[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":172},["ShallowReactive",2],{"gql:data:BRvh9O8SqLc6nWzicJFhO8yPDFQsnCMA8ati3UqQP1Y":3},{"newsAndMediaItem":4},{"body":5,"textBlockWithImages":6,"closingImage":13,"date":49,"derivedSeoDescription":50,"derivedSeoTitle":51,"derivedSocialMediaDescription":52,"derivedSocialMediaImage":53,"derivedSocialMediaTitle":63,"image":64,"newsAndMediaCategory":74,"newsAndMediaTags":77,"relatedNews":81,"slug":167,"title":168,"videoId":99,"videoThumbnail":169,"schema":171},"The Laurel in Santa Monica has received the 2025 California Preservation Design Award for Reconstruction or Contextual Infill. This award highlights how the project carefully included the historic Nikkei Hall in a new permanent supportive housing community. The restored Nikkei Hall, built in 1957 by Japanese American community leaders, now stands at the center of The Laurel’s 57 supportive homes. It once served as a lively meeting place for Nisei families.\r\n",[7,23,36],{"header":8,"body":9,"image":10},"From Vacancy to Vibrant Community Space","Over the next several decades, as more families left the area, the building mostly served senior citizens. By 2017, only a few members remained, and the hall eventually stood empty with its future unclear.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, the Landmarks Commission named the closed community center a historic landmark to honor its cultural value to Santa Monica. A commission member spoke up about its importance, which helped save the building from demolition.\r\n\r\nIn 2019, EAH Housing bought the historic Nikkei Hall and started a major renovation to give it new life. They kept the Hall's original windows, entry porch, and woodwork, turning it into a community room for residents of The Laurel. They also brought back the Japanese garden on the property.\r\n\r\n",{"id":11,"alt":12,"caption":13,"assetUrl":14,"assetUrlXs":15,"assetUrlSm":16,"assetUrlMd":17,"assetUrlLg":18,"assetUrlXl":19,"assetUrlXxl":20,"width":21,"height":22},"1088","Modern, brightly lit common area features a kitchen, seating with colorful chairs, wooden flooring, and plants for a welcoming atmosphere.",null,"https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/xs_The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/sm_The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/md_The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/lg_The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/xl_The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1088/xxl_The_Laurel_Gallery_07.jpg",2000,1125,{"header":24,"body":25,"image":26},"A Legacy Built Despite Adversity","In 1951, a group of Issei, or Japanese-born immigrant leaders, founded Santa Monica Nikkei Hall, Inc., and purchased property at 1413 Michigan Avenue. To get around alien land laws, they put their American-born sons’ names on the deeds so the community could have a lasting place to gather.\r\n\r\nThe Santa Monica Nikkei Hall was constructed in 1957 and designed by Berkeley-born architect Yoshimi Tom Makino. Makino, previously incarcerated at Rohwer, Arkansas, during World War II, worked as an architect for the War Relocation Authority before reestablishing his practice in Los Angeles in 1956.\r\n\r\nThe modest, one-story hall, built in the Mid-Century Modern Institutional style, became a gathering place for Nisei (American-born Japanese) families. Here, they connected with their heritage, celebrated holidays, conducted funerals, and accessed support services.",{"id":27,"alt":28,"caption":13,"assetUrl":29,"assetUrlXs":30,"assetUrlSm":31,"assetUrlMd":32,"assetUrlLg":33,"assetUrlXl":34,"assetUrlXxl":35,"width":21,"height":22},"1087","A large group poses in front of Nikkei Hall, showcasing a diverse community with men, women, and children, dressed in formal and casual attire.","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/xs_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/sm_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/md_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/lg_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/xl_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1087/xxl_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_04.jpg",{"header":37,"body":38,"image":39},"A Model for Preservation and Housing","This award honors The Laurel for combining historic preservation with sustainable, all-electric construction to thoughtfully address today’s housing needs. We appreciate our partners at KFA Architecture, whose design made this achievement possible.\r\n\r\nThe project supports historic preservation by including original site features and materials in its new design. This approach fits with Santa Monica’s architectural heritage and preservation goals in Los Angeles County. By preserving key elements such as facade treatments and original materials, The Laurel stays connected to its past and adds to the energy of its neighborhood.\r\nThe California Preservation FoundThe California Preservation Foundation’s award is given to projects chosen by a jury of leading experts in architecture, engineering, planning, and history, along with well-known architecture critics and journalists.l is multifaceted: it provides affordable housing in a high-demand area, supports economic diversity, addresses housing shortages, and promotes sustainability by reducing the environmental impact of new construction. The project serves as a model for similar developments, demonstrating how preservation and adaptive reuse can meet community needs without compromising historical integrity.\r\n\r\n**Project Team:**\r\nDeveloper: EAH Housing\r\nArchitect: John Arnold, AIA, Partner, KFA Architecture\r\nLandscape Architect: Mark Beall, ASLA, Mark Beall + Associates\r\nStructural Engineer: Ming Yang Yeh, SE, Ming Yang Yeh & Associates\r\nMEP Engineer: Mark Shamim, Shamim Engineering\r\nCivil Engineer: Ronald Peralbo, Breen Engineering, Inc.\r\nContractor: Mark Russell, Westport Construction, Inc.\r\nHistoric Preservation Consultant: Chattel, Inc.\r\nRestoration Contractor: Spectra Company\r\n\r\nToday, Nikkei Hall stands as a testament to the resilience and history of the Japanese American community in Southern California, ensuring that future generations can appreciate its rich legacy while serving the housing needs of Santa Monica residents.",{"id":40,"alt":41,"caption":13,"assetUrl":42,"assetUrlXs":43,"assetUrlSm":44,"assetUrlMd":45,"assetUrlLg":46,"assetUrlXl":47,"assetUrlXxl":48,"width":21,"height":22},"1089","A modern multi-story building with a clean white facade, surrounded by landscaped greenery, and two pedestrians walking along the path.","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/xs_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/sm_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/md_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/lg_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/xl_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","https://assets.eahhousing.org/system/uploads/fae/image/asset/1089/xxl_TheLaurel_PreservationAward_News_02.jpg","2025-09-10","The Laurel receives 2025 California Preservation Design Award for restoring Santa Monica's historic Nikkei Hall, a 1957 Japanese American cultural landmark. 57 supportive homes anchor the preservation.","Historic Nikkei Hall Restored at The Laurel Wins Award","The Laurel has been honored with the 2025 California Preservation Design Award for restoring the historic Santa Monica Nikkei Hall. Built in 1957 by Japanese American community leaders, the Hall now serves as a community room for residents while honoring its rich cultural legacy.",{"id":54,"alt":55,"caption":13,"assetUrl":56,"assetUrlXs":57,"assetUrlSm":58,"assetUrlMd":59,"assetUrlLg":60,"assetUrlXl":61,"assetUrlXxl":62,"width":21,"height":22},"1090","A modern three-story building features a clean, white facade with surrounding greenery and a pathway, while two individuals walk 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Heartbeat of Home","heartbeat-of-home-aging-in-place-resident-services","2026-09-01",{"name":75,"slug":76},{"id":88,"alt":89,"caption":13,"assetUrl":90,"assetUrlXs":91,"assetUrlSm":92,"assetUrlMd":93,"assetUrlLg":94,"assetUrlXl":95,"assetUrlXxl":96,"width":21,"height":22},"2096","Two smiling women pose together, one dressed in a colorful outfit with a floral design and the other wearing glasses and a chic 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Two EAH Housing Projects Offer an Answer","hen-modular-construction-pays-off-eah-housing",{"name":75,"slug":76},{"id":122,"alt":123,"caption":13,"assetUrl":124,"assetUrlXs":125,"assetUrlSm":126,"assetUrlMd":127,"assetUrlLg":128,"assetUrlXl":129,"assetUrlXxl":130,"width":21,"height":22},"2382","A scenic view of modern apartment buildings with lush greenery, featuring a professional headshot in an 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Castilleja","employee-spotlight","2026-04-23",{"name":75,"slug":76},{"id":139,"alt":140,"caption":13,"assetUrl":141,"assetUrlXs":142,"assetUrlSm":143,"assetUrlMd":144,"assetUrlLg":145,"assetUrlXl":146,"assetUrlXxl":147,"width":21,"height":22},"2099","A collage featuring diverse individuals engaged in community efforts, smiling, and interacting, showcasing teamwork and support for housing 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Supportive Housing Impacts the Homelessness Crisis","permanent-supportive-housing-impact-homelessness","2026-04-01",{"name":75,"slug":76},{"id":156,"alt":157,"caption":13,"assetUrl":158,"assetUrlXs":159,"assetUrlSm":160,"assetUrlMd":161,"assetUrlLg":162,"assetUrlXl":163,"assetUrlXxl":164,"width":21,"height":22},"2090","A man smiles while leaning on a balcony railing, enjoying a sunny day with a vibrant green wall and a view of a bustling street 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