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Famed Office Building Undergoes Condo Conversion, Catches Eye of Movie Star
Published: August 03, 2007
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By Matthew Marin, Associate Editor
Los Angeles -- The landmark, Eastern Columbia Building, which was originally designed as an office/retail building, in downtown Los Angeles, is undergoing an $80-million renovation by Los Angeles-based Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA) into a 147-unit condominium, which is attracting the likes of movie stars.
Distinguished by a green terra cotta exterior, a four-sided clock atop the building and a spectacular rooftop pool and fitness center, the 13-story building has been restored by the developer, the KOR Group. The 77-year-old building, which was unoccupied before its facelift, will be home to multi-million dollar penthouses.
"When illuminated at night, the effect of the clock is magical," Wade Killefer, principal of KFA, tells MHN. "We completely gutted the building. We put in new structural and mechanical systems and built magnificent units. Johnny Depp just bought a unit."
On the interior, the new Kelly Wearstler-designed lobby emerged from space that originally was a shopping arcade, and the original terra cotta tiles have been fully restored with a dazzling effect.
Killlefer, whose firm has designed some 20 percent of the residential units downtown since the start of its renaissance in 2000, conducted a landmark survey that concluded it would be economically viable to convert 50 of the 200 buildings in the Historic Core area. To date some 3,700 units have been built.
"Most of the good, old buildings in downtown Los Angeles have been abandoned," Killefer says. "Within the last seven years, many have been converted into residences."
