Richfield Tower

Richfield Tower, also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building, was constructed between 1928 and 1929 and served as the headquarters of Richfield Oil. It was designed by Stiles O. Clements and featured a black and gold Art Deco façade. The unusual color scheme was meant to symbolize the "black gold" that was Richfield's business. Haig Patigian did the exterior sculptures.^[1]

The 12 floor building was 372 feet (113 m) tall, including a 130-foot (40 m) tower atop the building, emblazoned vertically with the name "Richfield". Lighting on the tower was made to simulate an oilwell gusher and the motif was reused at some Richfield service stations.^[1]

The company quickly outgrew the building, and it was demolished in 1969, much to the dismay of Los Angeles residents and those interested in architectural preservation, to make way for the present ARCO Plaza skyscraper complex. The elaborate black-and-gold elevator doors were salvaged from the building and now reside in the lobby of the new ARCO building (now City National Tower).

Richfield Tower was starkly featured in a few scenes of Michelangelo Antonioni's 1970 film Zabriskie Point, shot shortly before its demolition.

Gallery

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Richfield Oil Company Building. he Architect DB, Architecture and Urban Planning Library, University of Washington Libraries.
2. ^ ^{a b} Richfield Oil Building, 555 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. Historic American Buildings Survey, Library Of Congress.

Further reading

• Gebhard, David. The Richfield Building 1928-1968. Atlantic Richfield Co., Santa Barbara, 1970.
• "Downtown Structure to be Guide". Los Angeles Times, Aug 25, 1929: E2.
• "Oilman Killed in Plunge From 12th Floor Office". Los Angeles Times, Aug 30, 1950: 17.
• Hebert, Ray. "Plaza Complex Slated for Richfield Block". Los Angeles Times, Mar 9, 1967: B1.
• Hebert, Ray. "Admirers Would Save 1929 Richfield Building". Los Angeles Times, Aug 18, 1967: A6
• "Crews Move In to Dismantle Landmark Richfield Building." Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1968: A1.
• Felton, Dave. "Building's 'Guards' Now Lie Strewn in Wrecking Yard." Los Angeles Times, April 10, 1969: C1.
• "A Backyard Cheops Visits His Pyramid." Los Angeles Times, April 19, 1970: E1.
• Weaver, John D. "The Miracle of Sixth and Flower." Los Angeles Times, April 18, 1971: P9.