Click the image to download a PDF of the walking map.
Welcome to Inglewood, a place where history, culture and creativity converge to form a thriving community. This isn't just a location on the map; it's the place we call home, and it's the center of our architectural passion. The city's energy and potential have ignited a fire within us, propelling us to design and build spaces that not only redefine streetscapes but also redefine lives.
From revitalizing historical landmarks to crafting modern, sustainable structures that embrace the spirit of the city, our mission is clear: to create spaces that inspire and unite. But we don't stop at bricks and mortar; we craft experiences, shape narratives and contribute to the ongoing story of Inglewood. To demonstrate how all of this has come to fruition over time, we want to take you on a tour of our Inglewood projects.
So, lace up your virtual walking shoes and come along as we take you on a stroll through the streets of Inglewood.
AERO COLLECTIVE Office
COMPLETED
Our tour starts at our home base: the AERO COLLECTIVE Office.
In 2015 AERO COLLECTIVE opened its doors to the public. Situated in the heart of Inglewood's historic downtown on Market Street, this location, previously used as an electric repair and retail store, has been reimagined as an expansive, industrial open-floor environment designed to nurture creative ideas. Locating our office in Inglewood embodies our vision for the local community, signaling the potential for growth and a strong sense of community.
Market Street Art Installation
COMPLETED
Our journey brings us back to where we started, the AERO COLLECTIVE office, for one of our most meaningful and memorable projects to date. For context, the housing shortage crisis has cast a long shadow over Los Angeles, driving up rent and land prices and leaving a growing population of displaced individuals.
We addressed this matter through the medium of art. Our debut exhibition took the form of blue cardboard model houses cascading down the facade of our office, like cascading raindrops, weaving a narrative that linked our hope for rain in drought-prone Southern California to the housing crisis. While the exhibition has long since passed, you can still enjoy photos of it.
The Miracle Theater
COMPLETED
Since its construction in 1937, the Miracle Theater has gone by many names and has served many purposes, including as a church, a movie theater and a cultural center. Located just across the street from our office, we’re lucky enough to get to see this beautiful historic building every day. In 2016, we were tasked with helping to transform it into one of the top live music venues in the South Bay. We modernized concessions, preserved the exterior facade and added sidewalk dining at the entrance to allow concert-goers to congregate before and after shows, as well as when the theater isn’t hosting a show, filling the street with activity.
244 S Market Street
IN PROGRESS
This existing mid-century commercial building spread across a generous 11,000 square foot lot, was our canvas for transformation. This structure was initially divided into three separate storefronts, and we were entrusted with the task of studying updates to the exterior design. Our goal was to create an aesthetic that not only attracted potential tenants but also met the stringent criteria of the city's architectural design review process.
The Dime
IN PROGRESS
We’re headed back to historic Market Street for The Dime: a classic neighborhood cocktail lounge that is perfect for anyone and any occasion. With this design, we used traditional materials, including brick and steel, to provide a classic and stylish interior. The interior compliments the atmosphere of downtown Inglewood and activates the street, adding to the vitality of downtown. We recommend heading up to the rooftop bar to take in the gorgeous city views.
Inglewood Swap Meet Study
COMPLETED
As we continue our stroll, we come across a site that has had a remarkable transformation. This site was originally a mid-century JCPenney department store, gracing the stretch between La Brea and Market Street, and at one time presented itself as a grand 2-3 story retail establishment. Today, it bears witness to a vibrant metamorphosis, where it houses a bustling swap meet with numerous vendors occupying a single floor. The study involved exploring ways the vast 60,000 square feet could be ingeniously repurposed into a diverse array of smaller, more functional spaces. From the inception of a lively food court to the creation of dynamic creative offices and intimate hospitality areas, this iconic structure is still waiting for its next chapter to begin while preserving the essence of its historical footprint.
Inglewood Chamber of Commerce
IN PROGRESS
Now, we make our way to the office of an organization that is close to our hearts. As members of the local Chamber of Commerce for a number of years, with one AERO partner sitting on the board as well, we jumped at the chance to provide our design services pro bono to guide the renovation of their 1948 office building.
We designed spaces for the community to gather while maintaining the historic elements of the existing building. A new front entrance and elevation accommodate ADA access while inserting a large glass storefront opens the Chamber to the community it serves. In the front half of the building, the original wood truss ceilings are exposed to create a grand entrance for the public, along with a number of new skylights to allow natural light to flood in. Ultimately, the Chamber’s office serves as a hub for business community members to meet and share ideas.
Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen Inglewood
COMPLETED
Our next stop takes us to an award-winning coffee shop located adjacent to Inglewood City Hall and Stevie Wonder’s radio station, KJLH. What now serves as a place for gathering, communal work and connecting over a cup of coffee used to be one of Inglewood’s first bank buildings. During the renovation, we found a way to pay homage to the building’s historical significance and preserve and showcase the original bank vault door. Today, the space is centered around a communal coffee bar that encourages all people to come together and connect. The Inglewood spot was opened as Hilltop’s second location and counts Issa Rae from HBO's Insecure among its contributors.
213 S La Brea Urgent Care
IN PROGRESS
In our ongoing exploration of Inglewood, our next destination is a mid-century retail building with immense potential. Spanning an impressive 7,500sf across three lots, this space is set to undergo a remarkable metamorphosis into a modern medical office complex. Our vision includes three commercial units, all seamlessly connected via a central corridor.
But we're not just stopping at functional spaces – this project will feature cutting-edge amenities such as EV chargers and solar panels, amplifying our commitment to sustainability. With natural daylighting gracing every tenant space, we are designing a vibrant and eco-conscious environment. This future urgent care center is poised to deliver essential medical services to the community, blending style and sustainability in perfect harmony.
2020 IGAP Submission - MLK Bench
COMPLETED
Here is a project that beautifully marries two of our passions: art and social justice. With our submission for the 2020 Inglewood Growing Artists Projects (IGAP), our goal was to amplify the profound words of Dr. Martin Luther King. Conceived for Inglewood's annual MLK street fair, our IGAP submission was designed as a powerful public intervention that took the form of street furniture, with ten meticulously crafted powder-coated steel seats bearing poignant quotes from Dr. King.
These quotes underscored the transformative potential that arises when individuals unite to enhance the common good. The seats were strategically positioned into four distinct groupings, each situated on different blocks along Market Street, converging around mid-block pedestrian crossings.
123 S Cedar Street
IN PROGRESS
This 42-unit infill apartment building utilizes a state density bonus with five units set aside as affordable. The building will feature a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments. The contemporary design is highlighted with a dynamic building form wrapped in a metal skin.
Residency Art Gallery at Hollywood Park
COMPLETED
The art scene in Inglewood is vibrant and diverse, and it's one of the many reasons we love it here. When we were approached by our longtime neighbors, Residency Art Gallery, to design a new location for them in a new development, we were thrilled. This South Central Los Angeles contemporary art gallery has established its brand in Inglewood's historic downtown, and we were responsible for translating that brand to this new location.
We kept the 800sf buildout to a minimum, creating a flexible open space that will serve as the perfect background for any of the exciting shows they bring to this new gallery space for the community in the future. We’re excited to see how Residency Art Gallery continues to enrich the artistic landscape of this dynamic city.
401 S. Prairie Headquarters
SOLD
This next office building project brings us to the heart of Inglewood's bustling entertainment hub. Situated at a prime intersection in the city, this project involves the transformation of the former headquarters of the late Lakers owner, Jerry Buss. To the west lies the historic downtown, alongside a vibrant new entertainment zone featuring iconic venues such as the L.A. Forum, Sofi Stadium, YouTube Theater, the NFL network's headquarters, Hollywood Park Casino and the future home of the Clippers Stadium.
An intriguing aspect of this project is the upcoming Inglewood Transit Connector, set to make a dramatic 90-degree turn around the site, just 40 feet in the air. Our architectural approach rejuvenated the building's facade, introducing a contemporary aesthetic and maximizing natural light within. Notably, we added a distinctive "crown" to the structure, adorned with signage visible to those passing by on trains, ensuring this dynamic location is a standout landmark in the heart of Inglewood's entertainment scene.
Inglewood Community Center
IN PROGRESS
Imagine, if you will, an empty retail store that was constructed in 1938 in the heart of council district #3. It was waiting for a second chance at life, and found it as a community center and police substation, providing a safe and accessible place for local community members to gather.
The most vital element of any community center is making it inviting to the community. We relocated the front door to the corner facing the intersection, allowing ample exterior gathering space in front of the building. We also opened the space onto a back courtyard, giving the community the option to gather indoors or outdoors. With office space and restrooms set aside for the police substation, officers are more connected to the people they serve.
400 Centinela
IN PROGRESS
For this next stop, we are changing course to show you a type of project that is essential to our mission: affordable housing. In collaboration with The Architects Collective, we’ve designed a two-building complex that combines affordable housing with a new headquarters for the Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the education, health and well-being of youth and communities of color. When finished, the complex will include 120 affordable housing units for a mix of family sizes and housing earmarked for people experiencing homelessness.
The beauty of this complex comes from the on-site programming for its future residents. It features an outdoor courtyard, extensive garden space for growing vegetables, fruits, herbs and a large kitchen designed to host cooking and harvesting classes for residents. We crafted the exterior two-story brick colonnade because it is both grounding and timeless. One design feature we’re excited about is the “crown” at the top of the Centinela building, a feature that came out of a community engagement participant’s Lego model. We couldn’t have designed this project without the input from our dedicated and creative Inglewood community members who attended these events.
The Social Justice Learning Institute Headquarters
IN PROGRESS
Inglewood thrives on the commitment of various non-profit organizations, each dedicated to addressing a spectrum of complex social and economic challenges. One such organization, the Social Justice Learning Institute, holds a special place in our hearts. Our close partnership with them is rooted in a shared belief in their mission, which is centered around enhancing the education, health and overall well-being of youth and communities of color. This commitment is not only a testament to the strength of Inglewood's community, but it also exemplifies the positive change that can be achieved when passionate individuals and organizations unite to uplift and empower their neighbors.
We are collaborating with The Architects Collective on the design of the organization's new headquarters. This innovative space will be a part of the 400 Centinela development, the affordable housing complex we explored earlier in our tour. The new headquarters will be a consolidation of multiple offices into one central, dynamic hub. Inside, you'll find a state-of-the-art podcast studio, a richly stocked library, thoughtfully designed meeting rooms and a serene garden space, all geared toward fostering creativity and community engagement. With this new building, the Social Justice Learning Institute will have the capacity to expand its programming, further strengthening its commitment to empowering and uplifting the community it serves.
Drobe Stogies
COMPLETED
We love places that bring people together, and Drobe Stogies does just that. Serving as one of the premiere cigar shops in Inglewood, Drobe provides visitors with a sophisticated environment to gather socially and professionally. AERO was tasked with designing their members-only bar and custom menswear shop. We reenvisioned the facade of the store to accommodate a menswear retail space and allow the cigar shop to engage more directly with the sidewalk. There’s a reason people flock here, no matter what time of day!
Our Tour Draws to a Close
Our tour of Inglewood may have come to an end, but your exploration of the neighborhood doesn’t have to. We highly recommend visiting in person, but we’re a little biased. If you’d like to keep learning about Inglewood and keep tabs on the progress we’re making on the in-progress projects we mentioned, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We’re always posting about Inglewood development news and AERO project updates.