Excavating the Future

All told, the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed more than 16,000 structures. For many, the rebuilding process starts below grade, going beyond ground-up. San Francisco–based construction company FORMA has taken on one such project, marking their first commission in Los Angeles.

Excavating for a full basement, FORMA installed perimeter soldier piles to serve as a retaining system. They added wood lagging as they dug, stabilizing a tight site. Next will come rebar and concrete, and then a new building can rise, quite literally, from the ashes. “Rebuilding in the Pacific Palisades is personal: for homeowners, neighbors, and everyone working to bring stability back to a changed landscape,” says Victor Mezhvinsky, FORMA’s founder and a Brick & Wonder member. “FORMA Construction is honored to be part of the broader regional rebuilding effort and to bring this work forward as it progresses.”