Imagine a place where ideas blossom. This is the La Kretz Innovation Center. Here science meets entrepreneurship. Environmentalism shakes hands with policymaking.
The La Kretz Innovation Center is LADWP’s campus. It advances a sustainable future. This includes clean water and renewable energy. It also fosters an inclusive green economy. Since opening in 2015, the LKIC has hosted many events. Sustainability and clean tech are the focus. Thousands have attended. Even Joe Biden visited.
The La Kretz Innovation Center houses the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. They are known as LACI. LACI supports startups. They transform markets. They enhance the community through diversity. Workforce development is a priority.
Over 30,000 visitors come each year. They come from all walks of life. LADWP uses the campus to educate and inspire. Students take field trips. There is STEM programming and workforce training.
The La Kretz Innovation Center sits on 3.2 acres. The 60,000 square foot building achieved LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications. The campus boasts green technology. A solar canopy generates 175 kilowatts. Chargers power 32 EVs. Bioswales filter water. It has LA’s first public greywater system.
Inside the La Kretz Innovation Center, you’ll find the Advanced Prototyping Center. It’s a 30,000 square foot space. There are offices, desks, and event spaces. APC members design and build products. They can test their tech here. The workspace has labs for electronics and chemistry. There is also a CNC center and a 3D printing shop.
The building was once a furniture warehouse. It was bought in 2010. John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects renovated it. The La Kretz Innovation Center is in the Arts District. It sits next to Arts District Park. The area is full of creative industries. Restaurants, bars, and galleries line the streets. SCI-Arc and Little Tokyo are nearby. The parking lot charges 32 EVs.
The City of Los Angeles and LADWP funded the LKIC. The U.S. Economic Development Administration also helped. LADWP paid 42 percent of the 47 million dollars. The rest came from donations and grants. LADWP owns the La Kretz Innovation Center.
On a tour of La Kretz Innovation Center, you see innovation. Partners and entrepreneurs work together. They are building an innovation hub. You can visit the Advanced Prototyping Center. It’s a state-of-the-art maker space.
La Kretz Innovation Center promotes sustainability. It showcases cutting-edge technologies. Environmental awareness thrives here. The La Kretz Innovation Center merges science and policy. It shapes our future.