The Brutalist Office Building Los Angeles Wants to Turn Into Housing
Los Angeles is testing a new adaptive reuse model by converting the historic, Brutalist-style former Sunkist Growers headquarters into 95 residential apartments.
The former Sunkist Growers headquarters in Sherman Oaks, a notable Brutalist landmark, is undergoing a significant transformation. After sitting underutilized for over a decade, the site is being converted into 95 residential units by developer IMT Residential. This project serves as a critical test case for Los Angeles' updated 2025–2026 Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, which aims to expand conversion opportunities beyond the downtown core.
Recognized as Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1314, the building’s preservation highlights a shift in how the city values its mid-century commercial architecture. Master-planned by Johnson Fain, the development, now dubbed Citrus Commons, integrates the original structure with new mixed-use buildings, public open spaces, and improved pedestrian connections, demonstrating a sophisticated approach to balancing historic preservation with the urgent need for new housing.
Curated by Loftway Homes. Read the full article on Architect Magazine.
