Better Late Than Never

The Wilshire Palisades office building in Santa Monica and Downtown Women’s Center were recently honored with the Urban Land Institute’s coveted 1988 Awards for Excellence.

The attractive, sleek neo-Moderne styled office building designed by Gensler & Associates was cited by the nonprofit Washington, D.C., based organization as “a successful public/private partnership” providing “amenities to its office tenants and the community, while maximizing its spectacular ocean view.”

The building, constructed in 1981, was the result of a long and intense battle between the developer, the California Coastal Commission, and the City of Santa Monica, over such design items as a public park, a sidewalk cafe and free parking.

Less controversial was the renovation of the Women’s Center, designed by Brenda Levin and constructed in 1986. It was cited for offering the women of skid row “the warmth of a home and a community.”