Not A Tower

The project by Studio Pei reimagines a vacant half-acre site at 5800 S Figueroa St, LA—once LADWP's Figueroa Pump Station. Amid rising wildfire risk in the Wildland-Urban Interface, Not A Tower acts as a regional mitigation node, rather than an isolated landmark. Water tubes link it to nearby residences and fire stations: in summer it stores water for trucks and helicopters; in winter/spring, water storage volumes convert into a community gym and pool. Built from fire-resistant mycelium blocks with champagne-colored aluminum and clear glass, its facade shifts color ranges and texture over time—a living envelope responding to its ecosystem.