Housing and Transportation
Here’s a link to a short video created by students from Spring 2025 that gives you a glimpse of Park La Brea, where SiLA students live:
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At orientation, you’ll receive a comprehensive welcome packet that includes updated details on housing, transportation, what to bring, what to wear, what to expect when you arrive—and how to set yourself up to thrive during your time in Los Angeles.
Housing
SiLA students are offered housing at Park La Brea, a gated residential community located in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, about two miles from Sunset Las Palmas Studios. It’s a vibrant, centrally located neighborhood, surrounded by museums, restaurants, and entertainment—all within easy walking distance.
Park La Brea spans 160 lush acres and offers outdoor cafés, a gym, swimming pool, and open green spaces that give the complex a unique blend of urban convenience and campus-like charm.
Apartments
Typically, you’ll be sharing a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with other SiLA students. A SiLA staffer resides on site. Apartments come fully furnished and include new linens, internet, cable television and kitchenware. Pets are not allowed.
A reserved parking space is available upon request. The gym and pool are available to use at an additional cost.
Housing Process
Upon acceptance into the SiLA program, you’ll receive a housing application that specifies costs as well as move-in and move-out dates. The housing application records your interest in Park La Brea housing. Upon approval, you will be offered a binding housing contract that requires a commitment and a deposit.
During the Chicago Orientation, you’ll have an opportunity to meet and interact with potential roommates. Approximately two weeks prior to your arrival, you’ll receive your roommate assignment, along with both the physical and mailing address within Park La Brea. We do not assign people to specific rooms, only specific apartments.
Transportation - to have a car or not?!
Los Angeles is big, really big. Unlike Chicago, where the CTA can take you almost anywhere, LA is sprawling and built for cars. Neighborhoods stretch for miles, and while both Park La Brea (your home) and Sunset Las Palmas Studios (where your SiLA classes are held) are centrally located, getting around takes planning.
The good news: getting from Park La Brea to Sunset Las Palmas is easy enough. Some hop on the bus, expect about a 30 minute ride depending on time of day. Many students also organize carpools with classmates who have cars. There are no subways or trams close by SLPS, only buses but we'll see with the upcoming Olympic transportation plans! With the Tap App each ride is $1.75 with 2 hours of free transfer with $5 daily fare caps or $18 weekly regardless of mode of public transportation.
Where things get trickier is your internship. Depending on where you’re placed -Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, Studio City, or the Valley -your commute can vary dramatically. LA’s Metro and bus system are improving, but they don’t yet connect all the city’s major creative hubs. Ride-shares like Uber or Lyft can quickly add up, especially for daily travel! Big time! That’s why, if you have access to a car, it can make a huge difference: it gives you flexibility, freedom, and the ability to say “yes” to last-minute meetings, screenings, or networking events that might otherwise be out of reach.
If bringing a car isn’t possible, don’t worry, we've seen students make it work but it means planning. Budget carefully for transportation, learn your Metro routes early, and connect with classmates to coordinate carpools when possible. And remember, SiLA provides transportation for all official field trips, so you’ll never have to worry about those.
Los Angeles is a city of movement and discovery. However you get around...by car, Metro, bike, or bus...the goal is to explore it fully, to get where you need to go, and to experience how this city really works.