Arch Tour Fest: Synapse at 8888 Washington

Photo Credit: HANA (Agency), Paul Vu (Photographer)

Arch Tour Fest: Synapse at 8888 Washington @ 11 am

Additional information regarding the tour and check-in process will be emailed directly to registrants 24 hours before the event.

Synapse embodies a biomorphic design, representing rapid electro-chemical signaling in neural networks. Its exterior membrane integrates angular geometry, employing custom molded, glass fiber-reinforced panels. These panels, serving as a rain screen system, gain structural support from vertical curtain wall members and building floor slabs.

The cantilevered structure offers both shading for the new seating area and alignment with Culver City’s public space enhancement initiative. Stakeholder-informed features, such as widened sidewalks and recessed glass storefronts, actively promote community engagement.

The building’s environmental impact is minimized through solar power adoption and an advanced mechanical system with variable refrigerant volume (VRV) technology, ensuring energy-efficient climate control. Dual-pane, low emissivity glazing further heightens energy performance.

Synapse boasts a 3-level mechanical automated parking system, capable of swiftly retrieving cars in as little as 65 seconds. This Automated Parking Management (APM) solution efficiently relocates vehicles within the structure, while maintaining a positive user experience and avoiding additional carbon emissions.

Tour Led By: Bjorn Schrader, Dipl-Ing, LEED AP BD+C, Partner, Abramson Architects

Over the past two decades, Björn has honed his modernist approach to architecture while practicing in Germany and the United States. He is a compulsive problem solver who prefers to be challenged, striving to find the solution to seemingly unsolvable questions. For Abramson Architects, Björn manages the project team that handles commercial ground-up buildings, tenant improvements, and medical offices. Some of his recent notable work includes Culver City’s 220,000 square foot PLATFORM mixed-used design district, Cedars-Sinai Health System’s new Los Feliz Medical Center, and over a quarter million square feet of tenant improvement projects for a single (confidential) cutting-edge technology company.

Building Credits:

Architect:  Abramson Architects

Parking Info:

8888 Washington: Valet Parking Available, $15

8850 Washington Blvd: Self-Parking, Ranges from $2-3 per Hour depending on length of stay

Learning Objectives: Submitted for Approval

1.      Learn how Synapse’s Fully Automated Parking Management (APM) System seamlessly integrates with architectural design principles to optimize parking space allocation and significantly reduce CO2 emissions while enhancing user safety on the narrow site.

2.      Hear firsthand about the complex design coordination required to create Synapse’s glossy white exterior membrane, made from molded glass fiber reinforced panels. Gain a deeper understanding of this unique façade and hear about the challenges surmounted in creating the complex curtain wall configurations required to maintain the design intent.

3.      Discover how Synapse’s lighting design strategy goes beyond aesthetics to harness natural light effectively. Explore how the design achieves 100% daylight utilization through shallow floor plates, benefiting both energy savings and occupants’ well-being.

4.    Explore the challenges surrounding the green roof, including considerations for locating irrigation systems on top of the building, the additional impacts on waterproofing, and managing stormwater runoff.