Los Angeles Youth Center

This youth center serves as the urban catalyst within a larger masterplan for Downtown Los Angeles, a site framed by the L.A. River, a major freeway, and the arts and civic districts. Noting the imbalance between the number of schools and the lack of dedicated public spaces for children, the project creates a central place for young people of all ages to learn, play, and grow.

The design opens its block to form a public plaza between an existing warehouse and a new parallel building. One side of the plaza hosts an active playground and full-size soccer field, while the opposite side offers a quieter, tree-shaded landscape for reading and relaxation.

The building’s core concept sinks the most active program, the gymnasium and community pool, below grade while preserving double-height spaces that draw natural light deep into the interior. At ground level, a minimal footprint contains a café and circulation, with open passages that connect the plaza and provide access to the sunken level. Above the slab, two upper floors shift toward educational and creative spaces, including classrooms, a reading room, and a small gallery.

Altogether, the youth center becomes a civic anchor, offering dynamic recreational space, structured learning environments, and a vibrant public plaza for Downtown Los Angeles.