EP.03 / Shawn Gehle and Christian Robert, OFFICE UNTITLED on 6000 Hollywood
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform.
6000 HOLLYWOOD is a mixed use project featuring a total of 350 apartments, as well as 136,000 square feet of offices, approximately 22,500 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space. It is due to break ground in 2026.
I sat down with Shawn Gehle and Christian Robert, Co-Founders and Principals of Office Untitled or "OU," to discuss the inner workings of their growing company and their exciting 6000 Hollywood development project. I've collaborated with Shawn and Christian since 2020 and can attest to their commitment to collaboration and taking on diverse projects. 6000 Hollywood is the type of project LA needs, and has the potential to redefine the eastern part of Hollywood. This podcast was recorded from the OU office in Culver City.
The 6000 Hollywood development is located on the 3.7-acre Toyota dealership along Hollywood Boulevard. They are in the early planning stages of this mixed-use endeavor, with intentions to include affordable housing, Class A office space, retail, and public outdoor spaces. Shawn and Christian unpack the project's design, the site's history, and OU's specific approach.
In our conversation, they reflect on architects they admire, the books that inspire them, and their role as mentors to young architects. They open up about the ups and downs when building their company and OU's view on the future of architecture. They also discuss their perspective on practicing architecture in LA, the cinematic nature of the city, and how they are actively trying to mitigate the housing crisis.
About Shawn Gehle
Shawn Gehle is a recognized design and thought leader whose diverse experience includes award-winning work for technology, creative workplace, education, and mixed-use clients. Gehle is responsible for the conception and design of AVA LA Arts District, Cayton Children’s Museum by Sharewell, and multiple large-scale creative and mixed-use masterplans, including the 1,200-unit Tustin Legacy Village and the 6000 Hollywood Boulevard mixed-use highrise.
He is an alum of the TED speaker series and co-authored a three-year research project with UCLA CityLAB on the Future of Work. He is an adviser to Black Spectacles, an online learning platform created entirely for architects, and served on the Board of Directors of A+D Architecture and Design Museum in Los Angeles through early 2019.
Before OFFICEUNTITLED, he served as the founding Principal of BNIM Architects’ Los Angeles design studio, which he later merged with Robert and Anderson to establish OFFICEUNTITLED. Preceding BNIM, Gehle worked at Gensler Los Angeles for almost a decade, where he was a Design Principal and worked closely with OFFICEUNTITLED Principals Robert, Anderson, and Green.
Gehle’s work has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), and featured in numerous publications and design journals. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kansas State University, Manhattan, in 1999.
Connect with Shawn: LinkedIn
About Christian Robert
Christian Robert has been pushing the boundaries of design for more than 20 years. With an aesthetic and environmental awareness informed by his European upbringing and education, his work balances modernism and a playful spirit that’s grounded in West Coast culture with strong desire to transform existing expected typologies.
Born in Germany, he graduated from the University of Stuttgart, Germany and received a German DAAD scholarship to attend the Graduate Architecture Program at Arizona State University, Tempe. Prior to founding R&A, he worked on a range of notable award winning projects, including the $650M fifty-five story Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott Hotel & Residences at L.A.-Live tower and an academic office building for UCSD San Diego.
Since co-founding the firm in 2013, Christian has led a series of boutique and large hospitality and multifamily residential projects including the 37 luxury condominium “The Harland”, the 150-key Woodlark Hotel and the iconic 200 key 9034 Sunset Hotel tower, slated to open in 2023, as well as the design of all worldwide innovation centers for Boston Consulting Group – Digital Ventures.
Christian is a licensed Architect in six states and the European Union.
Connect with Christian: LinkedIn
Learn more about Office Untitled
Topics Covered
Shawn & Christian's journey in launching their own firm
The give & take nature of teaching architecture
The types of clients OU enjoys working with
OU's connection to Burning Man
How the firm got involved in the 6000 Hollywood project
Breaking down the significance of the Hollywood Boulevard site
The timeline and lengthy entitlement process for the project
OU's approach to the housing crisis
Los Angeles’ cinematic allure
The organic growth of OU's design strategy
Did you love this episode? Let us know by rating and reviewing our show on Apple Podcasts. It’s easy - simply click this link, click on Listen on Apple Podcasts, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select “Write a Review”. Let us know what you liked best about the episode, and what others can expect when they listen to our show.
While you’re at it, consider subscribing to Building LA. When you subscribe, you can guarantee you never miss a conversation with one our renowned designers, architects, and developers. Subscribe now!