This area is comprised of two connected, yet distinct buildings. The first, Building D, is three-stories along El Centro and two-stories bordering the Town Square. Its ground level commercial space consists of several storefronts along El Centro and a six-lane bowling alley on the north end opening onto the Town Square. The second building, a two-story, glass-sided “Pavilion”, runs parallel to Mission Street and opens to the Town Square. The Pavilion’s function is purely commercial and may operate as either a restaurant, or entertainment venue (e.g. a jazz bar) to activate the upper level and outdoor terrace while complementing the adjacent bowling alley in Building D.
The design for Building D is rooted in South Pasadena’s Red Car history and reflects some of the eclectic architecture of the past such as the Opera House and Old Santa Fe Train Depot. The main building, facing El Centro, emulates an old train station as evidenced by arches that once served as trolley entrances to maintenance docks or platforms, now converted into retail spaces. A modern clerestory is added to accommodate the residential use, providing mezzanine levels to third floor units. Vehicular access to the main, two-level underground parking garage is at Mound Avenue between Mission and El Centro. There are three convenient elevator lobby areas – one for public access to the Town Square, another for private access to the residential units above Building D where 19 residential units will be located on the second and third floors, and a third for public access to the areas south of El Centro within the Building C site.
PAVILION
Located within the Town Square, the Pavilion is a two-level industrial steel and glass structure that complements the brick industrial vernacular of Building D and surrounding structures with its ode to Midwestern simplicity and utilitarian design. This modern interpretation of a hay bale storage shed and related outbuildings is reminiscent of South Pasadena’s history of orange groves and barley fields and evokes an air of whimsy that lightens the feel of the other structures and provides a wonderful focal point and place to meet. The ground level design includes a series of ‘roll-up’ doors blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. The upper level includes a covered open-air veranda with possible “bandstand” area for terrace and Town Square level entertainment.