Eastern Columbia Building
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 |
| Significant dates | |
| Designated CP | May 9, 1979 |
| Designated LAHCM | June 28, 1985 |
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. It was built at a cost of US$1.25 million (equivalent to $18.15 million in 2024) 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. 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). J. V. McNeil Company was the general contractor.
The edifice is easily spotted from the Interstate 10 - Santa Monica Freeway, as well as many other sections of downtown, due to its bright "melting turquoise" terra cotta tiles and trademark four-sided clock tower, emblazoned with the word "EASTERN" in bright white neon on each face of the clock.
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 and an Art Deco landmark.