email: roadarch@outlook.com

Los Angeles Mid-Century Modern Buildings

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Theme Building
Los Angeles, CA
The Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport was built in 1961. The designers included William Pereira, Charles Luckman, Paul Williams and Welton Becket. The restaurant is suspended by parabolic concrete arches. It originally revolved. In 1996, the restaurant's interior got a 1960s makeover by Disney Imagineering. It reopened as the Encounter Restaurant. The restaurant closed at the end of 2013 and remains closed. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

unidentified building
Los Angeles, CA		 Petersen Automotive Museum [gone]
Los Angeles, CA
This unidentified building was built in 1930. The original occupant was possibly the Union Ice Company. In the late 1960s, the Morse Alarm Company purchased the building. I believe it was remodeled at that point. The building was vacant for a number of years. It housed Actua Systems in 2008. I believe the building is vacant now. For more, see this website. [map]

The Petersen Automotive Museum building was designed in 1960 by Welton Becket & Associates. It was built in 1962 for Seibu, a Japanese department store chain. From 1964-1986, it housed an Ohrbach's department store. The Petersen Automotive Museum opened here in 1994. I believe the "fins" were added to the building at that time. In 2014, the building was drastically remodeled. For more, see this website. [map]

Pittman Dog and Cat Hospital
Los Angeles, CA

2008:
2015:
The Pittman Dog and Cat Hospital was designed by Roy Anthony Sealey and built in 1964. The building housed the Canine Communications Dog Psychology Center in 2008. In 2015, the building housed the Animal Rescue Center. [map]

Barrington Station Post Office
Los Angeles, CA
The Barrington Station Post Office was probably built in the 1960s. [map]

Mark Taper Forum
Los Angeles, CA
The Mark Taper Forum opened in 1967. It is used for live theatre. The building was designed by Welton Becket as part of the Music Center. The Mark Taper Forum is the smallest of the Music Center's three buildings. It is located between the Ahmanson Theatre and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. [map]

Pavilion for Japanese Art
Los Angeles, CA
The Pavilion for Japanese Art was designed by Bruce Goff and Bart Prince. It was completed in 1988. It is part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For more, see this website. [map]

Annex Automotive
& Industrial Finishes
Los Angeles, CA		 Super A Foods
Los Angeles, CA
I believe the Annex Automotive & Industrial Finishes building was designed by Jacob Tracht and built for Day and Nite Motor Parts in 1960. The building now houses Finishmaster. [map]

This Super A Foods supermarket was built in 1967. For more, see this website. [map]

West Los Angeles Civic Center Bandshell
Los Angeles, CA
The West Los Angeles Civic Center Bandshell was designed by Albert Criz and built in 1965. [map]

Scottish Rite Masonic Temple
Los Angeles, CA
This Scottish Rite Masonic Temple was designed by Millard Sheets and built in 1961. The building features 14-foot-tall travertine sculptures by Albert Stewart and John Edward Svenson. The building now houses the Marciano Art Foundation. [map]

Merle Norman Cosmetics
Los Angeles, CA
The Merle Norman Cosmetics manufacturing plant was built in 1952. [map]

Chinese Laundry
Los Angeles, CA
This Chinese Laundry building was built in 1960 for Rite Autotronics Corp. That company occupied the building through the 1970s. [map]

More Los Angeles:
Astro Family Restaurant
Johnie's Wilshire
Pann's Restaurant
former Stan Kite Restaurants
former Wich Stand

NOTE: There are many more Los Angeles mid-century modern buildings in other sections (Banks, Bowling Alleys, etc.) at the links below.