The Psychic Temple, also known as the American Hotel, the second oldest commercial building in Long Beach, and holds a rich and mysterious history. Previously abandoned and then owned by the City of Long Beach, the hotel was sold to Temple Creative Realty, LLC. for $1 on the conditions it be seismically reinforced and made once-again habitable. Beginning in 2010, JR van Dijs, Inc. worked with the new property owners to apply for and receive grants to complete facade restoration work, and to begin preparation for a full-service adaptive reuse project. Work on the building began in 2012 and included a complete seismic retrofit, removal of later building alterations, restoration of the building’s original wood windows,, facade elements, and sidewalk, and a full frame buildout of interior office space on three stories and in the building’s basement. The completion of the Core & Shell of this significant building has allowed for progressive tenant improvements and interior design which are sure to create a game-changing creative office space in Downtown Long Beach.
 

Property characteristics
-Built in 1905
-Romanesque Revival Style
-Unreinforced Masonry Construction
-Locally-Designated Historic Landmark
-Prior Uses: Religious Use (Named: The Psychic Temple of the Holy Kiss), Mixed-Use with Retail and Hotel/Motel (Named: The American Hotel)

Formerly known as The Blue Cafe, 210 The Promenade N underwent an extensive restoration that brought back to life one of the most architectural significant Streamline Moderne buildings in Long Beach. 

The facade restoration included the removal of a non-original second-story central bay awning window replacing it with three casement windows, and the reconstruction/replastering of all removed or damaged Art Deco character-defining features. Such as the projecting fins from the casement windows, the tiered setback of the uppermost level, the horizontal grooves, the pilasters bordering the street-level storefront windows and the corbel connecting a casement window to the main entrance. New paint and exterior lighting was also added to enhance every single architectural detail of the facade at night. 

Property Characteristics
- Built in the 1910s
- Remodeled in 1933 Art Deco Streamline Moderne Style by Schilling and Schilling
- Locally-Designated Historical Landmark
- Prior Uses: Barker Bros Annex, Blue Cafe Night Club

PHOTOGRAPHER: J. Christopher Launi

The Art Theatre of Long Beach is an Art Deco gem, and as the last-remaining single house movie theater in the city, it plays an important role in the community. In 2009 JR van Dijs, Inc. completed a full rehabilitation on the Art Theatre, including signage improvements, concession stand improvements and redesign, and movie goer experience improvements including new fire-safe curtains and the restoration of art deco details on the interior.

Since its rehabilitation, the Art Theatre has converted to a nonprofit organization and has enlisted the help of its donating members to convert to a digital projector. With their new facility they have been able to remain relevant while maintaining their historical significance within the City of Long Beach and surrounding areas.

Property characteristics

-Built in 1924
-Art Deco Style
-Concrete and Masonry Construction
-Locally-Designated Historic Landmark

The Edison Building located at 100 Long Beach Boulevard was originally designed by Kenneth S. Wing, who is today regarded as one of Long Beach’s greatest architects. The building, first constructed in the 1950s, represents Wing’s signature curtain wall style with dynamic curves, industrial materials, and unique integration of light. 

Working with The Kor Group and Ratkovich Development, JR van Dijs, Inc. is acting as construction manager on a project to convert this once-abandoned office building to over 150 urban lofts. The building, located on the northeast corner of 1st Street and Long Beach Boulevard, will reactivate a once-thriving corner of Downtown and unify the East Village Arts District and the Downtown commerce community. 

With retail space on the ground floor and the addition of rooftop penthouses, this project is sure to play an important role in the future of the city.

Property characteristics
-Built in 1959
-Designed by Kenneth S. Wing
-Mid-Century Modern Style
-Concrete, Glass, and Metal Construction

Temple Israel is an important institutional building in the Long Beach community. In 2010 JR van Dijs, Inc. was contracted to perform general construction services on the building, bringing many inefficient aspects of the building to a current standard of expectation. JR van Dijs. completed a full redesign of the existing space while retaining original architectural elements that may be considered historically significant in the future. 

Primary project elements included a custom-fabricated ceiling in the temple sanctuary, retention of an original mosaic mural and mid-century roof details on the building exterior, and the reframing and integration of original stained-glass windows in communal interior spaces. 

Property characteristics
-Built in 1945
-Mid Century Modern Style with Googie Elements
-Concrete and Masonry Construction
-Building Use: Institutional

The buildings located at 425-441 E 4th Street in Long Beach were originally a mixed-use development, and were adaptively-reused to become a creative multi-unit office building known as the East Village Creative Offices. Directly on the corner of 4th & Linden is long-time local business Lyon Art Supply. 

This project included collaboration with local architectural studio, Studio One-Eleven. This project entailed a full-scale rehabilitation on the existing building, and included exciting historical elements like the discovery and integration of Egyptian Revival motifs on the street-facing facade of the property at 425 E 4th Street. 

Today 425 E 4th Street includes four individual office spaces housing a total of nine companies. One of the building’s units also contains a residential living area upstairs.

 

Property characteristics
-Concrete and Unreinforced Masonry Construction
-Adaptively-reused from existing retail space to mixed-use    office/commercial/residential

Formerly the home of Lyon Art Supply, the building located at 420 E 4th Street was not being utilized to its full potential. As part of a neighborhood initiative, the Art Supply store relocated to a more suitably-sized storefront on the northwest corner of 4th & Linden. This allowed for their former space to be adaptively-reused into a mixed-use restaurant/retail space to house Long Beach favorites Berlin Bistro by Portfolio Coffeehouse and Fingerprints Records.

This project included collaboration with local architects at Interstices Architecture. In addition to completing a full rehabilitation of the building, JR van Dijs, Inc. helped the new occupants take advantage of City of Long Beach incentives in regards to signage and exterior improvements.

Property characteristics
-Concrete and Unreinforced Masonry Construction
-Adaptively-reused from existing retail space to mixed-use retail and restaurant
-JR van Dijs, Inc. also completed the addition of a restaurant parklet in front of the building in late 2010
 

In 2009, JR van Dijs, Inc. worked with subcontractors to complete an exterior rehabiilitation of the historical Lafayette Hotel in Downtown Long Beach. The hotel is now a residential building, and has a significant place in Long Beach History. In 1948 the original hotel was joined to its neighboring building and was complimented with lobby renovations by renown architect Hugh Gibbs. When our project began, the two buildings were in a state of disrepair in regards to the exterior. Project elements included completion of a conditions survey at the beginning of the project, and the coordination of painting throughout both buildings and identifying areas of interest for structural concerns and repairs. On this project, JR van Dijs, Inc. worked with a Home Owner’s Association to suggest regulations and complete resident requests.

Property characteristics
-Built in 1929, joined in 1948
-Spanish Baroque, Art Deco, and International Styles
-Originally designed by Parker O. Wright and Francis Genry, and Schilling and Schilling
-1948 designs were by Ted Criley and Hugh Gibbs
-Locally-Designated Historic Landmark

JR van Dijs, Inc. has been enlisted as the construction manager in the adaptive reuse of two commercial buildings on the corner of 3rd Street & Long Beach Boulevard in Downtown Long Beach. These two buildings, which previously were not used to their full potential, will be reactivated with new tenants and commercial spaces within. 

These projects have consisted of obtaining all permits from the City of Long Beach, performing Core & Shell general construction processes, working with general contractors on future Tenant Improvements, and orchestrating the adaptive reuse of these buildings with promising future tenants that will revitalize downtown with their businesses.

The project, which has received local attention and recognition, will include Beachwood Barbecue and Brew House, a juice bar for Rainbow Juice company, an event venue Howl, and a retail location for Yellow 108. All locally owned and operated.

Property characteristics
-Prior Uses: Furniture Store, Check Cashing Building, 2nd Story Residential
-Proposed Use: Restaurant, Juice Bar, retail, and creative office environment
-Wood and Masonry Construction
-Creation of a unified outdoor courtyard to be shared among all businesses and neighbors, accessible to the public

The Long Beach Ronald McDonald House hired JR van Dijs, Inc. to work with general contractors and multiple subcontractors to convert an existing apartment building into a short-term residential location for families with children suffering from chronic illness. By the end of the project the Ronald McDonald house had a large and accommodating space for its visitors, including community rooms, play rooms for children, meeting rooms for staff, a dining hall and kitchen, and several bedrooms. On this project, JR van Dijs, Inc. also provided FF&E services.

Property characteristics
-Built in 1963
-Project Completed in 2011

JR van Dijs, Inc. helped to bring life back to the Arts Building, which had lost some of its historical elements and had been previously neglected. Acting as a general contractor, our company completed a full renovation of the building while respecting its character-defining features. After its completion, The Arts Building became occupied by American Career College and is now used as an educational institution.

In 2012 JR van Dijs, Inc. was honored to see The Arts Building receive the 2011 Annual Preservation Award from Long Beach Heritage for its respectful rehabilitation.

Property characteristics
-Built in 1933
-Art Deco Style with Egyptian and Churrigueresque Influence
-Concrete and Masonry Construction
-Prior Uses: Newspaper Headquarters, Educational Space, Office Space 

Douglas Park  is comprised of 2 3-story concrete tilt-up medical office buildings. Both of the 38,000 square foot buildings include 2 usable stories over podium parking with enhanced architectural finishes.

The building is part of a two building medical office park that has a shared amenity space and a reciprocal access agreement to create a parking ratio of approximately 5 per 1000 square feet of usable building square footage.

The project is part of the former Boeing plant in Long Beach and required complex coordination of entitlements and special land use restriction compliance.

In addition to the design and construction of the core and warm shell building, Urbana Development coordinated the tenant improvements for full floor surgery center and two large medical office tenants. The project was designed by Ware Malcomb Architects and built by Mille & Severson General Contractors.

Metropolitan Stevedore's new corporate office will be a 40,000 square foot concrete tilt-up located in Douglas Park, Long Beach.

It features enhanced architectural elements and has an exterior amenity area designed for employees and corporate events.

In addition, the parking lot will include solar covered parking stalls designed to generate over 385,000 kWh per year. The parking area will also include electric car charging stations for employees.

The building is being designed to a LEED Silver standard and reflects the company's strong commitment to the environment and green initiatives.

The project is being designed by DRA Architects. Build completion is schedule for late 2015.

Temple Beth El is one of the oldest synagogues in Los Angeles. In 2014, JR van Dijs, Inc. was asked to provide comprehensive construction management services through the duration of the very recently completed project.

Major project elements included a new façade, rebuilt main entry and lobby area, new social hall layout and finishes, a new grand stairway, complete facility landscaping, new finishes throughout the sanctuary office and classrooms, and significant code required upgrades throughout.

The focus of the project was to reorganize the campus to enhance the connectively of different functions which are currently isolated from one another. 

We worked with the client to select the architect and create a comprehensive design brief that guided the project from conception to occupancy.
This ultimate design included creating a new entry sequence with a “porch” and large “living room” area. These new areas serve to tie the main sanctuary building to the extensive exterior “front yard” lawn and provide a vibrant hub for the congregation to gather.

The sanctuary and social hall were completely remodeled and a new administrative building was added.

The existing school courtyard was opened to the Temple to create visibility and greater functionality.

The jewel of the project was a intimate chapel and mediation garden.

In addition to Construction Management services, our Salvage Division offers custom designed, hand-crafted furniture that is tailored specifically to individual space and use needs. 

CUSTOM DESIGN-BUILD PARKLETS LONG BEACH
We custom design-build parklets from start to finish including all required permits.

Please contact our Salvage Division at 562-436-5200 for inquiries for a permanent parklet for your storefront or restaurant.

-Berlin Bistro: 420 E 4th StreetPine

-Hamburger Mary's: 330 Pine Ave. 

-Groundworks Fitness: 333 Pine Ave.

-Lola's Mexican Cuisine: 2030 E 4th Street

- Lola’s Mexican Cuisine: 4140 Atlantic Ave.

-Pie Bar: 450 Pine

-Ellies: 204 Orange Ave.

-Buonos: 401 W Willow St.

-Social List: 2105 E 4th

-Taste/Olives Gourmet: 3506 E Broadway

-25MPH Parklet: 145 E 4th Street

-Wide Eyes Open Palms: 416 Cherry

-Gusto Bread Bakery: 2710 E 4th Street

Photographer: Cody James