Otis College of Art and Design Campus Expansion

Otis College of the Arts has always been an inventive, evolving place. Its story began in Westlake in 1918, when the L.A. Times’ founder donated land. The school’s faculty fueled the craft-to-art movement, nurtured light and space artists and Los Angeles muralists, then moved the college into a former IBM building in Westchester in 1997.

In 2001, we completed the Galef Studio building, a highly flexible and economical “art factory” to complement the low ceiling spaces in the renovated IBM building. In 2015, as a joint-venture between Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects and Frederick Fisher & Partners (Ehrlich|Fisher), we redesigned the campus for expansion with cohesion and vibrancy in mind, energetically bringing together the school’s diverse past with its present.
A 225-bed dormitory was added, as well as three levels of studio space for the fashion design department and a plinth combining student services with a pre-fab shop building.
Existing structures connect with new ones via red staircases. The neutral metal skins we designed for the façades of the new mixed-use complex reflect light and mimic the texture of folded fabric.
Large windows and brightly colored walls contribute to a sense of transparency and accessibility. Color sets the mood and guides users through the different arenas – warm color schemes indicate dining areas, while quiet and public areas combine warm with cool.
All the day-to-day activities of Otis students now pivot around the new courtyard and its facilities: a student union, auditorium, library, dining facility, dormitory and freestanding model shop.
The triangular outdoor room between the Ahmanson, Galef, and dormitory buildings and new studio wing remains vibrant throughout the day, acting as the college’s heart. The grab-and-go food stations and movable seating enable efficiency and fluidity – students speed through or linger in a dining hall distinguished by slatted wood ceilings, colored resin and perforated metal. The school teaches craftsmanship, and our design prioritizes it.
We also prioritize sustainability. A photovoltaic array ensures renewable power and a green roof, underground storm-water system, vertical glazing, and sensor lighting protect resources. The hardscape surrounding the buildings captures and reflects sunlight, conserving energy while complementing the brightness of the campus’s design.

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