Eastern Columbia Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastern Columbia Building |
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Eastern Columbia Building
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| Location | 849 S. Broadway Los Angeles |
| Built | 1930 |
| Architect | Claud Beelman |
| Architectural style(s) | Art Deco |
| Designated | June 28, 1985 |
| Reference no. | 294 |
The Eastern Columbia Building, also known as the Eastern Columbia Lofts, is a famous and beautiful building in Downtown Los Angeles. It has thirteen stories and was designed in the Art Deco style by Claud Beelman. The building is located at 849 S. Broadway, in the Broadway Theater District.
It opened on September 12, 1930, after being built very quickly in just nine months. It cost $1.25 million to build. The building was originally the main office and 39th store for the Eastern-Columbia Department Store. This store was started by Adolph Sieroty and his family. When it was built, the City of Los Angeles had a rule that buildings couldn't be taller than 150 feet (about 46 meters). However, the special clock tower was allowed to be taller, making the whole building 264 feet (about 80 meters) high!
You can easily spot this building from the Interstate 10 - Santa Monica Freeway and other parts of downtown. It stands out because of its bright blue-green (turquoise) terra cotta tiles. It also has a famous four-sided clock tower. The word "EASTERN" is written in bright white neon lights on each side of the clock.
Many people think the Eastern Columbia Building is the best example of Art Deco architecture still standing in Los Angeles. It's one of the most photographed buildings in the city and is known around the world as an Art Deco landmark.
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Why This Building is Special
The Eastern Columbia Building is highly praised by many people. Experts call it a "benchmark" for Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles. Some even say it's one of the "grand dames" of this style.
Historian Robert Winter described it as a "shining example" of Southern California's amazing architecture from a golden age. Christopher Hawthorne, a critic for the Los Angeles Times, called it "one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the city." Rory Cunningham, who used to be the president of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, said it's "one of the premier Deco buildings in the country."
Ken Bernstein, a director for the City Planning Department, believes the Eastern Columbia Building is "unquestionably one of the signature Art Deco buildings in all of Los Angeles." He even chose it as one of the city's most beautiful buildings. People often lovingly call the Eastern Columbia the "Jewel of Downtown" or the "Art Deco Jewel of the West."
A Protected Landmark
The Eastern Columbia Building was officially named a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1985. It was given this special status because it shows important parts of the city's history, culture, and economy. It has become a well-known landmark and represents how lively Los Angeles's shopping and business areas used to be.
What Makes the Building Unique
The Eastern Columbia Building is made of strong steel-reinforced concrete. Its outside is covered in shiny blue-green (turquoise) terra cotta tiles. It also has details in deep blue and gold. The building looks very tall because of its vertical lines. These lines are made by windows that are set back and copper panels, separated by vertical columns.
The outside of the building is decorated with many cool designs. You can see sunburst patterns, geometric shapes, zigzags, chevrons, and shapes of animals and plants. On top, there's a four-sided clock tower with the name "Eastern" lit up in neon. The tower is topped with a central smokestack surrounded by four decorative flying buttresses.
The sidewalks around the building on Broadway and Ninth Street are also special. They are made of colorful terrazzo in a fun pattern of zigzags and chevrons. The main entrance has a grand, two-story entryway. It's decorated with a blue and gold terra cotta sunburst design. This entryway used to lead to a shopping area that went through the middle of the building.
Building's History
From Stores to Offices
The Eastern Columbia Building first opened to house two separate department stores: Eastern (which sold furniture and home goods) and Columbia (which sold clothes). Both stores were owned by Adolph Sieroty. He started his business in Los Angeles in 1892 as a clock shop.
When the building opened in 1930, it had a huge amount of space, about 275,650 square feet. The first four floors and a mezzanine level were shared by the Columbia and Eastern stores. The Eastern store took up the upper floors.
In 1940, the two stores started advertising together as the Eastern-Columbia Department Store. By 1950, the store had grown to cover the entire block from Broadway to Hill streets.
However, in 1957, the company stopped its retail business in this building and closed its downtown store. It also closed some branch stores. The Eastern-Columbia building in downtown was then changed into office spaces, mainly for companies in the clothing industry.
Modern Times
In 2004, there were plans to turn the building into apartments, called condominiums. On June 23, 2005, the clock tower, which hadn't worked for a long time, was turned back on in a special ceremony. This celebrated the building's 75th anniversary.
A company called KOR Group, with architects Killefer Flammang Architects, spent $80 million to renovate the building. This two-year project finished in 2006. They turned the building into 147 condominiums, which are apartments that people can own. The inside designs were done by Kelly Wearstler Interior Design. These new homes kept the classic look of the early 1900s but also added modern features.
The renovation project won several awards, including "Best Redevelopment" awards in 2007. The Eastern Columbia Lofts also won a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award in 2008. The building is part of a program that helps preserve historic properties.
Since 2015, the building has been part of a discussion about a new building planned next door. Some people are worried that the new 26-story building would block the views of the Eastern Columbia Building and its famous clock.
Some famous people have owned property in the Eastern Columbia Building. Actor Johnny Depp bought five penthouses in 2007, which together were about 11,500 square feet. In 2016, billionaire Ronald Burkle sold a three-story penthouse in the building for $2.5 million. This was one of the highest prices ever paid per square foot for a home in that part of the city.
Neighborhood
The Eastern Columbia Building is located in the Historic Core area of Downtown Los Angeles. This area is full of historic buildings and has kept much of its old charm. This is thanks to strong efforts to preserve the buildings, a special rule from 1999 about reusing old buildings, and a plan called "Bringing Back Broadway."
Images for kids
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Eastern Columbia entrance
See also
In Spanish: Eastern Columbia Building para niños
