Lorcan O’Herlihy – Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects
O’Herlihy discusses his interest in creating works of consequence
Sponsored by Vitro Architectural Glass | Presented by Lorcan O’Herlihy
Lorcan O’Herlihy, has worked on projects from the Louvre to affordable housing, but has always been driven by an interest in art and culture. O’Herlihy discusses his interest in creating works of consequence that take into account political, social and historic contexts in order to help bring about positive social change. The founder of Los Angeles-based Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects (LOHA), Herlihy describes how his firm approached projects such as City Modern in Detroit and MLK 1101 in L.A., taking on the challenge of combining aesthetic design with efficiency in order to create beautiful and innovative structures that also meet budgets.
Photo courtesy of LINK Landscape Architects
1101 MLK Supportive Housing is a 26 unit affordable housing development for homeless veterans. The development also contains a Community Space and Supportive Services. The project is designed LEED Gold with green roof and edible garden including citrus trees and herb garden that will change and grow with the community. Garden pollinator plants include rosemary, lavender and many native plant species to ensure a thriving garden. Built up planters are ADA accessible with custom table surfaces for dining, reading, and community gathering.
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Aaron Prinz is the host of the Design:ED Podcast and holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He was born and raised in the rural Northern California town of Red Bluff, just two hours south of the Oregon border. After one year of college, Prinz relocated to San Francisco to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. At age 26, he began studying architecture at Portland State University while interning at Studio Petretti Architecture led by Amanda Petretti. His professional contributions while at Studio Petretti were focused on a portion of the new Multnomah County Courthouse which is a prominent addition to the Portland skyline. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Roxanne where he continues to work as a designer. |
Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Glass), North America’s largest glass producer, is dedicated to glass innovation and fueled by the same people, plants and products that made PPG Glass one of the industry’s most respected and reliable commercial glass manufacturers.
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in June 2023
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Describe how Lorcan O’Herlihy’s architectural approach is influenced by both his personal and professional experiences in the art world.
- List some of the ways O’Herlihy engages the communities where his projects are located.
- Discuss the design approach for MLK 1101 project in terms of structure and outdoor space.
- Explain LOHA’s idea behind the design for the Sandi Simon Center for Dance.
