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Repurposing an Abandoned Church into Affordable Housing 1080 602 Alexxis Plata

Repurposing an Abandoned Church into Affordable Housing

Transforming Oakland’s Abandoned Church into Affordable Housing

Historical Preservation as a Work of Art

Transforming Oakland’s Abandoned Church into Affordable Housing

Historical Preservation as a Work of Art

Originally built in 1892, the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church of Oakland sat vacant and unused for over seven years. In 2022, Detra Harris, Principal and Developer at Strive Real Estate, stepped in to transform the location into an adaptive reuse of affordable housing. At the beginning of the process, Precision Property Measurements was hired to measure and model over 17,000 square feet of the building to make this remodel possible.

Scope of Work

  • Revit Model
  • Floor Plan
  • Roof Plan
  • Electrical Plan
  • Exterior Elevations
  • Interior Elevation

A Century of History to Preserve

The church originally housed many of the homeless who needed shelter after the 1901 San Francisco earthquake. This was the perfect project for Detra, as she was particularly targeting opportunities that could bring affordable housing to homeless seniors in Oakland. To pay further respects to the rich history, Detra adopted “Brooklyn” from the original name of the church and used it in the new name. This program and building is

The church originally housed many of the homeless who needed shelter after the 1901 San Francisco earthquake. This was the perfect project for Detra, as she was particularly targeting opportunities that could bring affordable housing to homeless seniors in Oakland. To pay further respects to the rich history, Detra adopted “Brooklyn” from the original name of the church and used it in the new name. This program and building is now called Brooklyn Arms Apartments. The outstanding history of this church remains preserved through the remodel. Because the city made restoring the original designs of the building a requirement, the architect for this project required As-Builts to revert modifications that were made over the century.

now called Brooklyn Arms Apartments. The outstanding history of this church remains preserved through the remodel. Because the city made restoring the original designs of the building a requirement, the architect for this project required As-Builts to revert modifications that were made over the century.

Refreshing the Layout With a New Purpose

The developer discovered a large open space in the original plans (pictured left). This space was used for the head offices in the original build. This finding benefited their project as they proposed studio spaces in that large space. They received pushback from the city, but because the original drawings had divided that space into small rooms, they were able to bring back the style of the 1800’s in favor of their entitlements. The As-Built plans helped them get their design approved with the city.

“We received three bids and selected PPM based on the cost, response time, and communication. We can’t say we got that from all of the companies we asked for proposals. PPM was able to meet our timeline with expedited turnaround.”

– Detra Harris , Principal and Developer at Strive Real Estate

17,000 Square Feet Surveyed in One Day

This property was large and had varying pitches for different sections of the building. Our surveyors used the GeoSLAM Zeb Horizon scanner for this project because it was the best scanner to reach the heights needing to be measured while ensuring accuracy. To accommodate the building, our surveyors scanned each space and the entire exterior to capture as much data as possible. The work was split up between three people: one person scanned the main sections of the building, one person scanned the more difficult areas, and person one photographed the building. Splitting up the work helped each surveyor focus on one task and complete the data capture all in one day.

The most unique parts of this property to survey were the attic spaces. The pitch of the roof was far too steep to walk along, so they had to capture data from inside of the attic. Ultimately, our surveyors agreed the historical detail of the building was exquisite inside and out.

The Challenge of Modeling 180° of Slope Variations

One of our BIM modelers, Pyra Pao, modeled this project in Revit. Everything about this property was intricate. From the interior decor to the support posts, seating bleachers, and the facade of the building – everything was unique.

The most significant challenge Pyra experienced was modeling the structure of the upper seating bleachers in the main sanctuary. The structure wrapped about 180° of the room with a narrow slope connecting to the walls then expanded as it reaches the center. The slope alternated between different angles before returning back to its mirroring side. The solution to this challenge was to use duplication in the extrusion along with the sweep command to save time on the facade of the building and satisfy our client’s delivery timeline.

"What I enjoyed the most about this project was modeling the organ located in the main sanctuary. I’m very proud of myself for nailing the details and how awesome it looks on the stage."

- Pyra Pao, PPM Production Drafter

A Closing Statement - Remodeling Is an Art

Alongside providing a home to many elderly in Oakland, this building is considered public art. You can find this property on the national registry for historical projects. Brooklyn Arms Apartments has one of the largest stained glass arts in Northern California from restorations during the development. Strive Real Estate and Detra Harris are proud to bring public art to their communities under a duo umbrella with affordable housing, and our team at Precision Property Measurements is honored to have provided accurate As-Built plans for such a beautiful redevelopment project.

To learn more about Detra and her work at Strive Real Estate, visit https://striverealestate.net/.

A Modern Redondo Beach Dream House Remodel 1080 602 Alexxis Plata

A Modern Redondo Beach Dream House Remodel

As-Built Plans for a Modern Redondo Beach Remodel

Unlocking the Blueprint of Precision

As-Built Plans for a Modern Redondo Beach Remodel

Unlocking the Blueprint of Precision

When embarking on a remodel project, it’s essential to lay a solid foundation for meticulous planning with accurate building measurement data. As-Built plans serve as the cornerstone, providing architects and developers with the necessary details to bring their visions to life. In this showcase, we delve into a project that highlights the significance of As-Built plans, as shared by three key contributors: the client, PPM’s Quality Assurance Specialist, and PPM’s As-Built Surveyor.

Client’s Vision: Building Their Dream Home

For our client, architect Bryan Winters, the journey began with a homeowner’s dream – the dream of transforming their tired existing home into a modern marvel in Redondo Beach, California. Years of hard-earned savings culminated in the homeowner’s decision to embark on this ambitious project. The question that arose was, “What sparked your interest in taking on this project with the homeowner?” According to Bryan, he was drawn to the project by the unique collaboration opportunity. His clients, who happen to be custom furniture designers and fabricators, shared a common vision of creativity and precision. This alignment of creative minds set the stage for what would become a remarkable venture.

  • Floor Plan
  • Roof Plan
  • Exterior Elevations
  • Sections
  • Still Photos

The Role of As-Built Plans: A Custom Blueprint for Success

To turn a dream into reality, precise and comprehensive As-Built plans are indispensable. Bryan believes that the foundation of any large-scale remodel project hinges on two crucial elements: an accurate site survey and a well-documented set of As-Built plans. With this knowledge, he chose to work with professionals who could deliver with precision. His confidence in the expertise of Precision Property Measurements was unwavering.

"Both these pieces of information (an accurate site survey and a well-documented set of As-Built plans) need to be spot on and accurate, or else ours won't be. That's why I trust PPM."

- Bryan Winters, Owner + Architect at humnlab + architecture /

LiDAR Laser Scanner: Capturing the Essence of the Property

To capture the essence of the property, the surveyor plays a pivotal role. They are responsible for gathering data with absolute precision, often utilizing advanced LiDAR technology to create an accurate representation of the property in a point cloud. The choice of equipment is paramount, and in this instance, the surveyor explained their decision.

"For this project, I used the Leica BLK2GO for my scan. The scan provides most of the information needed for most of the plan types we offer in a more accurate way than I can do by hand."

- PPM Quality Assurance Specialist

Surveying the property unveiled unique aspects of the building that set it apart from the rest. It had an interesting spiral staircase to a full basement with storm doors. This is not a common sight in California, so the surveyor was impressed by this diverse feature.

However, unique properties often come with their own sets of challenges. In this case, the challenges were met head on. The surveyor elaborated, “The basement was a tight fit with the scanner, so I had to do multiple scans and merge the scans together while double checking them with check measurements.”

Quality Assurance Specialist: Ensuring Accuracy and Excellence

To confirm the accuracy of As-Built plans before delivery, a rigorous analysis of each plan is performed by a PPM Quality Assurance Specialist. This step plays a pivotal role in avoiding mistakes and delays in the construction phase of a remodel, which can be caused by any incorrect measurements. The Quality Assurance Specialist sets the stage for the architectural vision to come to life with confidence. Their responsibility is to ensure that the drafting of every As-Built plan we deliver is accurate and consistent with the data and measurements collected onsite. We asked the QA Specialist who worked on this project about the most critical aspect of the project to quality check, and the answer was clear: “The roof on this project was very interesting. It was a focal point of the main elevation of the house and thus a key area to get accurate in the drafting process.”

The strategies and techniques employed to guarantee precision are multifaceted. In this case, the specialist shared, “All the survey data was crucial to modeling the property accurately. Making sure the plans align with our point cloud and with the other plan types in the project ensure that we have a top-quality project for the client.” Precision is the name of the game when it comes to data accuracy.

Architecture Creates Forever Homes

In conclusion, this project exemplifies the collaborative efforts of an architect with his clients, in tandem with PPM’s QA Specialist and Surveyor, bringing a dream home to life. As-Built plans are the bedrock in modern remodels, as they help ensure that every detail aligns seamlessly with the project’s vision. With the right blend of expertise, technology, and commitment to excellence, projects like these not only transform spaces but also create lasting impressions of creativity in the world of architecture and design.

To learn more about Bryan Winters and his work at humnlab + architecture /, visit https://humnlab.com/.