The Deco building at night with lights on

Place

The Deco Building

One of L.A.'s last remaining black-and-gold Art Deco buildings enjoys new life as creative office space.

Place Details

Address

5207-9 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036
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Decade

Though only two stories high and dwarfed by its neighbors, this dazzling black-and-gold terra cotta building with zigzag moderne ornamentation makes its presence known.

It was designed by Morgan, Walls, and Clements, one of the oldest continuously operating architectural firms on the West Coast and a moving force in the development of various forms of revival and moderne architecture in L.A.

The building is notable as one of the city's last remaining black-and-gold Art Deco structures, a diminutive version of the firm's downtown Richfield building (built in 1928; demolished in 1968).

It was originally built as a neighborhood branch bank and served this purpose until 1970. The building was used as a restaurant/nightclub and later a Christian center.

After suffering from years of neglect, the building was beautifully rehabilitated into short- and long-term creative office space. It is also available for special events.

Security Pacific Collection/Los Angeles Public Library | Historic photo of Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles.
Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives | Streetscape with Security-First National Bank building visible mid-block.
Alan Pavlik/JustAboveSunset.com | Detail
Alan Pavlik/JustAboveSunset.com | 2007.
Alan Pavlik/JustAboveSunset.com | Detail
Alan Pavlik/JustAboveSunset.com | 2007.
Alan Pavlik/JustAboveSunset.com | Detail
Courtesy of The Deco Building | 2007.
Courtesy of The Deco Building | Detail
Courtesy of The Deco Building | 2007.
Courtesy of The Deco Building | Detail
Courtesy of The Deco Building | 2007.
Courtesy of The Deco Building | Interior
Courtesy of The Deco Building | Interior