Historic Restoration of Pasadena’s I. Magnin & Company Building Revitalizes 475 South Lake Avenue as a Mixed-Use Destination

  

Elise Kunihiro

 

 PASADENA, CA, Sept. 15, 2023 – RDC, an award-winning architecture, planning and interior design firm, is proud to announce the transformation of the historic I. Magnin & Company building.

 

 After a decade of vacancy, the iconic 45,000-square-foot multi-level former department store is now preparing to open as a highly anticipated mixed-use destination featuring a new upscale Erewhon grocery store location, as well as Brella, an app-enabled childcare center, and Tia, an integrated women’s healthcare clinic.

Yuval Chiprut

The building is owned by 475 South Lake Avenue, LLC, an investor consortium led by Yuval Chiprut, also Erewhon’s chief development officer, and has been redeveloped working closely with Long Beach-headquartered architecture firm RDC.

 

“Erewhon’s 10^th store is a special gem,” said Erewhon CEO Tony Antoci, “The Pasadena location brings life to a historical landmark along with Erewhon’s commitment to wellness and culinary excellence.”

Tony Antoci

“The I. Magnin building revitalization offered a special opportunity to blend the architecture of the original 1949 historic landmark with modern functionality,” said Terry Todd, associate principal with RDC. 

 

 “The result is a multi-use destination that resonates with the vibrant character of the South Lake Avenue corridor."

Terry Todd

"Erewhon is continuously thinking about our customer experience and creating stores in places that reflect our core values of healthy food and community,” said Chiprut.

“By repurposing existing space, the redevelopment reduces the environmental impact of new construction,” said Elise Kunihiro, job captain with RDC.

Harold C. Chambers 

“The adaptive re-use of the landmark building aligns with Erewhon’s commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices while maintaining the cultural fabric of the community.”

 The I. Magnin & Company building is named for the iconic I. Magnin luxury department store.  Originally opened in 1949 in the distinctive Late Moderne style by renowned architect Harold C. Chambers and landscape architect Ruth Shellhorn, the building is a significant local cultural touchstone, and the City of Pasadena has designated the building as a historical landmark.

Ruth Shellhorn

The building has also gained Mills Act approval, the most important economic incentive program in California for the restoration and preservation of qualified historic buildings by private property owners, providing property tax relief for owners who actively participate in the restoration and maintenance of their historic properties.

“RDC restored and preserved the building’s original architectural features,” noted Kunihiro. “Replacing the building entry doors with modern aluminum storefront characteristic of Chamber’s design, removing entrance awnings added at a later date, substituting the exterior lights with fixtures resembling the original, and refurbishing the deteriorating original wood framed fixed windows.”

RDC’s Todd added, “Not only did the owners make a considerable investment in reclaiming the historic exterior appearance, but they also rehabilitated the structural integrity by upgrading the entire plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems and replacing the roof to meet modern sustainability goals safeguarding the future longevity of the building.”

 

Charlotte Nobrega

RDC worked in close collaboration on the Erewhon store interiors with architects Humberto and Charlotte Nobrega.  RDC used 3D technology to scan the building, documenting the historic architectural details and technical specifications of its construction

 

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