HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA—TCA Architects, a full service architecture firm focused on progressive multifamily and mixed-use urban residential developments, has showcased the realized design vision created for Sares-Regis Group's new development, The Boardwalk in Huntington Beach.
The Boardwalk is a walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that fulfills the City of Huntington Beach's plan to connect several parts of the community surrounding its developing Bella Terra Town Center. It also supports the city's regional mobility goals by placing housing near existing office, retail, and transportation. The 12-acre site replaces a defunct furniture warehouse and parking lot with 487 market rate and affordable apartments, a public park, and 14,500 square feet of commercial space. The project team worked with the city and the newly adopted Beach Edinger Corridors Specific Plan to introduce the New Urbanist style plan to the infill site.
“TCA's architectural vision for The Boardwalk achieved our goals of creating a community that embraces the highest form of urbanism within a residential environment, while retaining the genuine character of its location,” said Bill Montgomery of Sares-Regis. “Through innovative site planning and architectural design, The Boardwalk has already become a recognized residential community. We are pleased that The Boardwalk, as realized through TCA's design vision, has become one of Southern California's signature multifamily communities.”
A meandering neighborhood street lined with stoops and porches bisects the site, connecting GoldenWest Community College and the GoldenWest Transit Center to the north, with Bella Terra to the south. Two iconic amenity buildings line the street, frame the park and community courtyard, and demarcate the community's main entry and retail plaza off Edinger Ave. The California coastal contemporary architecture provides a casual elegance to the project, reflecting the community's laid back, and vibrant outdoor lifestyle.
“Thoughtful collaboration with the City of Huntington Beach was essential in designing The Boardwalk to work within this emerging village, creating high-density housing and a neighborhood where pedestrians have access to shopping, entertainment, transit, employment, and educational opportunities,” said Eric Olsen, a managing principal and studio director with TCA Architects.
The iconic tower at the center of the project acts as a focal point for the neighborhood and becomes a singular expression for the entire development. The Boardwalk community features natural materials including recycled wood and a stone tile with a rough cut texture that reflects the outdoor environment. The tower's blue tile wrap is a metaphor for the curl of rolling waves, as it winds tightly around the tower. Inside, the tower houses the community's recreational facilities and a three-story lobby illuminated by blue light through the glass wrap, suggesting a perception that you are inside the wave. A second recreation building north of the community's pool frames the residential courtyard, and houses the extensive fitness and yoga center in a three-story building that features a dramatic architectural rooftop sculpted in the form of a wave. The wave is accented by curved wood beams on the underside, incorporating blue-tinted glass to create a notion of water in motion.
Olsen went on to note that The Boardwalk utilizes an innovative building concept designed to maximize site efficiency, lower construction cost, and separate on-grade parking garages and courts from pedestrian-oriented streets. The four-story slab-on-grade buildings are framed entirely in wood, which also significantly increases speed of construction. The first floors activate pedestrian-oriented streets with ground floor units and entry lobbies, and place entries to parking garages off parking courts to the rear of the buildings.
“TCA Architect's design has resulted in a relaxed, casual environment that is sophisticated in its design aesthetic. The Boardwalk effectively delivers on The City of Huntington Beach's vision for Smart Growth” said Olsen.
Founded in 1993, TCA Architects has studios in Irvine, Los Angeles and Oakland. With more than 20,000 residences currently in development, TCA Architects is one of California's fastest-growing architectural firms.
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David Phillips
David Phillips is a Chicago-based freelance writer and consultant with more than 20 years experience in business and community news. He also has extensive reporting experience in the food manufacturing industry for national trade publications.
