In 2019, this 41,000-square-foot retail structure was scheduled for demolition. Howard CDM, a construction, development, and management firm, purchased the property and envisioned converting the retail store’s attic, stock, and mechanical spaces into their new headquarters. The mixed-use development designated The Exchange, has a local co-working facility named Ironfire Workspaces on the existing mezzanine level at the rear of the structure, with a double height event space and soon-to-be maker space for food and drink producers on the ground level. A mezzanine expansion at the front of the building provides private dining with an outdoor patio space visible from Bellflower Boulevard.

The building’s existing concrete board form structure, wood beams, rafters, and red brick infill were maintained and exposed to exemplify the material’s rich texture and quality craftmanship. The rear double wythe brick facade was severely damaged by a previous earthquake resulting in water intrusion and was replaced with concrete masonry units.

The building is certified WELL Platinum and includes a yoga room, company bikes, hanging gardens to enhance air quality, a dedicated wellness room, lockers, and showers. The rear parking lot is lushly landscaped with two dozen shade trees to reduce the heat island effect, and parking stalls have permeable pavers to allow water infiltration, reducing stormwater loads. Through adaptive reuse the buildings embodied carbon was reduced by 60%.

This public/private venture includes street improvements that Studio One Eleven helped secure through a California Department of Transportation Grant. Improvements comprise traffic calming measures consisting of new landscaped medians, street trees, and bicycle lanes that support economic vitality in the neighborhood. These developments have spurred additional investment in the area and ensured Bellflower Boulevard’s relevance for the next century.