UCLA – A Masterpiece of Adaptive Reuse

A Masterpiece of Adaptive Reuse: The Parabolic Glulam Architecture of UCLA’s Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios

In the heart of Culver City, California, a historic remnant of the industrial past has been reborn as a beacon of creative expression. The UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios (formerly known as the Warner Graduate Studio) stands as a premier example of how sustainable design and structural innovation can breathe new life into aged infrastructure.

By marrying the rugged history of a World War II-era warehouse with the elegance of modern mass timber, this project has become a landmark of culture and education.

The Goal: Revitalizing the Structural Life Cycle

The primary objective for UCLA was twofold: sustainability and functionality. Instead of a “demolish and replace” approach, the design team opted for adaptive reuse. The goal was to extend the structural life cycle of a WWII warehouse while creating a high-performance environment for art and architecture students.

Today, the facility serves as a vibrant ecosystem featuring:

An expansive open-air courtyard.
A world-class art gallery.
Cutting-edge educational spaces.
Multi-purpose studios designed for the rigors of artistic creation.

Engineering the “Soaring Roof”: Parabolic Glulam Beams

The most striking visual and structural achievement of the project is the roof system. To create a space that felt both open and inspiring, the design utilized long-span parabolic curved glulam beams.

These aren’t standard trusses. The parabolic geometry allows for a soaring interior volume without the need for intrusive support columns, maximizing the floor plan for student use. Interlocked with hundreds of custom-length purlins, the structure creates a rhythmic, grid-like canopy that allows the atrium to be bathed in consistent, soft natural light—a critical requirement for fine arts studios.

Wood Specifications:

To ensure both durability and aesthetic excellence, the project utilized:

Architectural Grade Douglas Fir: Chosen for its superior strength-to-weight ratio and beautiful grain.
Pressure Treated Timber: Essential for longevity in an open-air environment.
Custom Parabolic Geometry: Every beam was precision-curved to match the unique architectural profile of the site.

Glu-Lam Sales Services: Bringing the Vision to Life

Transforming a complex digital design into a physical reality requires more than just timber—it requires technical expertise. Glu-Lam Sales provided the critical infrastructure needed to bring these parabolic shapes to life through:

Precision Estimation: Ensuring the project remained viable and resource-efficient from day one through rigorous material analysis.
Technical Interpretation & Utilization of Shop Drawings: While the architectural vision was established on paper, our team performed the heavy lifting of ingesting and interpreting the complex profile shop drawings. We meticulously utilized these detailed blueprints to translate every unique parabolic curve into a tangible supply chain reality, ensuring that each interlocking component met the project’s exacting structural tolerances.
Extensive Delivery Coordination: Managing the logistics of transporting exceptionally long, curved beam lengths through the tight urban corridors of Culver City was a feat of precision timing and engineering.

The Result: A Legacy of Light and Wood

The Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios prove that the “old” and the “new” do not just coexist—they can elevate one another. Through the use of Douglas Fir Glulam, UCLA has created a space that is as much a work of art as the pieces created within its walls.

Project Snapshot: