Richfield Tower

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 34°03′03″N 118°15′25″W / 34.050799°N 118.256966°W / 34.050799; -118.256966

Richfield Tower

From cover of The Richfield Building 1928-1968 by David Gebhard (1970), published after the building's demolition.
General information
Architectural style Art Deco
Town or city Los Angeles, California
Country United States of America
Construction started 1928
Completed 1929
Demolished November 12, 1968[1] - spring 1969[2]
Client Richfield Oil Co.[2]
Technical details
Structural system steel skeleton
Design and construction
Architect Stiles O. Clements

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 building was covered with architectural terra cotta manufactured by Gladding, McBean along with many west coast buildings from this era. In an unusual move, all four sides were covered since they were all visible in the downtown location.

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

  • North side and east front of building, 1968.

  • West side of building during demolition, April 1969.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Richfield Oil Company Building. he Architect DB, Architecture and Urban Planning Library, University of Washington Libraries.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.