Best Multi-Family Residential/Hospitality Project

Photo courtesy of KTGY Group
The community consists of 52 luxury condominiums.
Photo courtesy of KTGY Group
The homes are LEED-platinum certified.

Primera Terra is a LEED-Platinum certified residential community located at the easternmost portion of Playa Vista in West Los Angeles. The 52 luxury condominiums are built atop an existing subterranean garage.

Because of the challenging economic environment, the project was redesigned down to three stories from four and five stories without losing units or the number of bedrooms and minimizing new slab penetrations.

The neighborhood design organizes homes around a central courtyard that features a linear fountain with stainless steel scupper, an outdoor dining room with barbeques, a conversation terrace with an outdoor fireplace and a vegetable and fruit garden. The interiors feature smaller, more open floor plans with small flex spaces.

Primera Terra is one of the largest communities of LEED-Platinum certified homes in California. The project has also received the Certified Energy-Efficient Home Award from the Southern California Gas Co.

The condos are equipped with energy- and water-saving features, are built with sustainable materials and are 40% more energy efficient than a typical new home, according to the architect.

Each owner has an energy monitoring system to track energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs online or by using a smartphone.

Homes maximize fresh air indoors with ventilation on two sides, combustion venting, an active ventilation system and exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Low-VOC paint and flooring was used, and a cool roof mitigates heat island effect.

Built-in features include tankless water heaters, Energy-Star appliances and lighting, high-efficiency windows, WaterSense faucets and toilets and large windows to maximize daylighting. The community also provides electric-vehicle charging stations.

Primera Terra is a part of West Los Angeles' first new master-planned community in more than 50 years. It is located near LAX, Westchester, Venice and Santa Monica.

Key Players

Owner/General Contractor/Construction Management: KB Home, Los Angeles

Architect: KTGY Group Inc., Santa Monica

Civil Engineer: Fuscoe Engineering, Irvine

Structural Engineer: Englekirk Partners, Santa Ana

MEP Engineer: TAD Engineering, Orange

Submitted by:

KTGY Group