This year was a big year for one of our newest projects. Watts Works has taken home several notable awards and feature publications, living up to its reputation as a small project with a profound purpose.

Architect’s Newspaper Best of Year Award for Social Impact 

Our Watts Works Project has been honored with the prestigious Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Award in the Social Impact Category for 2023! Every year, the Architect’s Newspaper celebrates outstanding architectural projects worldwide, and this year, our project stood out among a record number of entries.

Chris Cooper, one of the esteemed jurors, commended our project, stating, “The modular construction and economy of means embedded in this project appeal to me. This is a unique construction concept that makes room to find some design within.”

Gratitude to the Architect’s Newspaper and the discerning jury for this honor. Thanks to our dedicated team, partners, and supporters.

Metropolis Magazine feature  

Watts Works has been featured in an article by Sam Lubell in Metropolis Magazine, “Are Shipping Containers the Future of Affordable Housing?” According to Lubell, the project is a symbol of the potential for efficient construction methods to reshape the underbuilt affordable housing sector.

“At Watts Works in Los Angeles, Studio One Eleven has discovered the power of modular construction to efficiently fill the housing gap, provided city bureaucracy gets out of the way.”

Read the full article here and join us in celebrating this milestone!

AIA LA Design of Merit Award:

We are honored to announce that Watts Works received an AIA LA Design Award of Merit. The jury commented, “This project stands out as a nice example of affordable housing transformation. Replacing the existing structure with low-income housing it reflects a high impact on social initiative. A commendable experiment in construction and housing at scale.”

Photography by: Paul Vu