Santa Ana Arts Collective

The Santa Ana Arts Collective (SAAC), the first project completed under Santa Ana’s adaptive reuse ordinance, transforms a 1965 international-style office building into 100% affordable live/work housing for artists and creatives.

The redevelopment provides studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom lofts, along with 10 new affordable two- and three-bedroom townhomes, creating a diverse and family-friendly community.

Located at 1666 N. Main Street and walkable to the city’s arts institutions, SAAC supports Santa Ana’s vision for Main Street as a cultural corridor. The project integrates housing, arts programming, and transportation improvements to strengthen neighborhood vitality and expand access to high-quality affordable homes.

The adaptive reuse preserves the building’s architectural character, featuring 13-foot exposed concrete waffle-slab ceilings, polished concrete floors, and restored ribbon windows on all sides that bring abundant natural light into the units. Ground-floor arts spaces—including a gallery, art studios, a dance studio, and music rooms—serve both residents and the broader community. Meta Housing provides on-site supportive services.

New townhomes activate Sycamore Street with front porches, while a former surface parking lot is reimagined as a landscaped courtyard with an orange grove bosque and children’s play area. Existing underground parking connects directly to the lobby, and heritage palm trees are preserved within the front plaza.

Designed to LEED-equivalent standards, the project exceeds energy code requirements by more than 25%. Funding was secured through California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program, pairing affordable housing with transportation and infrastructure investments that promote healthy, connected communities.

Awards:
AIA CA Residential Honor Award (2023)
AIA OC Honor Award (2021)
AIA Long Beach | South Bay Honor Award (2021)