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The former I. Magnin & Company store at 475 S. Lake Avenue in Pasadena had been vacant for twelve years when Erewhon decided to restore the Late Moderne-style building for their tenth Los Angeles location. Like I. Magnin, Erewhon is a retail innovator, evident from its social media presence, press coverage, and collaborations with celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Balenciaga. Both brands aim for excellence—healthy living for Erewhon, fashion for I. Magnin—and strive to stand out with immersive experiences and architecturally beautiful spaces. RDC was hired to implement the investor consortium's vision of modernizing while respecting history, earning support from City of Pasadena Council Member Jason Lyon.
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The success of the revitalized building can be measured by its vibrancy today. When the Erewhon store opened to the public in September of 2023, a line of shoppers extended around the block hours before the highly anticipated opening. From morning until evening, 475 S. Lake Avenue is now bustling with Erewhon customers, kids and parents dropping off and picking up at Brella, and patients seeking services at Tia.
The former I. Magnin building is an important anchor on South Lake Avenue, that once lay dormant. The dignity that has been restored to the building and the addition of the new grocery, childcare, and health care services have energized this historic business district and adjacent neighborhoods.
The adaptive reuse of the building results in reduced environmental impact compared to new construction and repairs the community's cultural fabric. The reuse of the building structure saves a significant amount of embodied carbon as compared with replacing the building. The building has a few sustainable features, including conformance with current Calgreen requirements (first in the nation mandatory green building standards). The market utilizes a Co2 refrigeration system, which has the lowest Global Warming Potential (GWP) of all current refrigerants. Other sustainable features include mechanical equipment, LED lighting, and a white roof membrane.
Awards: Gold Nugget Award of Merit for Best Rehabilitation Project
Certifications: City of Pasadena Landmark
The former I. Magnin & Company store at 475 S. Lake Avenue in Pasadena had been vacant for twelve years when Erewhon decided to restore the Late Moderne-style building for their tenth Los Angeles location. The project blended the architecture of the 1949 historic building with modern functionality, preserving its original features. Adaptive reuse reduced environmental impact and repaired the community's cultural fabric, adding outdoor amenities and pedestrian-level seating. Erewhon occupies the ground floor, with Brella Childcare and Tia, a women’s clinic on the second floor.
The renovation included overhauling plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems for energy efficiency, replacing the leaking roof with white TPO, and upgrading the electrical system. Delays in electrical equipment delivery required temporary use of the existing service. Challenges included a lack of as-built plans and the building's all-concrete structure, necessitating GPR/X-ray scanning for structural analysis. Utility routing was carefully planned, and emergency egress plans were coordinated with the City of Pasadena, leading to the construction of a new stairway and elevator. Existing elevators were replaced, with clearance issues resolved by reinforcing the concrete walls.
From morning until evening, 475 S. Lake Avenue is now bustling with Erewhon customers, kids and parents dropping off and picking up at Brella, and patients seeking services at Tia.
“Pasadena is a natural fit for Erewhon, Brella and Tia, as is the revitalization of this iconic landmark of the community. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to be the steward of this place.” The adaptive reuse of the I. Magnin building aligns with our vision to contribute to the revitalization of the neighborhood and redevelop the building in an environmentally sustainable way.”
Founded in 1979, RDC is a full-service, award-winning architecture firm dedicated to making everyday places extraordinary. Headquartered in Long Beach, CA, we are a 160+ team with offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington D.C., and Arkansas.
