Eastern Columbia Building

Constructed in 1930, the Eastern Columbia Building, now known as the Eastern Columbia Lofts, is a fourteen-story Art Deco Moderne style building that was designed by Claud Beelman and cost around $1.25 million to build. It became the headquarters of the Eastern Outfitting Company and the Columbia Outfitting Company, a chain of furniture and clothing stores founded by Adolph Sieroty. The building is an amazing example of Art Deco architecture, clad in turquoise terra cotta with gold leaf accents and topped by a clock tower, and is one of L. A's most photographed structures. An $80 million renovation took place in 2006 and was undertaken by the KOR Group to turn the property into 147 condominiums. The project earned California Construction Magazine's Best Redevelopment in 2007. The building is part of the National Register-listed Broadway Theater and Commercial District.

Adolph Sieroty was born in Poland in 1876 and emigrated to San Francisco in his mid-teens. He worked for his brother's business, the Eastern Clock Company of San Francisco, selling paintings and other artwork. Adolph moved to Los Angeles and opened a small store selling household goods at Sixth and Spring streets. He later added furniture and moved to larger spaces at 556 S. Spring St. and then to a three-story building at 620 S. Main St. Sieroty's business, Eastern Outfitting Company (home furnishings) and its subsidiary, Columbia Outfitting Company (men's and women's clothing), grew to a chain of thirty-two stores on the West Coast by 1926. One of Sieroty's keys to success was offering customers credit, something that was not typical at the time.

Remarkably, the new Eastern Columbia Building was constructed in only nine months from 1929 to 1930. The grand opening reception for the public to view the building and merchandise was held on September 12th, 1930, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Eastern's unique design came from its steel-reinforced concrete, that was clad in a glossy turquoise blue terra cotta with gold leaf accents. Local company Gladding-McBean supplied over one thousand tons of the turquoise blue tile cladding, with the gold leaf applied with heat during manufacturing. The tallness of the building was enhanced by design features such as the deeply recessed windows and vertical columns. The exterior boasts a plethora of motifs including sunburst patterns, geometric shapes, chevrons, and animal/plants forms. The 40-foot-tall, four-sided clock tower has become a visual landmark for downtown L. A., with four neon-lit electric clocks below the word "EASTERN." The building stood 235 feet tall, even though the city's height limit was 150 feet. The two-story penthouse housing mechanicals and the clock tower did not count toward the official building height. Four water towers were placed on the roof, as was a rooftop garden for employees and customers. A large auditorium on the ground floor was used for employee assemblies.

The building has been described by the L.A. Downtown News as "one of the great grand dames of Art Deco Streamline Moderne in Los Angeles." Other praise comes from figures such as historian Robert Winter who called the building "a shining example of Southern California's golden age of architecture." Christopher Hawthorne, a critic from the L. A. Times called it "one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in the city", and former president of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, Rory Cunningham, referred to the building as "one of the premier Art Deco buildings in the country." 

Adolph Sieroty died at age 60 in 1937. The Eastern and Columbia stores remained in the building until 1957. The family business transitioned in the 1950s to real estate investment and development and is still in business as Sieroty Company, based in Los Angeles. In 1985, the building became a Los Angeles Cultural Historical Monument. One of the most famous residents who moved in after the luxury condominiums opened was actor Johnny Depp, who purchased a number of penthouse units. Residents can enjoy a rooftop pool beneath the iconic clock tower.

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