Gem of the Pacific Returns to Glory
Client
KHF + BJ
Location
Los Angeles, United States
Sector
Services
Year Completed
2008
Floor Area
90,000 SF
Project Value
US $40M
Holmes Team
Bevan Jones
The Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club is a designated historic landmark set atop Butterfly Beach and known as a playground for Hollywood stars. The building is a two-story, wood-framed structure with a lighthouse tower and it was originally designed by architect Gardner A. Dailey in 1937. Known as the “Gem of the Pacific”, its style is grounded in crisp minimal detailing and sweeping horizontal lines, much like a luxury steamliner.
Holmes Fire developed alternative methods utilizing performance-based strategies to achieve adequate fire protection to structural steel installed within the historic mural covered walls, where space and preservation constraints prevented conventional fire protection methods from being utilized. Holmes Fire also developed alternative methods to protect boundary wall openings without the need for drencher protection, saving the client construction costs.
Holmes Structures’ historic preservation utilized the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The facility was required to remain operational during the design process, allowing the Holmes Structures team only key investigations of the existing buildings. Holmes Structures was flexible throughout the design and construction phases, adapting to preserve and salvage existing structural framing and finishes in collaboration with the architectural team in a fluid process.