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Richfield Tower

October 20, 2023

Richfield Tower, also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building, was an office tower constructed between 1928 and 1929 and served as the headquarters of Richfield Oil in Los Angeles, California.

Richfield Tower
The building's top (image from a 1970 book)
General information
StatusDemolished
Architectural styleArt Deco
Address555 South Flower Street
Town or cityLos Angeles, California
CountryUnited States of America
Coordinates34°03′03″N 118°15′25″W / 34.050799°N 118.256966°W / 34.050799; -118.256966
Construction started1928
Completed1929
DemolishedNovember 12, 1968[2] – spring 1969[1]
Cost$1,750,000
ClientRichfield Oil Co.[1]
Height372 feet (113 m)
Technical details
Structural systemSteel skeleton
Floor count12
Design and construction
Architect(s)Stiles O. Clements

History Edit

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.[2] The building was covered with architectural terra cotta manufactured by Gladding, McBean, as was typical of 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.[2]

The company 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).[3]

The central figures of the Tympanum (Navigation, Aviation, Postal Service and Industry) over the main entry were donated by the Atlantic Richfield Company to the UC Santa Barbara Art & Design Museum, negotiated by Professor David Gebhard, noted UCSB architectural historian. He published a small illustrated volume on the building before demolition: The Richfield Building 1928–1968 (Atlantic Richfield Co., Santa Barbara, 1970). After languishing in university storage for over a decade, three of the four figures were mounted outside the UCSB Student Health Center in 1982[a]. The fourth figure was incomplete and remains in storage.

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

Gallery Edit

  •  

    Front detail

  •  

    Terracotta figures at the side

  •  

    Terracotta angel, closeup

  •  

    View from upper floors

  •  

    East entrance

  •  

    Layout

  •  

    Colorized postcard, (between circa 1930 and circa 1945)

  •  

    North side and east front of building, 1968

  •  

    West side of building during demolition, April 1969

See also Edit

Explanatory notes Edit

  1. ^ 34°24'56.47" N 119°51'08.39" W

References Edit

  1. ^ a b "Richfield Oil Building, 555 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA". Historic American Buildings Survey. Library of Congress. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Richfield Oil Company Building". Pacific Coast Architecture Database. University of Washington. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Harrison, Scott (June 13, 2016). "A beloved L.A. tower — and the winged 'army' that stood guard — is gone but not forgotten". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 21, 2017.

Further reading Edit

  • Felton, Dave (April 10, 1969). "Building's 'Guards' Now Lie Strewn in Wrecking Yard". Los Angeles Times. p. C1.
  • Gebhard, David (1970). The Richfield Building, 1928–1968. Santa Barbara: Atlantic Richfield Co. ASIN B0007HRZ6S.
  • Hebert, Ray (March 9, 1967). "Plaza Complex Slated for Richfield Block". Los Angeles Times. p. B1.
  • Hebert, Ray (August 18, 1967). "Admirers Would Save 1929 Richfield Building". Los Angeles Times. p. A6.
  • "Downtown Structure to be Guide". Los Angeles Times. August 25, 1929. p. E2.
  • "Oilman Killed in Plunge from 12th Floor Office". Los Angeles Times. August 30, 1950. p. 17.
  • "Crews Move In to Dismantle Landmark Richfield Building". Los Angeles Times. November 13, 1968. p. A1.
  • "A Backyard Cheops Visits His Pyramid". Los Angeles Times. April 19, 1970. p. E1.
  • Weaver, John D. (April 18, 1971). "The Miracle of Sixth and Flower". Los Angeles Times. p. P9.

External links Edit

  •   Media related to Richfield Oil Company Building at Wikimedia Commons

October 20, 2023
richfield, tower, also, known, richfield, company, building, office, tower, constructed, between, 1928, 1929, served, headquarters, richfield, angeles, california, building, image, from, 1970, book, general, informationstatusdemolishedarchitectural, styleart, . Richfield Tower also known as the Richfield Oil Company Building was an office tower constructed between 1928 and 1929 and served as the headquarters of Richfield Oil in Los Angeles California Richfield TowerThe building s top image from a 1970 book General informationStatusDemolishedArchitectural styleArt DecoAddress555 South Flower StreetTown or cityLos Angeles CaliforniaCountryUnited States of AmericaCoordinates34 03 03 N 118 15 25 W 34 050799 N 118 256966 W 34 050799 118 256966Construction started1928Completed1929DemolishedNovember 12 1968 2 spring 1969 1 Cost 1 750 000ClientRichfield Oil Co 1 Height372 feet 113 m Technical detailsStructural systemSteel skeletonFloor count12Design and constructionArchitect s Stiles O Clements Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 Explanatory notes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHistory EditIt was designed by Stiles O Clements and featured a black and gold Art Deco facade The unusual color scheme was meant to symbolize the black gold that was Richfield s business Haig Patigian did the exterior sculptures 2 The building was covered with architectural terra cotta manufactured by Gladding McBean as was typical of 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 2 The company 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 3 The central figures of the Tympanum Navigation Aviation Postal Service and Industry over the main entry were donated by the Atlantic Richfield Company to the UC Santa Barbara Art amp Design Museum negotiated by Professor David Gebhard noted UCSB architectural historian He published a small illustrated volume on the building before demolition The Richfield Building 1928 1968 Atlantic Richfield Co Santa Barbara 1970 After languishing in university storage for over a decade three of the four figures were mounted outside the UCSB Student Health Center in 1982 a The fourth figure was incomplete and remains in storage Richfield Tower was starkly featured in a few scenes of Michelangelo Antonioni s 1970 film Zabriskie Point shot shortly before its demolition Gallery Edit nbsp Front detail nbsp Terracotta figures at the side nbsp Terracotta angel closeup nbsp View from upper floors nbsp East entrance nbsp Layout nbsp Colorized postcard between circa 1930 and circa 1945 nbsp North side and east front of building 1968 nbsp West side of building during demolition April 1969See also Edit nbsp Greater Los Angeles portalExplanatory notes Edit 34 24 56 47 N 119 51 08 39 WReferences Edit a b Richfield Oil Building 555 South Flower Street Los Angeles Los Angeles County CA Historic American Buildings Survey Library of Congress Retrieved December 10 2017 a b c Richfield Oil Company Building Pacific Coast Architecture Database University of Washington Retrieved December 10 2017 Harrison Scott June 13 2016 A beloved L A tower and the winged army that stood guard is gone but not forgotten Los Angeles Times Retrieved March 21 2017 Further reading EditFelton Dave April 10 1969 Building s Guards Now Lie Strewn in Wrecking Yard Los Angeles Times p C1 Gebhard David 1970 The Richfield Building 1928 1968 Santa Barbara Atlantic Richfield Co ASIN B0007HRZ6S Hebert Ray March 9 1967 Plaza Complex Slated for Richfield Block Los Angeles Times p B1 Hebert Ray August 18 1967 Admirers Would Save 1929 Richfield Building Los Angeles Times p A6 Downtown Structure to be Guide Los Angeles Times August 25 1929 p E2 Oilman Killed in Plunge from 12th Floor Office Los Angeles Times August 30 1950 p 17 Crews Move In to Dismantle Landmark Richfield Building Los Angeles Times November 13 1968 p A1 A Backyard Cheops Visits His Pyramid Los Angeles Times April 19 1970 p E1 Weaver John D April 18 1971 The Miracle of Sixth and Flower Los Angeles Times p P9 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Richfield Oil Company Building at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richfield Tower amp oldid 1165308847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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