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In 2019, Hope on Alvarado became the first steel volumetric modular housing project ever completed in Los Angeles — a groundbreaking step forward in the city’s effort to deliver high-quality, permanent supportive housing faster and more efficiently.
Led by Heith Bibby, the project introduced a new era of factory-built, steel-frame modular construction, proving that modular innovation could meet the same architectural and structural standards as conventional mid-rise developments while cutting build time dramatically.
Key Design Features
- Structural System: Hot-rolled HSS and C-channel framing designed for vertical stacking and lateral stability under seismic load.
- Volumetric Units: Each 12’ x 50’ module arrived complete with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and interior finishes.
- Architectural Integration: The design, led by KTGY Architecture + Planning, utilized modular repetition with façade variations to blend seamlessly with the surrounding urban context.
- Digital Coordination: Early adoption of Revit and Rhino modeling allowed for precise coordination between trades and minimized on-site fit issues.
Challenge
- Establish proof of concept: Demonstrate the feasibility of multi-story, steel-framed volumetric modular construction in Los Angeles.
- Accelerate project delivery: Use off-site fabrication and concurrent site work to shorten the overall timeline.
- Achieve lasting quality: Deliver durable, seismic-compliant structures with high-quality finishes and refined design.
- Create social impact: Provide dignified, supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals through efficient and sustainable building methods.
Solution
- City First: The first approved steel-framed volumetric modular project under the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
- Structural Resilience: Engineered for seismic performance and long-term durability in a dense, urban environment.
- Sustainability: 70% reduction in site waste, lower embodied carbon from repetitive fabrication, and minimized transportation impacts.
- Replication Model: The system became the foundation for later projects in the Hope housing series, including Hope on Broadway, Hope on Avalon, and Hope on Hyde Park.
The project’s off-site manufacturing strategy allowed foundation work and module production to occur simultaneously — a first for this scale of modular construction in Los Angeles.
- Total Modules: 84
- Average Module Size: 12’ x 50’
- Fabrication Duration: 90 days
- On-Site Assembly: 30 days (crane stacking, welding, and alignment)
Modules were transported from the fabrication facility to downtown Los Angeles and installed using a just-in-time logistics schedule, dramatically reducing neighborhood disruption and construction noise.
