Harbor View House
Client
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Hillcrest Company
Area
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San Pedro
Status
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Complete
Type
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Mixed Use, Housing, Restaurant/Bar & Event Space
Harbor House is a five story Mediterranean Revival landmark overlooking the Main Harbor Channel in San Pedro. Originally built in 1926 as the Army & Navy YMCA, the building has long served as a place of refuge, gathering, and community. Omgivning was tasked with leading the architectural vision for the adaptive reuse of the historic structure, transforming it into a mixed-use residential and community destination anchored by thoughtfully restored and newly activated spaces including the Harbor House Athletic Club, The Majestic—a public-facing restaurant and bar—and a new outdoor pool overlooking the working waterfront.
The project introduces 100 residential units, including 10 affordable units, alongside amenities designed to serve both residents and the broader community. Through careful preservation and contemporary interventions, Harbor House reconnects living, wellness, culture, and public life—honoring the building’s past while supporting its next chapter on the San Pedro waterfront.
History
Constructed in 1926 and designed by Jay, Rogers & Stevenson Architects, Harbor House was built as the Army & Navy YMCA to support service members stationed at the Port of Los Angeles. The building provided dormitories, a gym, pool, library, and communal gathering spaces, becoming a vital social and recreational hub during the interwar period and World War II.
Beyond its daily functions, Harbor House also played a role in San Pedro’s cultural life. During its YMCA years, the building’s gathering spaces hosted performances and morale boosting events, with entertainers such as Bob Hope and Lucille Ball reportedly appearing for service members passing through the port—embedding the building in both the military and cultural history of the waterfront.
In the 1940s, the building transitioned to civilian use, first serving as temporary housing for unhoused residents and later operating as an institutional retirement home. In 1982, Harbor House was designated a City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument (#252). Despite this designation, deferred maintenance and functional alterations left the building vulnerable, setting the stage for a careful and intentional reinvention rooted in preservation and adaptive reuse.
Design
Our design approach treated adaptive reuse as an act of storytelling—uncovering the building’s original intent while layering in contemporary needs. Harbor House was reimagined as a vibrant mixed-use community, balancing preservation, livability, and long-term flexibility.
Residential layouts were carefully planned to maximize natural light and functionality within the historic framework. Former double-loaded corridors were transformed into long, window-lit units through strategic planning, skylights, and light courts. Historic spaces—including the grand lobby—were restored and celebrated, retaining original tilework, fixtures, and proportions that anchor the building’s identity.
The addition of a second courtyard doubles the available open space and introduces landscaped gathering areas that support daily use and community connection. Public access to the lobby, courtyard, The Harbor House Athletic Club, The Majestic, and the new outdoor pool restores the building’s role as a place of shared experience along the San Pedro waterfront.
Challenges & Opportunities
Decades of adaptive use presented significant architectural and technical challenges. Many original features had been obscured or removed, and the building required a comprehensive seismic retrofit to address its non-ductile concrete structure. Integrating modern systems while preserving historic fabric demanded extensive research, coordination, and precision.
Programmatically, the original YMCA dormitories were narrow and inward-facing, requiring thoughtful reconfiguration to meet contemporary housing standards. These constraints became opportunities—allowing daylight, circulation, and spatial efficiency to drive new residential layouts without compromising historic integrity.
Equally important was balancing public and private use. Once a civic hub, Harbor House had grown insular over time. The design carefully re-opened the building to the neighborhood, creating welcoming public amenities while maintaining resident privacy. The result is a building that feels grounded, functional, and generous—honoring its past while supporting an active, community-oriented future.
Awards
Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award – Winner
California Preservation Design Award – Rehabilitation – Winner
SEAOSC / SEAOSK Engineering Award – Winner
Project Team
Architect: Omgivning
Photography: Stephen Schauer
Omgivning’s Role
Omgivning provided architectural services for the adaptive reuse of Harbor House, leading the transformation of a historic Army & Navy YMCA into a mixed-use residential and community-serving landmark. Our work balanced preservation, livability, and public engagement—ensuring the building’s history remains present while supporting its next chapter.
Project Team
Architect: Omgivning
Photography: Stephen Schauer
