A new creative campus, The Lighthouse, has officially been completed in Venice, California. The project was delivered by construction manager JTM Construction Group, Inc. The campus is designed as a collaborative hub for creators and creative professionals.
The Lighthouse: A New Creative Hub in Venice
JTM Construction Group, Inc. has announced the completion of its creative campus, The Lighthouse. The first-of-its-kind campus in Venice, California, is an adaptive reuse project of the historic 1939 Venice Post Office. JTM Construction Group worked closely with owner and developer Allied Commercial on the project.
The Lighthouse is part of Whalar Group’s global creator platform, offering dedicated production and collaboration space. Interior design was led by Warkentin Associates, with historic preservation consulting by Chattel, Inc.
The project recently earned a CoreNet Global Southern California REmmy Award for Innovative Workplace in the under-50,000-square-foot category. In addition to The Lighthouse, JTM CGI has completed several notable hospitality projects. This includes the NeueHouse Venice Beach, Soho House West Hollywood, and San Vicente Santa Monica.
Adaptive Reuse of a Historic Post Office
The project involved the adaptive reuse of the historic Venice Post Office, originally built in 1939. However, to ensure that the historic building retains its character during the modernization process, JTM CGI oversaw the process. Both the core and shell restoration and the tenant improvement phase were managed by JTM CGI.
“We enjoyed working with Allied Commercial, Warkentin Associates, and the rest of the project team on The Lighthouse; it was wonderful to be able to prepare the post office for a new use while respecting its historic architecture,” said Ron Senso, superintendent at JTM CGI, who oversaw the project.
The work also included a full facade restoration, replication of historic metalwork, and the recreation of the original lobby. This was done using archival photos and historically sourced materials. This way, the original Mediterranean Revival style designed by Louis Simon was maintained.
In addition, the 1941 Edward Biberman mural, “Abbot Kinney and the Story of Venice,” was reinstalled. This way, the building’s original architectural beauty was brought back to life.
Features of The Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is located at 1601 Main Street in Venice, California, just one block from the Venice Beach boardwalk. Spread across 31,282 square feet, the campus features several private studios, workspaces, and more. It also features a raised ground floor, a lower ground floor level, and expansive exterior space.
More than 23,000 square feet of interior space is dedicated to content production facilities. The campus supports filming, editing, podcasting, and other creative production needs. Meanwhile, the amenities include a 50-person theater, a cafe, event spaces, conference rooms, meeting areas, and an outdoor quad.
The art installations in the property support campus life and bespoke programming. The project balances historic preservation with a modern vision for creative collaboration.
