Feasibility Study and Site Master Plan

LOCATION: 

Riverside, CA

CLIENT: 

Altura Credit Union

TIMELINE: 

Completed 2019

“La Atalaya” is a 1913 historic single-family residence on a twelve acre former citrus grove owned by Altura Credit Union. The proposed plan for this property was to convert the main residence and site buildings to a private member facility and corporate meeting space, providing an urban retreat and amenity space for Altura Credit Union members in a historic and park-like setting.

Our work entailed a conceptual design and feasibility study for change of use requirements, including a new parking lot integrated into the hillside site, ADA accessibility improvements to the site and residence, adaptively re-using the garages as communal workspaces, thoughtfully incorporating accessible restrooms and access within the historic residence, and enhancing the historic features of the buildings and site.

Because the main house was sited midway on a hillside, one of the challenges was to develop a plan that integrated accessible paths from a new parking area at the lower side of the property to two different grade level entry points. Our approach was to make the accessible path a series of enjoyable garden walk experiences.