) The Bloc DTLA and what comes next after Macy's closing
(38:07) The uncomfortable truth about neighborhood improvements in underserved areas
(50:53) Hidden gems in LA
Resources Mentioned
West Harbor
Fourth and Central
Union Station
The Bloc
400 Oceangate
Westside Gateway
Santa Ana Arts Collective
Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program
JOEY DTLA
LACMA
Craft Contemporary Museum
Guest Info
Connect with Alan on LinkedIn
Studio One Eleven
Studio One Eleven podcast: We've Never Done This Before — on Spotify and Apple
More From Building LA
Visit the Building LA website
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn
Follow Building LA on LinkedIn
Learn more about Lincoln Property Company
Follow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedIn
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.
View all episodes
By Sam PepperAlan Pullman founded Studio One Eleven 25 years ago with a theory that ran against how most architecture firms operated: that the most important work in urban environments was not designing the next signature building, but the space in-between. His firm embraces the messiness of cities and finds opportunities in spaces large and small.
At the core of every Studio One Eleven project is a dedication to enhancing city life and a curiosity about its messiness. In our conversation, Alan shares how his team has been leading urban design on West Harbor — nearly a mile of waterfront now under construction — and working with LA Metro on strategies to transform Union Station from a pass-through into a destination.
In addition to walking us through large-scale projects, Alan also gets into the nuances of what it means to build a more liveable, equitable city. Plus, we talk about Long Beach versus Los Angeles as a place to build, Union Station's potential as a World Cup fan zone, and how Alan thinks the city's "hardware" (i.e. its physical spaces) can improve through better "software" like activation and programming.
Episode Outline
(01:50) Reflecting on LA’s evolution over the past two decades
(09:00) Tactical urbanism in practice: parklets, closing a street to traffic, and using downtown Long Beach as an urban lab
(11:26) The core problem with how LA builds housing
(21:16) Adaptive reuse and the Santa Ana Arts Collective
(22:01) What makes an office-to-residential conversion work
(25:21) The current status of West Harbor and the vision for the final build
(31:06) The Bloc DTLA and what comes next after Macy's closing
(38:07) The uncomfortable truth about neighborhood improvements in underserved areas
(50:53) Hidden gems in LA
Resources Mentioned
West Harbor
Fourth and Central
Union Station
The Bloc
400 Oceangate
Westside Gateway
Santa Ana Arts Collective
Sidewalk and Transit Amenities Program
JOEY DTLA
LACMA
Craft Contemporary Museum
Guest Info
Connect with Alan on LinkedIn
Studio One Eleven
Studio One Eleven podcast: We've Never Done This Before — on Spotify and Apple
More From Building LA
Visit the Building LA website
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn
Follow Building LA on LinkedIn
Learn more about Lincoln Property Company
Follow Lincoln Property Company on LinkedIn
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast represent the views of the individual speakers, interviewers, or guests alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official positions, views, or opinions of Lincoln Property Company or any of its affiliates.