+Architecture/Mixed Use/Multifamily

Kalonymous

Project Vela

Vision

Anchored between Pacific Beach and La Jolla, just four blocks from the ocean, Project Vela rises as a sculptural response to the Southern California coastline. This 22-story, mixed-use tower distills the essence of its coastal context—wind, water, rock, and vegetation—into a layered vertical village of residences, retail, and elevated outdoor living.

Located at the intersection of Pacific Beach and La Jolla, Project Vela translates the language of the coast into a refined vertical community. The 22-story tower—housing 213 units and ground-floor retail—responds directly to its context just four blocks from the ocean, layering form and material in homage to natural coastal elements.

The building massing mimics rock strata, stepping through retail, garage, residential levels, and a rooftop canopy. Each layer contributes to a cohesive story: a wave-like retail base engages the street, while a metal-screened garage evokes wind patterns across water. The tower’s wrapping balconies, cut at sharp angles, reflect the geometry of palm leaves and provide rhythm and motion to the elevation.

Crowning it all, a sculpted steel canopy filters light through palm-inspired cuts, creating a rooftop experience that completes the narrative. Project Vela doesn’t just occupy a coastal site—it celebrates it, connecting architecture to place through elemental expression and cultural resonance.

Project Meta

Client

Kalonymous

Completion

Ongoing

Size

22 Stories; 350,000 GSF; 74 Residential Units; 139 Visitor Accommodation Units; 18,000 SF Outdoor Amenity space; 3,000 sf retail space; above and below grade parking

Sectors

Mixed Use/Multifamily

Expertise

Architecture

Project Gallery