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Eastern Columbia Building | |
 The building in 2010 | |
  Location of building in Los Angeles County | |
| Location | 849 S. Broadway Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°02′34″N 118°15′20″W / 34.0428°N 118.2555°W |
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Claud Beelman |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Broadway Theater and Commercial District (ID79000484) |
| LAHCM No. | 294[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Designated CP | May 9, 1979[2] |
| Designated LAHCM | June 28, 1985[1] |
The Eastern Columbia Building, also known as the Eastern Columbia Lofts, is a thirteen-story Art Deco building designed by Claud Beelman located at 849 S. Broadway in the Broadway Theater District of Downtown Los Angeles. It opened on September 12, 1930, after just nine months of construction.[3] It was built at a cost of $1.25 million as the new headquarters and 39th store for the Eastern-Columbia Department Store, whose component Eastern and Columbia stores were founded by Adolph Sieroty and family.[4][5] At the time of construction, the City of Los Angeles enforced a height limit of 150 feet (46 m), however the decorative clock tower was granted an exemption, allowing the clock a total height of 264 feet (80 m).[6][7][8] J. V. McNeil Company was the general contractor.[9]
The edifice is easily spotted from the Interstate 10 - Santa Monica Freeway, as well as many other sections of downtown,[10] due to its bright "melting turquoise"[11] terra cotta tiles[12] and trademark four-sided clock tower, emblazoned with the word "EASTERN" in bright white neon on each face of the clock.[13][14][15]
The building is widely considered the greatest surviving example of Art Deco architecture in the city. It is one of the city's most photographed structures[16] and a world-renowned Art Deco landmark.[17]
- ^ a b Los Angeles Department of City Planning - Office of Historic Resources. "Designated Historic-Cultural Monuments".
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 9, 1979.
- ^ Los Angeles Conservancy. "Eastern Columbia Lofts".
- ^ Historic Places LA. "Eastern Columbia Building". Archived from the original on 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
- ^ Vincent, Roger (August 11, 2004). "Condos Planned for Art Deco Landmark". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ Daniels, Cynthia (June 10, 2004). "An Art Deco Landmark Will Shine Once More as Urban Living Space". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ Masters, Nathan (May 23, 2012). "L.A.'s Changing Skyline: A Brief History of Skyscrapers in the City of Angels". KCET. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ "Eastern Columbia Building > Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour". USC Dornsife. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
- ^ "McNeil Construction". The Los Angeles Times. 1956-10-19. p. 26. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "Eastern Columbia Building-deco masterpiece". Archived from the original on 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- ^ Yoshihara, Nancy; Nakano, Craig (17 May 2007). "One landmark, four visions". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Los Angeles Times. Searching for the Age of Terra Cotta
- ^ Masters, Nathan (18 June 2014). "CityDig: Eastern Outfitting and Downtown's Turquoise Gem". Los Angeles Magazine.
- ^ "1929 Landmark Recommended for Historic-Monument Status". Los Angeles Times. 12 May 1985.
- ^ Jose Huizar - Councilmember District 14, City of Los Angeles. "Councilmember Huizar's Bringing Back Broadway Initiative Welcomes Acne Retail" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ The Kor Group. "Eastern Columbia". Archived from the original on 2015-09-01. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
- ^ GlamAmor. Out & About--Art Deco Icon Eastern Columbia Building in Downtown Los Angeles