Partake Collective Glassell Park

Los Angeles, CA

About

An Adaptive Reuse Model for Local Food Economies and Community Connection

Quick Facts

Location

Los Angeles, CA

Practice Theme

Building Community + Place

What We Did

Architecture, Landscape

Size

18,600 sq. ft.

Project Details

Partake Collective in Glassell Park transforms a collection of underutilized commercial and industrial buildings into a vibrant culinary hub that supports small, local, and craft food businesses. Building on the success of its first location in Downtown Long Beach, this second outpost brings together a shared kitchen model with inviting public spaces that foster social connection and local entrepreneurship.

Located at the corner of Eagle Rock and Verdugo Boulevards, just northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, the project reactivates a historically significant site within a dynamic and diverse neighborhood. The former streetcar corridor now connects a mix of Craftsman homes, midcentury storefronts, and community-serving businesses.

Partake spans two parcels and repurposes four existing buildings, totaling 18,600 square feet. The program includes 14 kitchens, a communal dining hall, pop-up restaurant space, garden bar, and a marketplace for packaged goods. Outdoor patios, shaded seating, and a flexible event plaza contribute to an active and inclusive streetscape.

Designed to counter the often isolating experience of ghost kitchens, Partake prioritizes daylight, air circulation, and wellness for workers and visitors alike. All buildings are upgraded with skylights, operable windows, and employee amenities including break rooms, lockers, bike storage, and showers. These design features promote dignity in the workplace and a healthier indoor environment.

A commitment to sustainability guided the reuse of the site. Adaptive reuse of the existing structures reduced embodied carbon by over 70% compared to new construction. Fully permeable paving, native plantings, and flow-through planters improve biodiversity and manage stormwater on-site, while helping to mitigate the urban heat island effect.

The architecture celebrates both its industrial past and contemporary function. Exposed heavy timber, brick infill, and concrete block walls create texture and warmth in public spaces. A serrated perforated metal screen at the prominent corner offers a visual anchor for signage and lighting. Site-specific murals and graphic elements designed by local artists strengthen the project’s identity and connect it to the broader arts community.

More than just a culinary destination, Partake Glassell Park is a platform for economic opportunity, sustainable design, and neighborhood vitality, supporting jobs while inviting Angelenos to gather, share, and connect.