The Compton YouthBuild Center has recently undergone a full transformation, complete with new training programs, upgraded building systems and new furniture. Interior and exterior renovations of the global organization’s Compton location was completed by Blackstone portfolio company EQ Office this winter.
The property is located at 1108 N. Oleander Avenue. Renovations at the property were a collaboration between EQ Office and 30 community partners, including Holwick Constructors, Wolcott Architecture, CTJ Engineering Services, DFS and Duggan & Associates. Now completed, the renovations will provide the organization with further resources to inspire and mentor students in Compton, EQ Office said.
“This project will serve as a long-term community resource for the City of Compton. It is a place where the community can develop skills and create opportunities for family sustaining occupations. In total, EQ and our partners contributed more than $1.2 million, including 5,616 hours of donated labor and $196,000 of in-kind donations of furniture and building supplies. More than 125 students per year will benefit from this transformed space for decades to come,” said Lisa Foyston, director of development for EQ Office.
YouthBuild is a local organization focused on launching young adults into career trajectories outside of a traditional college path. According to EQ Office, the goal behind the project was to match the aspirational drive of the young adults who move through YouthBuild’s apprenticeship program.
In total, renovations at the site included a mix of exterior and interior upgrades, including the addition of green space and outdoor seating; building system upgrades, such as new insulation, new ceiling grid and lights fixtures; heating and cooling improvements, new plumbing connections and more; an improved entryway; and a renovated reception area.
“There are both aesthetic and practical design features that stand out in this project. We were able to bring a lot of light and life to the building through the addition of skylights, installation of a new architectural screen at the entry and new landscaping and plantings,” Foyston said.
However, EQ Office’s work at the center is not complete. In addition to the renovations, the company will continue to work with the YouthBuild Training Center as part of its EQ Impact efforts. EQ Impact, which was launched in February of 2021, implements a number of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into the company’s projects.
In particular, the company plans to implement these policies at the Compton YouthBuild Training Center through providing various onsite services. The organization will receive weekly training sessions intended to help students thrive in their career paths.
Through the program, students received practical on-the-job skills as well as a number of soft skills, like communication, conflict resolution and personal advocacy. The program also provided resume assistance as well as mock job interviews.
“Through our partnership with the global nonprofit, we boosted our mentoring and diversity efforts, in addition to surpassing our goals for professional development and job training in the communities we operate,” Foyston osaid. “…We plan to repeat the renovation and refurbishment program with YouthBuild programs in more cities annually.”
EQ Office is a commercial real estate company with a focus on developing transformative work spaces. Currently, the company’s portfolio totals 20 million square feet and provides quality work environments for more than 1,500 customers. While in Los Angeles, the company also provides creative office environments for companies in cities across the country, including in Seattle, Chicago, New York and San Francisco.
