Changes to Former Bank of America Building in Final Design Review

Late last month the Design Commission approved the application for Concept Design Review of the former Bank of America building at 101 S. Marengo Ave. with conditions to be further reviewed during Final Design Review.

The decision becomes effective on Saturday, September 5.

 Those conditions include further exploring ways to improve pedestrian access on Green Street and the possibility of creating a through-block connection between Marengo Avenue and Arroyo Parkway at the southern end of the block.

Ways to improve the façade to clearly address the location of the entrance to the building will also be studied.

Photorealistic images, including pedestrian-level visualizations from all three streets on which the property has frontage must be provided, several other conditions were also placed on the approval.

The five-story, 345,558 square-foot rectangular structure designed by John F. Adams of Edward Durell Stone, Inc, was completed in 1974.

Woodridge Capital Partners sold the building to Atlas Capital Group for $72 million.

Woodridge sought to overhaul the building into Class A office space and planned to add windows to the travertine-clad facade.

The building is surrounded by about 82,000 square feet of open plaza space, the bulk of which faces the Pasadena Convention Center.

But that plan stalled last year. In July, the commission reviewed a new plan put forward by Atlas but sent it back with recommended changes. Much of the concerns centered around the manner in which windows would be added to the nearly windowless building shrouded in white travertine.

While no major structural changes were planned, the exterior of the building would get a brand new look under the proposal.

Final Design Review is the final phase of the Design Review process. It normally focuses on construction details, finishes, materials, landscaping, and on consistency of the project, with the design approved during Concept Design Review, as well as compliance with the conditions of the approved Concept Design Review, according to the city’s website.

Typically after Final Design Review is complete an applicant can submit their application/plans for a building permit.