For-Ply Tower

The brief was to breathe new life into 15 towers situated in the bustling heart of downtown Los Angeles. Presently, these structures are beset with low occupancy rates, as well as a long-standing issue of homelessness. The directive entailed a complete reimagining of the towers in anticipation of future needs. Thus, a compelling narrative was conceived to serve as a reference point for the new tower design. We were given the US bank tower. Exhaustive studies were conducted to comprehend the practical limitations of the US Bank Tower, and based on our findings, we surmised that the tower of the future must be versatile, incorporating public transportation, and incorporating eco-friendly features to combat climate change. The program had to be multifaceted to accommodate the housing needs of the future while simultaneously addressing the issue of office vacancy. A comprehensive mixed-use program was devised, with residential, commercial, and retail spaces thoughtfully arranged throughout the building, thereby doing away with the outdated Euclidean program. The integration of public transportation into the tower was deemed necessary to support the new program, and an innovative transport

Spring 2023

Elena Manferdini

system was devised to circumvent the issues of the current transport system. The airborne bus system directly links to the building, providing users with unprecedented access to the tower and reducing pressure on the new vertical circulation system.

The vertical circulation system itself was inspired by Ferris wheel pod design, which ensures that the pod remains upright through the use of gyroscopes. The new elevator, mounted on a rail network along the building’s facade, can move up, down, and sideways, allowing for greater flexibility as the tower’s program evolves. The old elevators were removed, and the core cleared, enabling the placement of two large fans strategically positioned to create a carbon capture system. Finally, at the ground floor, the building’s massing tapers, creating a sense of lightness and transparency. The ground plane is cleared up to the seventh floor, creating a low-rise market that attracts foot traffic to the tower. The result of this transformation is the For-ply tower, aptly named for the four interventions that reshaped the US Bank Tower into the new structure with four exterior skin layers.